why did Herman Talmadge feel like he had the right to to the position as governor after the 1946 election

Herman Talmadge was a Democrat politician. He was governor of the state of Georgia in 1947 and between 1948 and 1955. He also represented Georgia in the Senate from 1957 to 1981.

His father, Eugene Talmadge, was governor of Georgia between 1933 and 1937 and from 1941 to 1943. He once again ran for governor in Georgia in 1946 and Herman Talmadge was the campaign manager. As the supporters were worried about Eugene Talmadge's health, they made sure to get some votes his son, Herman, as a write-in candidate. Eugene Talmadge died after the election victory and then the state legislative assembly, the Georgia General Assembly, decided to choose between the candidates who came in second and third place in the election. Herman Talmadge's write-in votes were enough for a third place and he won the election in the state legislature.

Melvin E. Thompson, who had been elected deputy governor, could not accept the procedure in the Georgia General Assembly. He felt he had the right to take over as governor. In addition, outgoing governor Ellis Arnall did not want to resign, as he felt it was still wide open who would become new governor after Eugene Talmadge's death. Thompson had appealed the decision to the Georgia Supreme Court. Arnall then agreed to support Thompson as new governor. However, Talmadge served as Georgia's 70th governor from January to March 1947. The court then ruled that Thompson was entitled to take office and the Legislative Assembly had, in the election of Herman Talmadge, violated Georgia's constitution. Thompson took over as governor and a new state election was held in 1948 to finally settle the dispute.

Herman Talmadge defeated incumbent governor Melvin E. Thompson in the general election and was elected governor on November 17, 1948.