Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1964

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1964

November 3, 1964

Nominee John A. Volpe Francis X. Bellotti Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,176,462 1,153,416 Percentage 50.27% 49.29%

Governor before election Endicott Peabody Democratic Elected Governor John A. Volpe Republican

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.

Conventions

There were fourteen Democratic candidates for Lieutenant Governor going into the convention. Before the balloting began, three candidates (New Bedford Mayor Edward F. Harrington, Lowell City Councilor George P. Macheras, and former state representative Rico Matera) withdrew. On the first ballot, Massachusetts Governor's Councilor John W. Costello led with 428 votes to Worcester attorney and Industrial Accident Board member Joseph E. McGuire's 404, state senator Mario Umana's 250, and state representative Joseph G. Bradley's 112. The other seven candidates (James A. DeGuglielmo, Harold L. Vaughn, Boston school committee member Thomas S. Eisenstadt, state comptroller Joseph Alecks, Holyoke mayor Daniel F. Dibble, and state representatives Andre R. Sigourney and George H. O'Fannell.) received less than the 100 votes required to remain on the ballot and Bradley chose to drop out, which left Costello, McGuire, and Umana as the only remaining candidates. Costello led again on the second ballot, with 641 votes to McGuire's 600 and Umana's 343, but did not receive enough votes (733) to win the nomination. The same happened on the third (687 votes for Costello to McGuire's 656 and Umana's 172), however on the fourth ballot, Umana fell to 99 votes, which eliminated him from the contest. On the fifth and final ballot Costello won the party's endorsement by defeating McGuire 724 votes to 691.^[3]

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.^[4] Bellotti won the primary despite Peabody having the backing of most of the Party leadership, including Peabody's longtime close friend, Senator Ted Kennedy.^[5]

Volpe ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

1964 Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary ^[6]

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 Democrats gained seats in the United States House of Representatives and Senate and Lyndon Johnson won the Presidential election in a landslide.^[7]

1964 Massachusetts gubernatorial election ^[8]

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.^[9]

1964 Massachusetts Lt. gubernatorial election ^[10]

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. Hanron, Robert B. (June 21, 1964). "Democrats Wind It Up". The Boston Globe.
4. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=547233
5. "The Nation". Los Angeles Times. September 13, 1964.
6. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=547233
7. "Republicans Gain One Governor's Mansion". Los Angeles Times. November 5, 1964.
8. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174326
9. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=413427
10. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174326