1968 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

The 1968 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1968.

1968 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

November 5, 1968

Nominee Walter R. Peterson Jr. Emile R. Bussiere Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 149,902 135,378 Percentage 52.53% 47.44%

County results Peterson:      50–60%      60–70% Bussiere:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election John W. King Democratic Elected Governor Walter R. Peterson Jr. Republican

Incumbent Democratic Governor John W. King retired to run for the U.S. Senate.

Republican nominee Walter R. Peterson Jr. defeated Democratic nominee Emile R. Bussiere with 52.53% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 10, 1968.

Candidates

• Emile R. Bussiere, State's attorney for Hillsborough County[1]
• Vincent P. Dunn, New Hampshire Bank Commissioner[2]
• Austin F. Quinney, former member of the Executive Council[3]
• John D. Shea, former State Representative
• Henry P. Sullivan, State Senator

Results

Democratic primary results[4][5][6][7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Emile R. Bussiere	12,021	32.69
	Democratic	Henry P. Sullivan	10,895	29.63
	Democratic	Vincent P. Dunn	10,412	28.31
	Democratic	John D. Shea	1,338	3.64
	Democratic	Write-ins	1,176	3.20
	Democratic	Austin F. Quinney	934	2.54
Total votes			36,776	100.00

Candidates

• Elmer E. Bussey, perennial candidate
• Edward H. Cullen, member of the Executive Council[3]
• Fred Fletcher, member of the Executive Council[3]
• Stuart Hancock, former State Representative[8]
• Walter R. Peterson Jr., Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives[9]
• Wesley Powell, former Governor
• Meldrim Thomson Jr., publisher[10]

Results

Republican primary results[11][5][6][12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Walter R. Peterson Jr.	29,262	34.12
	Republican	Wesley Powell	26,498	30.89
	Republican	Meldrim Thomson Jr.	25,275	29.47
	Republican	Fred Fletcher	2,826	3.30
	Republican	Edward H. Cullen	1,068	1.25
	Republican	Stuart Hancock	424	0.49
	Republican	Elmer E. Bussey	257	0.30
	Republican	Write-ins	162	0.19
Total votes			85,772	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Emile R. Bussiere, Democratic
• Walter R. Peterson Jr., Republican

Results

1968 New Hampshire gubernatorial election[13][14][15][16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Walter R. Peterson Jr.	149,902	52.53%
	Democratic	Emile R. Bussiere	135,378	47.44%
	Write-in	Scattering	62	0.02%
Majority			14,524	5.09%
Turnout			285,342	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

References

1. "Emile R. Bussiere, 1932 - 2008". Legacy.com. New Hampshire Union Leader. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
2. "Vincent P. Dunn". Legacy.com. New Hampshire Union Leader. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
3. "Former Councilors". nh.gov. State of New Hampshire. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
4. Manual for the General Court 1969, p. 544.
5. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 128.
6. America Votes 8, p. 245.
7. "NH Governor, 1968 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
8. Cobleigh, Marshall (2005). We Ain't Making Sausage Here. Portsmouth, NH: Peter E. Randall Publisher. p. 52. ISBN 1-931807-35-3.
9. "Gov. Walter Peterson". National Governors Association. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
10. "New Hampshire Governor Has Lead Over His G.O.P. Opponent". New York Times. New York, NY. 9 September 1970. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
11. Manual for the General Court 1969, p. 543.
12. "NH Governor, 1968 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
13. Manual for the General Court 1969, p. 702.
14. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 68.
15. America Votes 8, p. 240.
16. "NH Governor, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 14 May 2020.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Stark, Robert L., ed. (1969). Manual for the General Court of New Hampshire. 41. Concord, NH: Department of State, New Hampshire.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1970). America Votes 8: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1968. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.