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1966 United States gubernatorial elections

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1966 United States gubernatorial elections

← 1965 November 8, 1966 1967 →

35 governorships
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Seats before 33 17
Seats after 25 25
Seat change Decrease8 Increase8
Seats up 20 15
Seats won 12 23

1966 Alabama gubernatorial election1966 Alaska gubernatorial election1966 Arizona gubernatorial election1966 Arkansas gubernatorial election1966 California gubernatorial election1966 Colorado gubernatorial election1966 Connecticut gubernatorial election1966 Florida gubernatorial election1966 Georgia gubernatorial election1966 Hawaii gubernatorial election1966 Idaho gubernatorial election1966 Iowa gubernatorial election1966 Kansas gubernatorial election1966 Maine gubernatorial election1966 Maryland gubernatorial election1966 Massachusetts gubernatorial election1966 Michigan gubernatorial election1966 Minnesota gubernatorial election1966 Nebraska gubernatorial election1966 Nevada gubernatorial election1966 New Hampshire gubernatorial election1966 New Mexico gubernatorial election1966 New York gubernatorial election1966 Ohio gubernatorial election1966 Oklahoma gubernatorial election1966 Oregon gubernatorial election1966 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election1966 Rhode Island gubernatorial election1966 South Carolina gubernatorial election1966 South Dakota gubernatorial election1966 Tennessee gubernatorial election1966 Texas gubernatorial election1966 Vermont gubernatorial election1966 Wisconsin gubernatorial election1966 Wyoming gubernatorial election
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Republican gain
     No election

United States gubernatorial elections were held on Tuesday November 8, in 35 states. 12 Democratic governors and 23 Republican governors won election, bringing the partisan reflection of the U.S. states to 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans. This election coincided with the Senate and the House elections. As of 2024, this is the last time the amount of governorships each party held was tied.

Alabama

[edit]

Until 1968, Alabama governors were not allowed two successive terms. To circumvent this, Wallace used his wife Lurleen as his stand-in. She died in 1968.[1][2]

Alaska

[edit]

Egan was defeated in 1966, but would be re-elected in 1970 (see 1970 United States gubernatorial elections).

Arizona

[edit]

Arizona operated on governors serving two-year terms until 1970, when Jack Richard Williams was the first governor to be elected to a four-year term.[3][4] He had previously been elected governor for two two-year terms in 1966.[5] and in 1968.[6] Arizona made the switch official from two-year to four-year terms in 1968 with an amendment.[7]

Arizona not only adopted a four-year term for governors starting in the general election of 1970, but also adopted a two consecutive term limit in 1992.[8]

Arkansas

[edit]

Arkansas had two-year terms for governors until 1984, when they switched to four-year terms with Amendment 63.[9]

Winthrop Rockefeller was elected the first Republican governor since Reconstruction.[10] He became the first Republican governor of any former Confederate State since Alfred A. Taylor of Tennessee was defeated in 1922.

California

[edit]

Incumbent governor Pat Brown (Democrat) was defeated in his bid for a third term by future U.S. president Ronald Reagan (Republican).

Florida

[edit]

William Haydon Burns was elected in 1964 for a two-year term because Florida shifted their governors' races from presidential years to midterm years. Starting in 1966, Florida held their four-year gubernatorial races in midterm years.[11]

Kirk was the first Republican governor in the 20th century.[12]

In 1968, Florida adopted a new state constitution, and the governor now had the option to serve two four-year terms in a row.[13][14]

Georgia

[edit]

Maddox was elected by the State Legislature, and Callaway was the first Republican nominee for governor since 1876.[15]

Oklahoma

[edit]

During Henry Bellmon's first term (1963–1967), the Oklahoma Constitution was changed to allow its governor to serve consecutive terms. However, the rule change did not apply to Bellmon. Thus, he was not eligible to serve a second term. He later served another term, from 1987 to 1991.[16]

Results

[edit]
State Incumbent Party Status Opposing candidates
Alabama George Wallace Democratic Term-limited, Democratic victory Lurleen Wallace (Democratic) 63.38%
James D. Martin (Republican) 31.00%
Carl Robinson (Independent) 5.62%
[17]
Alaska William A. Egan Democratic Defeated, 48.37% Wally Hickel (Republican) 50.00%
John F. Grasse (No Party) 1.64%
[18]
Arizona Samuel Pearson Goddard Jr. Democratic Defeated, 46.23% Jack Williams (Republican) 53.77%
[19]
Arkansas Orval Faubus Democratic Retired, Republican victory Winthrop Rockefeller (Republican) 54.36%
James D. Johnson (Democratic) 45.64%
[20]
California Pat Brown Democratic Defeated, 42.27% Ronald Reagan (Republican) 57.55%
Others 0.18%
[21]
Colorado John Arthur Love Republican Re-elected, 54.05% Robert Lee Knous (Democratic) 43.50%
Levi Martinez (New Hispano) 2.45%
[22]
Connecticut John N. Dempsey Democratic Re-elected, 55.68% E. Clayton Gengras (Republican) 44.28%
Others 0.04%
[23]
Florida W. Haydon Burns Democratic Defeated in Democratic runoff, Republican victory[24] Claude R. Kirk, Jr. (Republican) 55.13%
Robert King High (Democratic) 44.86%
Others 0.02%
[25]
Georgia Carl Sanders Democratic Term-limited, Democratic victory Lester Maddox (Democratic) 47.06%
Bo Callaway (Republican) 47.38%
Ellis Arnall (Independent) 5.43%
Others 0.14%
[15]
Hawaii John A. Burns Democratic Re-elected, 51.06% Randolph Crossley (Republican) 48.94%
[26]
Idaho Robert E. Smylie Republican Defeated in Republican primary, Republican victory[27] Don Samuelson (Republican) 41.41%
Cecil Andrus (Democratic) 37.11%
Perry Swisher (Independent) 12.24%
Philip Jungert (Independent) 9.16%
Don Walker (Independent) 0.08%
[28]
Iowa Harold Hughes Democratic Re-elected, 55.34% William G. Murray (Republican) 44.17%
David B. Quiner (American Constitution) 0.41%
Charles Sloca (Iowa) 0.08%
[29]
Kansas William H. Avery Republican Defeated, 43.92% Robert Docking (Democratic) 54.84%
Rolland Ernest Fisher (Prohibition) 0.68%
Carson Crawford (Conservative) 0.56%
[30]
Maine John H. Reed Republican Defeated, 46.88% Kenneth M. Curtis (Democratic) 53.12%
[31]
Maryland J. Millard Tawes Democratic Term-limited, Republican victory Spiro Agnew (Republican) 49.50%
George P. Mahoney (Democratic) 40.61%
Hyman A. Pressman (Independent) n9.88%
[32]
Massachusetts John Volpe Republican Re-elected, 62.58% Edward J. McCormack Jr. (Democratic) 36.88%
Henning A. Blomen (Socialist Labor) 0.32%
John C. Hedges (Prohibition) 0.22%
[33]
Michigan George W. Romney Republican Re-elected, 60.54% Zolton Ferency (Democratic) 39.13%
James Horvath (Socialist Labor) 0.33%
[34]
Minnesota Karl Rolvaag Democratic Defeated, 46.94% Harold LeVander (Republican) 52.55%
Kenneth Sachs (Industrial Government) 0.50%
[35]
Nebraska Frank B. Morrison Democratic Retired, Republican victory Norbert Tiemann (Republican) 61.52%
Philip C. Sorensen (Democratic) 38.44%
Others 0.03%
[36]
Nevada Grant Sawyer Democratic Defeated, 47.84% Paul Laxalt (Republican) 52.16%[37]
New Hampshire John W. King Democratic Re-elected, 53.88% Hugh Gregg (Republican) 45.91%
Others 0.21%
[38]
New Mexico Jack M. Campbell Democratic Term-limited, Republican victory David Cargo (Republican) 51.73%
Thomas E. Lusk (Democratic) 48.26%
Others 0.01%
[39]
New York Nelson Rockefeller Republican Re-elected, 44.61% Frank D. O'Connor (Democratic) 38.11%
Paul Adams (Conservative) 8.46%
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr. (Liberal) 8.41%
Milton Herder (Socialist Labor) 0.21%
Judith White (Socialist Workers) 0.21%
[40]
Ohio Jim Rhodes Republican Re-elected, 62.18% Frazier Reams Jr. (Democratic) 37.82%
[41]
Oklahoma Henry Bellmon Republican Term-limited, Republican victory Dewey F. Bartlett (Republican) 55.68%
Preston J. Moore (Democratic) 43.75%
Harry E. Ingram (Independent) 0.57%
[42]
Oregon Mark Hatfield Republican Term-limited, Republican victory Tom McCall (Republican) 55.26%
Robert W. Straub (Democratic) 44.67%
Others 0.07%
[43]
Pennsylvania William Scranton Republican Term-limited, Republican victory Raymond P. Shafer (Republican) 52.10%
Milton Shapp (Democratic) 46.13%
Edward S. Swartz (Constitutional) 1.41%
George S. Taylor (Socialist Labor) 0.36%
[44]
Rhode Island John Chafee Republican Re-elected, 63.30% Horace E. Hobbs (Democratic) 36.70%[45]
South Carolina Robert Evander McNair Democratic Elected to a full term, 58.16% Joseph O. Rogers Jr. (Republican) 41.84%[46]
South Dakota Nils Boe Republican Re-elected, 57.71% Robert Chamberlin (Democratic) 42.29%[47]
Tennessee Frank G. Clement Democratic Term-limited, Democratic victory Buford Ellington (Democratic) 81.22%
H.L. Crowder (Independent) 9.84%
Charlie Moffett (Independent) 7.65%
Charles Gordon Vick (Independent) 1.28%
Others 0.01%
[48]
Texas John Connally Democratic Re-elected, 72.76% Thomas Everton Kennerly (Republican) 25.81%
Tommye Gillespie (Constitution) 0.73%
Brad Logan (Conservative) 0.69%%
[49]
Vermont Philip H. Hoff Democratic Re-elected, 57.73% Richard A. Snelling (Republican) 42.26%
Others 0.01%
[50]
Wisconsin Warren P. Knowles Republican Re-elected, 53.51% Patrick Lucey (Democratic) 46.09%
Adolf Wiggert (Independent) 0.41%
[51]
Wyoming Clifford Hansen Republican Retired, Republican victory Stanley K. Hathaway (Republican) 54.29%
Ernest Wilkerson (Democratic) 45.71%
[52]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Office of the Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Lurleen B. Wallace (1967-68)". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  3. ^ "AZ Governor". Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Arizona Governor John "Jack" R. Williams". Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  5. ^ "AZ Governor". Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Az Governor". Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  7. ^ David R. Berman (1998). Arizona Politics and Government: The Quest for Autonomy, Democracy, and Development. University of Nebraska Press. p. 112. ISBN 9780803261464. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Term limits on executive department and state officers". Archived from the original on 14 November 2008. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Office of the Governor". Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  10. ^ "History and Timeline". Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  11. ^ "William Haydon Burns". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  12. ^ Bauerlein, David (28 September 2011). "Colorful former Gov. Claude Kirk Jr. 'knew no limits'". Florida Times-Union. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Florida's Constitutional Government". Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  14. ^ "The Florida Constitution". Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  15. ^ a b "GA Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  16. ^ "Oklahoma Governor Henry Louis Bellmon". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  17. ^ "AL Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  18. ^ "AK Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  19. ^ "AZ Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  20. ^ "AR Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  21. ^ "CA Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  22. ^ "CO Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  23. ^ "CT Governor". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  24. ^ "FL Governor D Runoff". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  25. ^ "FL Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  26. ^ "HI Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  27. ^ "ID Governor R Primary". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  28. ^ "ID Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  29. ^ "IA Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  30. ^ "KS Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  31. ^ "ME Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  32. ^ "MD Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  33. ^ "MA Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  34. ^ "MI Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  35. ^ "MN Governor". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  36. ^ "NE Governor". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  37. ^ "NV Governor". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  38. ^ "NH Governor". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  39. ^ "NM Governor". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  40. ^ "NY Governor". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  41. ^ "OH Governor". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  42. ^ "OK Governor". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  43. ^ "OR Governor". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  44. ^ "PA Governor". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  45. ^ "RI Governor". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  46. ^ "SC Governor". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  47. ^ "SD Governor". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  48. ^ "TN Governor". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  49. ^ Texas Almanac, 1968-1969, book, 1967; Dallas, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113809/: accessed February 4, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu
  50. ^ "VT Governor". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  51. ^ "WI Governor". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  52. ^ "WY Governor". Retrieved 9 November 2013.