Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1956

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1956

November 6, 1956

Nominee Foster Furcolo Sumner G. Whittier Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,234,618 1,096,759 Percentage 52.76% 46.87%

Governor before election Christian A. Herter Republican Elected Governor Foster Furcolo Democratic

The 1956 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1956. Democrat Foster Furcolo was elected Governor of Massachusetts to replace incumbent Christian Herter, who did not run for re-election. Furcolo defeated Republican Sumner G. Whittier, Socialist Labor candidate Henning A. Blomen, and Prohibition candidate Mark R. Shaw.

In the race for Lieutenant Governor, Democrat Robert F. Murphy defeated Republican Charles Gibbons, Prohibition candidate Harold E. Bassett, and Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano.

Primaries

Former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts Foster Furcolo defeated former Massachusetts Auditor Thomas Henry Buckley for the Democratic nomination. Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Sumner Whittier ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1956 [1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Foster Furcolo	358,051	78.65%
	Democratic	Thomas Henry Buckley	131,496	21.35%

In the lieutenant gubernatorial race, former State Representative Robert F. Murphy defeated Executive Councilor George A. Wells and former State Representative James A. Burke for the Democratic nomination. Former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Charles Gibbons ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary, 1956 [2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert F. Murphy	280,781	62.06%
	Democratic	James A. Burke	95,111	21.02%
	Democratic	George A. Wells	76,514	16.92%

General election

Governor

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1956
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Foster Furcolo	1,234,618	52.76%
	Republican	Sumner G. Whittier	1,096,759	46.87%
	Socialist Labor	Henning A. Blomen	5,799	0.25%
	Prohibition	Mark R. Shaw	2,692	0.12%

Lieutenant Governor

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1956
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert F. Murphy	1,158,704	51.23%
	Republican	Charles Gibbons	1,082,113	47.84%
	Socialist Labor	Francis A. Votano	13,286	0.59%
	Prohibition	Harold E. Bassett	7,894	0.39%

References

1. Election Statistics.
2. Election Statistics.

Hayden, Irving N.; Grove, Lawrence R. (1957). A Manual for the Use of the General Court for 1957–1958. Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Company. pp. 298–99. Retrieved September 23, 2010.