1970 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

The 1970 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. Acting Governor Francis W. Sargent was elected to a four-year term.[1] He defeated incumbent Boston Mayor Kevin H. White in the general election.[2]

1970 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

November 3, 1970

Nominee Francis Sargent Kevin White Party Republican Democratic Running mate Donald R. Dwight Michael Dukakis Popular vote 1,058,623 799,269 Percentage 56.67% 42.79%

Municipal results

Governor before election Francis Sargent Republican Elected Governor Francis Sargent Republican

This was the first Massachusetts election in which the governor and lieutenant governor were elected as a ticket rather than separately.

Republican primary

Declared

• Francis Sargent, acting Governor

Acting Governor Francis Sargent was unopposed for renomination.

Declared

• Donald R. Dwight, Commissioner of Finance and Administration

Eliminated at convention

• Frank Harlan Freedman, Mayor of Springfield
• John M. Quinlan, State Senator

Withdrew

• Martin A. Linsky, State Representative

Convention

With Sargent's support, Dwight won the endorsement of the state party at the Republican convention.[3] State Rep. Martin A. Linsky was Sargent's original choice for the nomination, however two weeks before the convention, Linsky dropped out of the race after it was revealed that police officers had once stopped his car and informed him that the woman was traveling with was a prostitute. After Linsky dropped out, Sargent endorsed Dwight.[4]

Democratic primary

Declared

• Francis X. Bellotti, former Lieutenant Governor
• Maurice A. Donahue, President of the Massachusetts Senate
• Kenneth O'Donnell, former aide to President John F. Kennedy
• Kevin White, mayor of Boston

Convention

Donahue won the vote of the state convention held on June 15 at the Curry Hicks Cage. Donahue received 697 votes, White received 589, and the remaining 78 went to Bellotti.[5]

Results

Despite losing at the convention, White went on to win the Democratic Primary, defeating Donahue by 12,940 votes.[6]

Primary results by municipality

1970 Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary [7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Kevin H. White	231,605	34.33%
	Democratic	Maurice A. Donahue	218,665	32.42%
	Democratic	Francis X. Bellotti	164,313	24.36%
	Democratic	Kenneth O'Donnell	59,970	8.89%
	Write-in	All others	24	0.00%

Declared

• Rocco Antonelli, Somerville Treasurer
• John J. Craven, Jr., member of Boston School Committee
• Kathleen Ryan Dacey, member of Boston School Committee
• Michael Dukakis, State Representative
• James McCormack, attorney

Results

1970 Massachusetts Democratic Lieutenant gubernatorial primary [8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Michael Dukakis	283,849	46.03%
	Democratic	James McCormack	150,901	24.47%
	Democratic	Rocco Antonelli	79,348	12.87%
	Democratic	Kathleen Ryan Dacey	54,205	8.79%
	Democratic	John J. Craven, Jr.	48,300	7.83%
	Write-in	All others	12	0.00%

General election

Sargent defeated White by 259,354 votes. He won 11 of the Massachusetts' 14 counties and beat White in his home city of Boston 54–45%.[9]

Results

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1970

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Francis W. Sargent (Donald R. Dwight)	1,058,623	56.67%
	Democratic	Kevin H. White (Michael Dukakis)	799,269	42.79%
	Socialist Labor	Henning A. Blomen (Francis A. Votano)	6,747	0.36%
	Prohibition	John C. Hedges (Albert E. Bates)	3,189	0.17%
	Write-in	All others	78	0.00%

References

1. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174328
2. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=51798
3. Nyhan, David (June 28, 1970). "Dwight Defeats Quinlan on 1st Ballot". The Boston Globe.
4. "Moderate Named As Kennedy Foe". Associated Press. June 28, 1970. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
5. Jeff Bradley (June 15, 1970). "Donahue Given Endorsement By De mocrats in Bay State". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
6. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=557900
7. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=557900
8. Election Statistics.
9. Election Statistics.