1958 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
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.
.svg.png){kind=small} | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
 County results Furcolo: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Gibbons: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
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.
Democratic primary
Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Foster Furcolo, incumbent Governor
Results
Governor Furcolo was unopposed for renomination.
Lt. Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Robert F. Murphy, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
Results
Lt. Governor Murphy was unopposed for renomination.
Republican primary
Governor
Candidates
Declared
On ballot
- George Fingold, Massachusetts Attorney General (died August 31)
Write-in candidates
- Charles Gibbons, former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and nominee for Lt. Governor in 1956
- Joseph P. McKay, Assistant Attorney General
- John Volpe, former Public Works Commissioner
Campaign
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]
Results
| 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% | |
| Write-in | All others | 1,081 | 0.57% | |
Lt. Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Elmer C. Nelson, former Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party
Results
Nelson was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
General election
Governor
Results
| 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
Results
| 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
- "George Fingold is Dead at 49. Massachusetts Attorney General; G.O.P.Candidate for Governor Had Campaigned Saturday --Serving Third Term". The New York Times. September 1, 1958.
- http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=570867
- 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.