1964 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

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 then Lieutenant Governor Francis X. Bellotti in the general election.[1]

1964 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
November 3, 1964
 
Nominee John Volpe Francis Bellotti
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,176,462 1,153,416
Percentage 50.27% 49.29%
Municipal results
Governor before election

Endicott Peabody
Democratic

 Elected Governor

John Volpe
Republican

Elections in Massachusetts

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 the governor's term of office was extended from two to four years.

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates
Declared
Declined

Results
1964 Democratic gubernatorial primary[3]
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%
Total votes 733,062 100.00%

Lieutenant Governor

Candidates
Declared
Withdrew following convention
  • Joseph E. McGuire, Worcester attorney
Withdrew at convention
  • Joseph G. Bradley, State Representative
  • Edward F. Harrington, Mayor of New Bedford
  • George P. Macheras, Lowell City Councilor
  • Rico Matera, former State Representative
Eliminated at convention
  • Joseph Alecks
  • James A. DeGuglielmo
  • Daniel Dibble, Mayor of Holyoke
  • Thomas S. Eisenstadt, member of the Boston School Committee
  • George H. O'Fannell, State Representative
  • Andre R. Sigourney, State Representative
  • Mario Umana, State Senator
  • Harold L. Vaughn

Convention

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 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 to win the nomination. The same happened on the third (687 votes for Costello to McGuire's 656 and Umana's 172). 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.[4]

Results

Costello was unopposed for the nomination for Lieutenant Governor.

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates
Declared

Results

Volpe ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Lieutenant Governor

Candidates
Declared

Results

Richardson ran unopposed in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor.

General election

Results

Governor

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.[5]

1964 Massachusetts gubernatorial election [1]
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%

Lieutenant Governor

Former United States Attorney Elliot L. Richardson defeated executive councillor John W. Costello in the race for lieutenant governor.[6]

1964 Massachusetts Lt. gubernatorial election [1]
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. "Our Campaigns - MA Governor Race - Nov 03, 1964". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  2. "Democrats Close Ranks Behind Lt. Gov. Bellotti". Hartford Courant. September 12, 1964.
  3. "Our Campaigns - MA Governor - D Primary Race - Sep 15, 1964". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  4. Hanron, Robert B. (June 21, 1964). "Democrats Wind It Up". The Boston Globe.
  5. "Republicans Gain One Governor's Mansion". Los Angeles Times. November 5, 1964.
  6. "Our Campaigns - MA Lt. Governor Race - Nov 03, 1964". www.ourcampaigns.com.
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