Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1958

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1958

November 4, 1958

Nominee Foster Furcolo Charles Gibbons Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,067,020 818,463 Percentage 56.19% 43.10%

Governor before election Foster Furcolo Democratic Elected Governor Foster Furcolo Democratic

The 1958 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1958. Democrat Foster Furcolo was elected Governor of Massachusetts for a second term, defeating Republican Charles Gibbons, Socialist Labor candidate Henning A. Blomen, and Prohibition candidate Guy S. Williams.

In the race for Lieutenant Governor, Democrat Robert F. Murphy, defeated Republican Elmer C. Nelson, Prohibition candidate Harold E. Bassett, and Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano.

Primaries

Incumbent Governor Foster Furcolo ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination and Attorney General George Fingold was unopposed in the Republican primary.

On August 31, 1958, Fingold died unexpectedly at his home in Concord, Massachusetts.^[1] As his death occurred only nine days before the primary, Fingold was the only candidate for Governor on the Republican ballot. Former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Charles Gibbons, former State Public Works Commissioner John A. Volpe, and Assistant Attorney General Joseph P. McKay ran as write-in candidates.^[2]

Robert F. Murphy and Elmer C. Nelson ran unopposed for the Democratic and Republican nominations for Lt. Governor, respectively.

Results

Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary, 1958 ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Charles Gibbons (Write-in)	158,944	84.32%
	Republican	George Fingold (Deceased)	23,031	12.22%
	Republican	John A. Volpe (Write-in)	3,703	1.96%
	Republican	Joseph P. McKay (Write-in)	1,751	0.93%

General election

Governor

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1958

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	Foster Furcolo	1,067,020	56.19%
	Republican	Charles Gibbons	818,463	43.10%
	Socialist Labor	Henning A. Blomen	7,871	0.42%
	Prohibition	Guy S. Williams	5,745	0.30%

Lieutenant Governor

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1958

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	Robert F. Murphy	1,112,001	60.34%
	Republican	Elmer C. Nelson	711,362	38.60%
	Socialist Labor	Francis A. Votano	11,230	0.61%
	Prohibition	Harold E. Bassett	8,300	0.45%

References

1. "George Fingold is Dead at 49. Massachusetts Attorney General; G.O.P.Candidate for Governor Had Campaigned Saturday --Serving Third Term". New York Times. September 1, 1958.
2. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=570867
3. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=570867

Hayden, Irving N.; Grove, Lawrence R. (1959). A Manual for the Use of the General Court for 1959–1960. Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Company. pp. 298–99. Retrieved September 23, 2010.