Maryland gubernatorial election, 1966

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The Maryland gubernatorial election of 1968 was held on November 8 and was notable for several reasons:

  1. This was the second-to-last time that a Republican Party candidate was elected Governor of Maryland.
  2. Spiro Agnew's victory was the beginning of one of the quickest political rises in United States history - six years from County Executive to the Vice President of the United States. His governorship bring him to the national attention and prominence, without this he probably would be not a candidate for national office.

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[edit] Democratic Party nomination

Maryland was and still is a state with a long history of Democratic Party political domination. Although Maryland is often counted as a southern state, it is also regarded as rather liberal, than a former confederate (while Maryland remained in the Union) Deep South, now a Republican stronghold.

Incumbent Democratic Governor J. Millard Tawes was term-limited, which leaves primary race open.

Candidates:

  • 1962 gubernatorial candidate Morgan L. Amaimo
  • State Attorney General Thomas B. Finan
  • 1962 gubernatorial candidate Charles J. Luthardt, Sr.
  • Former member of the Democratic National Committee and frequent candidare George P. Mahoney
  • Clarence W. Miles
  • Frequent candidate Ross Zimmerman Pierpont
  • Representative Carlton R. Sickles

Carlton R. Sickles was early viewed as a favorite to win both nomination and the general election. However multiple presence of candidates caused narrow victory of Mahoney, who was a staunch segregationist and supporter of George Wallace. Thus outraged many Maryland's democrats from supporting him.

[edit] Republican Party nomination

Because of heavy Democratic domination in the state, no Republican Party candidate sought nomination except Baltimore County Executive Spiro Agnew, who became a candidate without an opposition.

[edit] Other candidates

Democratic Baltimore City Comptroller Hyman A. Pressman ran as independent, opposing Mahoney.

[edit] General election

Agnew ran on his executive record as a moderate and pro-integration Republican reformer. This caused that many Democrats, despite party affilation, would support him rather than segregationist Mahoney, who in 1968 ran for the U.S. Senate as an independent, Wallace-backed candidate.

Also Pressman candidacy helped Agnew with split Democratic votes.

[edit] References