Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1964

Elections in Massachusetts

The 1964 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1964. Former Governor John A. Volpe was elected to a two-year term. He defeated former Lieutenant Governor Francis X. Bellotti in the general election. [1]

The race between Volpe and Bellotti was the first time in Massachusetts history that the two major parties backed sons of Italian immigrants for Governor. [2]

This was the final election held before Governor's Term of office was extended from two to four years.

Primaries

Incumbent governor Endicott Peabody was challenged by Lieutenant Governor Francis X. Bellotti, Middlesex County District Attorney John J. Droney, and Perennial candidate Pasquale Caggiano. [3]

Bellotti won the primary despite Peabody having the backing of most of the Party leadership, including Peabody's longtime close friend, Senator Ted Kennedy. [4]

Volpe ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

1964 Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary [5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Francis X. Bellotti 363,675 49.61%
Democratic Endicott Peabody 336,780 45.94%
Democratic John J. Droney 27,357 3.73%
Democratic Pasquale Caggiano 5,250 0.72%

General election

Volpe defeated Bellotti by less than 25,000 votes. Volpe's victory came in a year in which Deomcrats gained seats in the United States House of Representatives and Senate and Lyndon Johnson won the Presidential election in a landslide. [6]

1964 Massachusetts gubernatorial election [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John A. Volpe 1,176,462 50.27%
Democratic Francis X. Bellotti 1,153,416 49.29%
Socialist Labor Francis A. Votano 6,273 0.27%
Prohibition Guy S. Williams 3,713 0.16%
Write-in All others 266 0.01%

Former United States Attorney Elliot L. Richardson defeated executive councillor John W. Costello in the race for Lt. Governor. [8]

1964 Massachusetts Lt. gubernatorial election [9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Elliot L. Richardson 1,121,985 50.22%
Democratic John W. Costello 1,097,380 49.11%
Socialist Labor Edgar E. Gaudet 9,551 0.43%
Prohibition Prescott E. Grout 5,424 0.24%

References

  1. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174326
  2. ^ "Democrats Close Ranks Behind Lt. Gov. Bellotti". Hartford Courant. September 12, 1964. 
  3. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=547233
  4. ^ "The Nation". Los Angeles Times. September 13, 1964. 
  5. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=547233}
  6. ^ "Republicans Gain One Governor's Mansion". Los Angeles Times. November 5, 1964. 
  7. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174326
  8. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=413427
  9. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174326
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