1966_Massachusetts_general_election
The 1966 Massachusetts general election was held on November 8, 1966, throughout Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 13.
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Part of the 1966 United States elections | ||||
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At the federal level, Republican Edward Brooke was elected to the United States Senate over Democrat Endicott Peabody and Democrats won seven of twelve seats in the United States House of Representatives. Former Speaker of the House Joseph W. Martin Jr. was the only incumbent not re-elected, after his defeat in the Republican primary against Margaret Heckler.
In the race for Governor, incumbent Republican governor John Volpe defeated Democratic challenger Edward J. McCormack Jr. 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 for all state officers was extended from two to four years.
Republican John A. Volpe was re-elected over Democrat Edward J. McCormack, Jr., Socialist Labor candidate Henning A. Blomen, and Prohibition candidate John C. Hedges.
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Lt. Governor Elliott Richardson did not run for re-election. Republican Francis W. Sargent was elected Lieutenant Governor over Democrat Joseph E. McGuire.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Francis Sargent, Commissioner of Public Works
Declined
- Elliot Richardson, 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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph E. McGuire | 307,560 | 54.82% | |
| Democratic | Herbert L. Connolly | 235,808 | 45.17% | |
| Write-in | 7 | 0.00% | ||
| Total votes | 543,375 | 100.00% | ||
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.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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| Republican | Francis W. Sargent | 1,059,846 | 54.58% |  4.36 | |
| Democratic | Joseph E. McGuire | 859,907 | 44.28% |  4.83 | |
| Socialist Labor | Francis A. Votano | 14,822 | 0.76% | 0.33 | |
| Prohibition | Grace F. Luder | 7,202 | 0.37% | 0.13 | |
| Write-in | 66 | 0.00% | |||
| Total votes | 1,941,843 | 100.00% | |||
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Incumbent Attorney General Edward Brooke did not run for re-election.
Republican Lt. Governor Elliot Richardson defeated former Democrat Lt. Governor Francis X. Bellotti to win the open race.
As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican was elected Attorney General of Massachusetts 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, former Governor (1957–61)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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| Democratic | Francis X. Bellotti | 349,844 | 56.91% | |
| Democratic | Foster Furcolo | 146,137 | 23.77% | |
| Democratic | Robert DeGiacomo | 118,700 | 19.31% | |
| Write-in | 16 | 0.01% | ||
| Total votes | 614,697 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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| Republican | Elliot Richardson | 1,036,739 | 51.84% | 15.34 | |
| Democratic | Francis X. Bellotti | 946,219 | 47.31% | 14.83 | |
| Socialist Workers | Edgar E. Gaudet | 16,901 | 0.85% | 0.64 | |
| Write-in | 48 | 0.00% |  | ||
| Total votes | 1,999,907 | 100.00% | |||
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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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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| Democratic | Kevin White (incumbent) | 1,357,131 | 70.03% | 1.17 | |
| Republican | Raymond Trudel | 562,708 | 29.04% | 0.89 | |
| Prohibition | F. Oliver Drake | 9,289 | 0.48% | 0.20 | |
| Socialist Workers | Willy N. Hogseth | 8,625 | 0.45% | 0.07 | |
| Write-in | 4 | 0.00% | | ||
| Total votes | 1,937,757 | 100.00% | |||
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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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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| Democratic | Robert Q. Crane (incumbent) | 1,197,981 | 62.55% | 1.59 | |
| Republican | Joseph Fernandes | 689,367 | 35.99% | 0.71 | |
| Socialist Workers | Domenico DiGirolamo | 18,819 | 0.98% | 0.61 | |
| Prohibition | Julia Kohler | 9,203 | 0.48% | 0.19 | |
| Write-in | 27 | 0.00% | | ||
| Total votes | 1,915,397 | 100.00% | |||
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Incumbent Auditor 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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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| Democratic | Thaddeus M. Buczko (incumbent) | 336,187 | 60.25% | |
| Democratic | James H. Kelly | 221,805 | 39.75% | |
| Write-in | 7 | 0.00% | ||
| Total votes | 557,999 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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| Democratic | Thaddeus M. Buczko (incumbent) | 1,102,844 | 57.08% | 1.30 | |
| Republican | John J. Buckley | 808,584 | 41.85% | 1.19 | |
| Socialist Workers | August Johnson | 12,479 | 0.65% | 0.22 | |
| Prohibition | Roger I. Williams | 8,196 | 0.42% | 0.11 | |
| Write-in | 4 | 0.00% | | ||
| Total votes | 1,932,107 | 100.00% | |||
Republican Edward Brooke was elected over Democrat Endicott Peabody, Socialist Labor candidate Lawrence Gilfedder, and Prohibition candidate Mark R. Shaw.