Maine gubernatorial election, 1960

Maine gubernatorial election, 1960

November 1, 1960

Nominee John H. Reed Frank M. Coffin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 219,768 197,447 Percentage 52.67% 47.33%

Election results by county Republican (Red), Democrat (Blue)

Governor before election John H. Reed Republican Elected Governor John H. Reed Republican

The 1960 Maine gubernatorial election was a special election held to officially elect a governor following the death of Governor Clinton Clauson. It took place on November 1, 1960 with Republican Governor John Reed (who, as Maine Senate President, automatically took office upon Clauson's death) defeating Democrat Frank M. Coffin.

The election was also the first time since Maine was admitted to the Union that the state did not hold its election in September. Traditionally, Maine had held its elections two months before the rest of the nation, which had help give birth to the phrase "As Maine goes, so goes the nation" and its status as a bellwether state. However, following a 1957 referendum, the state constitution was amended to hold all elections after 1958 in November.

Results

1960 Gubernatorial Special Election, Maine[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John H. Reed	219,768	52.67%	-
	Democratic	Frank M. Coffin	197,447	47.33%	-
Majority			22,321	5.35%

Notes

1. Guide to US Elections, Fifth Edition, Volume II. CQ Press. 2005. pp. 1497–1499. ISBN 978-1-56802-981-8.