1970 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

The 1970 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970.

1970 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

November 3, 1970

Nominee Walter R. Peterson Jr. Roger J. Crowley Meldrim Thomson Jr. Party Republican Democratic American Popular vote 102,298 98,098 22,033 Percentage 45.99% 44.10% 9.91%

County results Peterson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Crowley:      50–60%

Governor before election Walter R. Peterson Jr. Republican Elected Governor Walter R. Peterson Jr. Republican

Incumbent Republican Governor Walter R. Peterson Jr. defeated Democratic nominee Roger J. Crowley with 45.99% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 8, 1970.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Roger J. Crowley, former State Commissioner of Resources and Economic Development[1]
• Dennis J. Sullivan, Mayor of Nashua[1]
• Charles F. Whittemore, former State Commissioner of Health and Welfare[1]

Results

Democratic primary results[2][3][4][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Roger J. Crowley	17,089	47.48
	Democratic	Charles F. Whittemore	13,354	37.10
	Democratic	Dennis J. Sullivan	4,747	13.19
	Democratic	Write-ins	804	2.23
Total votes			35,994	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Elmer E. Bussey, perennial candidate
• Walter R. Peterson Jr., incumbent Governor
• Meldrim Thomson Jr., publisher and unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for Governor in 1968[1]

Results

Republican primary results[2][3][4][6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Walter R. Peterson Jr.	43,667	50.87
	Republican	Meldrim Thomson Jr.	41,392	48.22
	Republican	Elmer E. Bussey	612	0.71
	Republican	Write-ins	162	0.19
Total votes			85,833	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Robert J. Crowley, Democratic
• Walter R. Peterson Jr., Republican
• Meldrim Thomson Jr., American. Having been defeated in the Republican primary, Thomson stood for George Wallace's American Party.[7][8]

Results

1970 New Hampshire gubernatorial election[9][10][11][12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Walter R. Peterson Jr.	102,298	45.99%
	Democratic	Robert J. Crowley	98,098	44.10%
	American	Meldrim Thomson Jr.	22,033	9.91%
	Write-in	Scattering	12	0.01%
Majority			4,200	1.89%
Turnout			222,441	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "New Hampshire Governor Has Lead Over His G.O.P. Opponent". New York Times. New York, NY. 9 September 1970. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
2. Manual for the General Court 1971, p. 304.
3. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 128.
4. America Votes 9, p. 215.
5. "NH Governor, 1970 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
6. "NH Governor, 1970 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
7. "Thomson Joins Presidential Race". New York Times. New York, NY. 1 November 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
8. Bernotas, Adolphe V. (20 April 2001). "Former Gov. Thomson dead at 89". Portsmouth Herald. Portsmouth, NH. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
9. Manual for the General Court 1971, p. 456.
10. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 68.
11. America Votes 9, p. 211.
12. "NH Governor, 1970". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 10 May 2020.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Stark, Robert L., ed. (1971). Manual for the General Court of New Hampshire. 42. Concord, NH: Department of State, New Hampshire.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1972). America Votes 9: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1970. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.