Colonel William A. Phillips

Add links

The 1966 Massachusetts general election was held on November 8, 1966, throughout Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 13.

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.

Governor

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.

Lieutenant governor

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

Declined

Results

Francis Sargent was unopposed for the nomination.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1966 Massachusetts Democratic Lt. gubernatorial primary [1]
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.

1966 Massachusetts Lt. gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Francis W. Sargent 1,059,846 54.58% Increase4.36
Democratic Joseph E. McGuire 859,907 44.28% Decrease4.83
Socialist Labor Francis A. Votano 14,822 0.76% Increase0.33
Prohibition Grace F. Luder 7,202 0.37% Increase0.13
Write-in 66 0.00%
Total votes 1,941,843 100.00%

Attorney general

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

Results

Massachusetts Attorney General Democratic Primary, 1966[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
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

1966 Massachusetts Attorney General election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Elliot Richardson 1,036,739 51.84% Decrease15.34
Democratic Francis X. Bellotti 946,219 47.31% Increase14.83
Socialist Workers Edgar E. Gaudet 16,901 0.85% Increase0.64
Write-in 48 0.00% Steady
Total votes 1,999,907 100.00%

Secretary of the Commonwealth

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

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1966[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kevin White (incumbent) 1,357,131 70.03% Decrease1.17
Republican Raymond Trudel 562,708 29.04% Increase0.89
Prohibition F. Oliver Drake 9,289 0.48% Increase0.20
Socialist Workers Willy N. Hogseth 8,625 0.45% Increase0.07
Write-in 4 0.00% Steady
Total votes 1,937,757 100.00%

Treasurer and Receiver-General

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

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1966[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Q. Crane (incumbent) 1,197,981 62.55% Decrease1.59
Republican Joseph Fernandes 689,367 35.99% Increase0.71
Socialist Workers Domenico DiGirolamo 18,819 0.98% Increase0.61
Prohibition Julia Kohler 9,203 0.48% Increase0.19
Write-in 27 0.00% Steady
Total votes 1,915,397 100.00%

Auditor

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

Results

1966 Democratic Massachusetts Auditor primary[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
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

1966 Massachusetts Auditor election[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thaddeus M. Buczko (incumbent) 1,102,844 57.08% Decrease1.30
Republican John J. Buckley 808,584 41.85% Increase1.19
Socialist Workers August Johnson 12,479 0.65% Increase0.22
Prohibition Roger I. Williams 8,196 0.42% Decrease0.11
Write-in 4 0.00% Steady
Total votes 1,932,107 100.00%

United States Senate

Republican Edward Brooke was elected over Democrat Endicott Peabody, Socialist Labor candidate Lawrence Gilfedder, and Prohibition candidate Mark R. Shaw.

See also

References