1970 United States gubernatorial elections
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

United States gubernatorial elections were held on 3 November 1970, in 35 states and two territories. During this election, the Democrats won a number of the governorships up for re-election via many ways, such as retirement of incumbent, term limits, or defeat of incumbent. In 1970,
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
,
New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
and
Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
elected their governors to four-year terms for the first time, having previously elected them to two-year terms. This election coincided with the
Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
and the
House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
elections.


Alabama

In Alabama, Governor
Albert Brewer Albert Preston Brewer (October 26, 1928 – January 2, 2017) was an American politician who was the 47th governor of Alabama from 1968 to 1971. Early life Albert Preston Brewer was born on October 26, 1928, in Bethel Springs, Tennessee, Un ...
(who succeeded to the governorship upon
Lurleen Wallace Lurleen Burns Wallace (born Lurleen Brigham Burns; September 19, 1926 – May 7, 1968) was the List of Governors of Alabama, 46th governor of Alabama for 15 months from January 1967 until her death. She was the first wife of Alabama governor Georg ...
's death in 1968) had to endure a very nasty Democratic primary against former Governor
George Wallace George Corley Wallace Jr. (August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998) was an American politician who served as the 45th governor of Alabama for four terms. A member of the Democratic Party, he is best remembered for his staunch segregationist and ...
. In addition, there were no Republicans in the race for governor. Wallace won the Democratic primary and in November the election.


Alaska

In Alaska, then-Lt. Gov.
Keith Miller Keith Ross Miller (28 November 1919 – 11 October 2004) was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. His ability, irreverent m ...
had gotten the job of governor in 1969 after
Walter Hickel Walter Joseph Hickel (August 18, 1919 – May 7, 2010) was an American businessman, real estate developer, and politician who served as the second governor of Alaska from 1966 to 1969 and 1990 to 1994 and as U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1 ...
resigned to be part of President Nixon's Cabinet. He lost in 1970 to former Governor William Egan.


Arizona

In Arizona, governors were elected to serve two-year terms until 1970, when
Jack Richard Williams John Richard Williams (October 29, 1909 – August 24, 1998) was an American radio announcer and politician. After gaining public recognition throughout Arizona because of his work in radio, he went on to become a two-term mayor of Phoenix, Ari ...
was the first governor to be elected to a four-year term. Previously, Williams had been elected governor twice to two-year terms in 1966 and in 1968. Arizona made the switch official from a two-year term to a four-year term in 1968 with an amendment.


Arkansas

In Arkansas,
Winthrop Rockefeller Winthrop Rockefeller (May 1, 1912 – February 22, 1973) was an American politician and philanthropist. Rockefeller was the fourth son and fifth child of American financer John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. He is one of the g ...
was the first Republican governor in Arkansas since the Reconstruction period. He was defeated in his bid for a third term, by the Democratic challenger
Dale Bumpers Dale Leon Bumpers (August 12, 1925 – January 1, 2016) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 38th Governor of Arkansas (1971–1975) and in the United States Senate (1975–1999). He was a member of the Democratic Party. Prio ...
.


California

Incumbent Republican Governor and future President
Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
was elected to a second term as governor with about 53% of the vote over Speaker of the State Assembly
Jesse Unruh Jesse Marvin Unruh (, ; September 30, 1922 – August 4, 1987), also known as Big Daddy Unruh, was an American politician who served as speaker of the California State Assembly and as the California State Treasurer. Early life and education Born ...
.


Connecticut

Incumbent John Dempsey, a Democrat, did not seek re-election. Sixth District Congressman
Thomas Joseph Meskill Thomas Joseph Meskill Jr. (January 30, 1928 – October 29, 2007) was a longtime United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He previously served as the 82nd governor of Connecticut, as a United St ...
(Republican) defeated First District Congressman
Emilio Q. Daddario Emilio Quincy Daddario (September 24, 1918 – July 7, 2010) was an Americans, American Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician from Connecticut. He served as a member of the 86th United States Congress, 86th through 91st Unite ...
(Democratic) 53.76% to 46.23%.


Colorado

In Colorado,
John Arthur Love John Arthur Love (November 29, 1916 – January 21, 2002) was an American attorney and Republican politician who served as the 36th Governor of the State of Colorado from 1963 to 1973. Early life and education John Arthur Love was born on a fa ...
won re-election. He served until 1973, when he would resign to become the first head of Energy Policy under President Nixon.


Florida

Florida's Claude R. Kirk Jr. was another 'first Republican governor since Reconstruction' as well (he switched from Democrat to Republican early on), and was defeated by the Democrat
Reubin Askew Reubin O'Donovan Askew (September 11, 1928 – March 13, 2014) was an American politician, who served as the 37th governor of Florida from 1971 to 1979. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 7th U.S. Trade representative from 1979 ...
.


Georgia

In Georgia, governors would be limited to one term until
George Busbee George Dekle Busbee Sr. (August 7, 1927 – July 16, 2004), was an American politician who served as the 77th Governor of the State of Georgia from 1975 to 1983, and a senior partner at King & Spalding thereafter. Early life Born in Vienna, Geor ...
was allowed to serve two, and was the first governor to serve two consecutive terms. Future president Jimmy Carter won the election.


Hawaii

In Hawaii, Burns won another term in 1970, but in 1973, Burns had health problems and his Lt. Governor
George Ariyoshi George Ryoichi Ariyoshi ( ja, 有吉 良一, born March 12, 1926) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the third governor of Hawaii from 1974 to 1986. A Democrat, he is Hawaii's longest-serving governor and the first American of ...
, took over-as acting governor, and in 1974, with Burns' retirement, won a term in his own right. Burns died in 1975.


Iowa

Iowa also had its governors serving two-year terms until
Robert D. Ray Robert Dolph Ray (September 26, 1928 – July 8, 2018) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He served as the 38th governor of Iowa from January 16, 1969 to January 14, 1983. During his tenure as governor, Ray served as chair of t ...
won a four-year term in 1974. Previously, Ray had won a two-year term in 1968, a two-year term this year (1970), and would win another two-year term in 1972. Iowa made the four-year term switch official with an amendment to the state's constitution in 1972.


Kansas

Like Arizona and Iowa, Kansas also had its governors serving two-year terms until 1974, when a constitutional amendment was added, creating a four-year term system for governors. Docking was elected governor in 1966, 1968, 1970, and would get elected in 1972. The first governor to get a four-year term was
Robert Frederick Bennett Robert Frederick Bennett (May 23, 1927 – October 9, 2000) was an American lawyer and the 39th governor of Kansas from 1975 to 1979. Biography Bennett was born May 23, 1927, in Kansas City, Missouri. He married Joan Gregory, whom he met at ...
in 1974.


Maine

Beginning with the 1962 governor's race, Maine switched from a two-year term system to a four-year term system for the governors.
John H. Reed John Hathaway Reed (January 5, 1921 – October 31, 2012) was the List of governors of Maine, 67th Governor of Maine, Governor of Maine, holding office during the 1960s. He was once an Aroostook County, Maine, Aroostook County potato farmer. R ...
was the first Maine governor to be elected to a four-year term. Kenneth Curtis was re-elected.


Maryland

In Maryland, Mandel first won the governorship in 1969 in a special election when Agnew resigned in order to become
vice president A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...
. In 1970, Mandel ran for a full term and won.


Massachusetts

In 1966, Massachusetts switched from a two-year to four-year terms for governors, and John A. Volpe was the first Massachusetts governor to be elected to a four-year term. He had previously been elected to two-year terms in 1960 and in 1964. Volpe resigned in 1969 to become President Nixon's Secretary of Transportation.
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 ...
then became acting governor. In 1970, Sargent got a term in his own right.


Michigan

In 1963, Michigan changed governors' terms from two years to four years.
George W. Romney George Wilcken Romney (July 8, 1907 – July 26, 1995) was an American businessman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as chairman and president of American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1962, the 43rd gover ...
had won two-year terms in 1962 and 1964, and a four-year term in 1966. He resigned in 1969 to become President Nixon's Housing and Urban Development Secretary.
William Milliken William Grawn Milliken (March 26, 1922 – October 18, 2019) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 44th governor of Michigan. A member of the Republican Party, he is the longest-serving governor in Michigan history, serv ...
became governor, and got a full term in 1970.


Nebraska

In 1962, voters in Nebraska approved of an amendment, effective with the 1966 governor's race, that switched from two-year to four-year terms for governors. In 1966, the "two consecutive terms" rule was established.
Norbert Tiemann Norbert Theodore "Nobby" Tiemann (July 18, 1924 – June 19, 2012) was an American Republican politician from Wausa, Nebraska, and was the 32nd Governor of Nebraska, serving from 1967 to 1971. Biography Tiemann was born in Minden, Nebraska. He ...
was the first Nebraskan to get a four-year term with the 1966 governor's race.
J. James Exon John James "Jim" Exon (August 9, 1921June 10, 2005) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 33rd Governor of Nebraska from 1971 to 1979, and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1979 to 1997. A member of the Democratic Par ...
was elected governor.


New Mexico

New Mexico also had a two-year term for governors until 1970, when the state constitution was changed to a four-year term for governors-without being allowed to have two consecutive terms. As for the "no two consecutive terms" rule, that was still on the books until 1991, when thanks to a change in the state's constitution,
Bruce King Bruce King (April 6, 1924 – November 13, 2009) was an American businessman and politician who for three non-consecutive four-year terms was the governor of New Mexico. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the longest-serving governor in Ne ...
was eligible for two consecutive terms. King was elected to the first of three non-consecutive terms.


New York

In New York, Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller won re-election to a fourth term. Rockefeller served until 1973, when he resigned.


Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, although the constitution was changed to allow governors to have two consecutive terms, the rule didn't apply to then current Gov. Raymond P. Shafer. The election was won by
Milton Shapp Milton Jerrold Shapp (born Milton Jerrold Shapiro; June 25, 1912 – November 24, 1994) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 40th governor of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979 and the first Jewish governor of Pennsylvania. H ...
.


South Carolina

Governors in South Carolina weren't allowed two consecutive terms until 1980, when an amendment to the constitution was added.
Richard Riley Richard Wilson Riley (born January 2, 1933) is an American politician, the United States Secretary of Education under President Bill Clinton and the 111th governor of South Carolina. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Riley is the only D ...
was the first South Carolina governor to have two consecutive terms with his 1982 re-election. John C. West won election.


South Dakota

South Dakota also had governors on two-year terms until 1972, when a constitutional amendment allowed the governor to have a four-year term. Richard F. Kneip would be the first governor to be elected to a four-year term, though he resigned to accept an appointment. Kneip, elected governor for a two-year term this year (1970), would be re-elected for another two-year term in 1972.


Tennessee

In 1978, Tennessee changed its constitution to allow the governors to serve two consecutive terms.
Winfield Dunn Bryant Winfield Culberson Dunn (born July 1, 1927) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 43rd governor of Tennessee from 1971 to 1975. He was the state's first Republican governor in fifty years.Phillip Langsdon, ''Tennessee ...
was elected this (1970) year.


Wisconsin

In 1968, Wisconsin changed its constitution from a two-year term for governor to a four-year term. Upon his election this year,
Patrick Lucey Patrick Joseph Lucey (March 21, 1918 – May 10, 2014) was an American politician. A member of the United States Democratic Party, Democratic Party, he served as the List of governors of Wisconsin, 38th Governor of Wisconsin from 1971 to 1977. ...
would become the first governor to serve a four-year term (see Wisconsin gubernatorial elections).


Wyoming

Governor
Stanley K. Hathaway Stanley Knapp Hathaway (July 19, 1924 – October 4, 2005) was an American politician who served as the 27th Governor of Wyoming from 1967 to 1975, and would later serve as United States Secretary of the Interior under President Gerald Ford ...
won re-election to a second four-year term.


United States gubernatorial elections 1970 chart


States


Territories


See also

*
1970 United States elections The 1970 United States elections were held on November 3, and elected the members of the 92nd United States Congress. The election took place during the Vietnam War, in the middle of Republican President Richard Nixon's first term. Nixon and Vice ...
** 1970 United States Senate elections ** 1970 United States House of Representatives elections


References

{{U.S. gubernatorial elections November 1970 events in the United States