The 1966 Massachusetts general election was held on November 8, 1966, throughout
.
Primary election
Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...
s took place on September 13.
At the federal level, Republican
Edward Brooke
Edward William Brooke III (October 26, 1919 – January 3, 2015) was an American politician of the Republican Party, who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1967 until 1979. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served as th ...
was elected to the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
over Democrat
Endicott Peabody
Endicott Howard Peabody (February 15, 1920 – December 2, 1997) was an American politician from Massachusetts. A Democrat, he served a single two-year term as the 62nd Governor of Massachusetts, from 1963 to 1965. His tenure is probably b ...
and Democrats won seven of twelve seats in the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
. Former Speaker of the House
Joseph W. Martin Jr.
Joseph William Martin Jr. (November 3, 1884 – March 6, 1968) was an American Republican Party (United States), Republican politician who served as the List of speakers of the United States House of Representatives, 44th speaker of the United Sta ...
was the only incumbent not re-elected, after his defeat in the Republican primary against
Margaret Heckler
Margaret Mary Heckler (née O'Shaughnessy; June 21, 1931 – August 6, 2018) was an American politician and diplomat who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1967 until 1983. A member of the Republican Party, she als ...
.
In the race for Governor, incumbent Republican governor
John Volpe
John Anthony Volpe (; December 8, 1908November 11, 1994) was an American businessman, diplomat, and politician from Massachusetts. A son of Italian immigrants, he founded and owned a large construction firm. Politically, he was a Republican in i ...
defeated Democratic challenger
Edward J. McCormack Jr.
Edward Joseph McCormack Jr. (August 29, 1923 – February 27, 1997), was an American attorney and politician from Massachusetts. He was most notable for serving as Massachusetts Attorney General from 1959 through 1963.
Personal life and educat ...
Overall, Republicans won three of the six elected state-wide offices. Incumbents were re-elected in four races.
This was the first election in which the
term of office
A term of office, electoral term, or parliamentary term is the length of time a person serves in a particular elected office. In many jurisdictions there is a defined limit on how long terms of office may be before the officeholder must be subject ...
for all state officers was extended from two to four years.
Governor
Republican
John A. Volpe was re-elected over Democrat
Edward J. McCormack, Jr.
Edward Joseph McCormack Jr. (August 29, 1923 – February 27, 1997), was an American attorney and politician from Massachusetts. He was most notable for serving as Massachusetts Attorney General from 1959 through 1963.
Personal life and educat ...
, Socialist Labor candidate
Henning A. Blomen
Henning A. Blomen (September 28, 1910 – July 14, 1993) was an American politician who was candidate for President of the United States, United States President of the Socialist Labor Party of America in 1968 United States presidential election ...
, and Prohibition candidate
John C. Hedges.
Lieutenant governor
Lt. Governor
Elliott Richardson
Elliott Richardson (born October 26, 1985 in Toronto, Ontario) is a professional Canadian football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders. Elliott attended Richvi ...
did not run for re-election. Republican
Francis W. Sargent
Francis Williams Sargent (July 29, 1915 – October 22, 1998) was an American politician who served as the 64th governor of Massachusetts from 1969 to 1975. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 63rd Lieutenant Govern ...
was elected Lieutenant Governor over Democrat
Joseph E. McGuire.
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Francis Sargent
Francis Williams Sargent (July 29, 1915 – October 22, 1998) was an American politician who served as the 64th governor of Massachusetts from 1969 to 1975. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 63rd Lieutenant Govern ...
, Commissioner of Public Works
=Declined
=
*
Elliot Richardson
Elliot Lee Richardson (July 20, 1920December 31, 1999) was an American lawyer and public servant who was a member of the cabinet of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. As U.S. Attorney General, he was a prominent figure in the Watergate ...
, incumbent Lieutenant Governor (running for Attorney General)
Results
Francis Sargent was unopposed for the nomination.
Democratic primary
Candidates
*
Herbert L. Connolly, auto dealer
*
Joseph E. McGuire, attorney from Worcester
Results
General election
Results
Francis W. Sargent defeated Joseph E. McGuire by 199,939 votes. It was the last general election in which the Governor and Lt. Governor were elected separately.
Attorney general
Incumbent
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general.
In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
Edward Brooke did not run for re-election.
Republican Lt. Governor
Elliot Richardson
Elliot Lee Richardson (July 20, 1920December 31, 1999) was an American lawyer and public servant who was a member of the cabinet of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. As U.S. Attorney General, he was a prominent figure in the Watergate ...
defeated former Democrat Lt. Governor
Francis X. Bellotti to win the open race.
As of , this is the last time a Republican was elected
Attorney General of Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected constitutionally defined executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The officeholder is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The officeholder al ...
and Richardson remains the last Republican to serve in the office.
Democratic primary
Candidates
*
Francis X. Bellotti, former Lieutenant Governor (1963–65) and nominee for Governor in 1964
*Robert DeGiacomo
*
Foster Furcolo
John Foster Furcolo (July 29, 1911 – July 5, 1995) was an American lawyer, writer, and Democratic Party politician from Massachusetts. He was the state's 60th governor, and also represented the state as a member of the United States House of ...
, former Governor (1957–61)
Results
General election
Results
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Incumbent
Secretary of the Commonwealth Kevin White, defeated Republican Raymond Trudel, Socialist Labor candidate Willy N. Hogseth, and Prohibition candidate F. Oliver Drake in the general election.
General election
Results
Treasurer and Receiver-General
Incumbent
Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane defeated Republican Joseph Fernandes, Socialist Labor candidate Domenico DiGirolamo, and Prohibition candidate Julia Kohler in the general election.
General election
Results
Auditor
Incumbent
Auditor
An auditor is a person or a firm appointed by a company to execute an audit.Practical Auditing, Kul Narsingh Shrestha, 2012, Nabin Prakashan, Nepal To act as an auditor, a person should be certified by the regulatory authority of accounting and au ...
Thaddeus M. Buczko defeated state representative
James H. Kelly in the Democratic primary.
In the general election, Buczko defeated Republican
John J. Buckley, Socialist Labor candidate August Johnson, and Prohibition candidate Roger I. Williams in the general election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
*
Thaddeus M. Buczko, incumbent Auditor
*
James H. Kelly, State Representative
Results
General election
Results
United States Senate
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
Edward Brooke
Edward William Brooke III (October 26, 1919 – January 3, 2015) was an American politician of the Republican Party, who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1967 until 1979. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served as th ...
was elected over
Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
Endicott Peabody
Endicott Howard Peabody (February 15, 1920 – December 2, 1997) was an American politician from Massachusetts. A Democrat, he served a single two-year term as the 62nd Governor of Massachusetts, from 1963 to 1965. His tenure is probably b ...
,
Socialist Labor candidate Lawrence Gilfedder, and
Prohibition
Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic ...
candidate
Mark R. Shaw.
See also
*
165th Massachusetts General Court (1967–1968)
References
{{Massachusetts Elections