1976 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

The 1976 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Republican Governor Meldrim Thomson Jr. defeated Democratic nominee Harry V. Spanos with 57.66% of the vote.

1976 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

November 2, 1976

Nominee Meldrim Thomson Jr. Harry V. Spanos Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 197,589 145,015 Percentage 57.66% 42.32%

County results Thomson:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Spanos:      50-60%

Governor before election Meldrim Thomson Jr. Republican Elected Governor Meldrim Thomson Jr. Republican

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 14, 1976.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Carmen C. Chimento, American Independent Party candidate for the 1974 and 1975 United States Senate elections in New Hampshire
• James A. Connor, former county attorney for Hillsborough County
• Hugh J. Gallen, State Representative[1]
• Harry V. Spanos, former State Senator

Results

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Harry V. Spanos	21,589	40.26
	Democratic	James A. Connor	15,758	29.39
	Democratic	Hugh J. Gallen	13,629	32.52
	Democratic	Write-ins	1,406	2.63
	Democratic	Carmen C. Chimento	1,242	2.32
Total votes			53,624	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ralph Brewster
• Meldrim Thomson Jr., incumbent Governor
• Gerald J. Zeiller, former staffer to Senators Styles Bridges and Norris Cotton[6]

Results

Republican primary results[7][3][4][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Meldrim Thomson Jr.	52,968	64.26
	Republican	Gerald J. Zeiller	26,728	32.43
	Republican	Ralph W. Brewster	2,257	2.74
	Republican	Write-ins	471	0.57
Total votes			82,424	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Harry Spanos, Democratic
• Meldrim Thomson, Republican

Results

1976 New Hampshire gubernatorial election[8][9][10][11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Meldrim Thomson Jr.	197,589	57.66%
	Democratic	Harry V. Spanos	145,015	42.32%
	Write-in	Scattering	65	0.02%
Majority			52,574	15.34%
Turnout			342,669	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "Gov. Hugh J. Gallen". www.nga.gov. National Governors Association. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
2. "NH Governor, 1976 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
3. Manual for the General Court 1977, p. 320.
4. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 128.
5. America Votes 12, p. 247.
6. Lydon, Christopher (12 September 1976). "Vermont Governor in Close Democratic Senate Race As 4 New England States Hold Primaries Tuesday". New York Times. New York, NY. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
7. "NH Governor, 1976 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
8. "NH Governor, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
9. Manual for the General Court 1977, p. 567.
10. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 68.
11. America Votes 12, p. 240.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Kelley, Edward C., ed. (1977). Manual for the General Court of New Hampshire. 45. Concord, NH: Department of State, New Hampshire.
• Scammon, Richard M.; McGillivray, Alice V. (1977). America Votes 12: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1976. Washington, D.C.: Elections Research Center.