1968 Indiana gubernatorial election

The 1968 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1968.

1968 Indiana gubernatorial election

November 5, 1968

Nominee Edgar Whitcomb Robert L. Rock Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,080,271 965,816 Percentage 52.72% 47.13%

County results Whitcomb:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Rock:      50–60%

Governor before election Roger D. Branigin Democratic Elected Governor Edgar Whitcomb Republican

Incumbent Democratic Governor Roger D. Branigin was term-limited.

Republican nominee Edgar Whitcomb defeated Democratic nominee Robert L. Rock with 52.72% of the vote.

Nominations

Until 1976, all nominations for statewide office in Indiana were made by state conventions.[1][2]

Candidates

• Richard C. Bodine, former Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
• Robert L. Rock, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Results

The Democratic convention was held on June 21, 1968.[3][4]

Democratic convention results[3][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert L. Rock	953	49.33
	Democratic	Richard C. Bodine	951	49.23
		Absent/not voting	28	1.45
Total votes			1,932	100.00

Candidates

• Dr. Otis Bowen, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
• Earl Butz, former Assistant United States Secretary of Agriculture
• Edgar Whitcomb, incumbent Secretary of State of Indiana

Results

The Republican convention was held on June 18, 1968.[6][7]

Republican convention results[6][8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Edgar Whitcomb	1,260	56.86
	Republican	Otis Bowen	527	23.78
	Republican	Earl Butz	429	19.36
Total votes			2,216	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Melvin E. Hawk, Prohibition
• Robert L. Rock, Democratic
• Edgar Whitcomb, Republican

Results

1968 Indiana gubernatorial election[9][10][11][12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Edgar Whitcomb	1,080,271	52.72%
	Democratic	Robert L. Rock	965,816	47.13%
	Prohibition	Melvin E. Hawk	2,985	0.15%
Majority			114,455	5.59%
Turnout			2,049,072	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

Lieutenant governor

1968 Indiana lieutenant gubernatorial election[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Richard E. Folz	1,086,704	54.00%
	Democratic	James W. Beatty	922,352	45.83%
	Prohibition	James G. Harkless	3,277	0.16%
Majority			164,352	8.17%
Turnout			2,012,333	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

References

1. America Votes 8, p. 116.
2. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 112.
3. Myers, Hortense (22 June 1968). "Rock wins Demo governor's spot". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, IN. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
4. Butters, Mary Ann (22 June 1968). "Demo Women Take Active Part in Helping Favorite Candidates". Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 6. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
5. Foughty, Trevor (14 June 2018). "That wild 1968 Indiana Democrat convention" (PDF). Howey Politics Indiana. Vol. 23 no. 41. Kokomo, Indiana. p. 7. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
6. Cadou, Eugene J. (19 June 1968). "Municipal vote gives Whitcomb the GOP nod". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, IN. p. 1. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
7. Foughty, Trevor (15 June 2018). "The close convention upset that history mostly forgot". Capital & Washington. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
8. "IN Governor, 1968 - R Convention". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
9. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 50.
10. America Votes 8, p. 107.
11. "IN Governor, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
12. "1968 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
13. "1968 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results – Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved 4 June 2020.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1970). America Votes 8: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1968. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.
• Brown, Otis R.; Du Bois, William (2000). Doc: Memories from a Life in Public Service. Bloomington, Illinois: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-33767-4.