| Elections in Indiana |
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The 1968 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1968.
Incumbent Democratic Governor Roger D. Branigin was term-limited.
Republican nominee Edgar Whitcomb defeated Democratic nominee Robert L. Rock with 52.72% of the vote.
Nominations
Until 1976, all nominations for statewide office in Indiana were made by state conventions.[1][2]
Democratic nomination
Candidates
- Richard C. Bodine, former Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
- Robert L. Rock, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
Results
The Democratic convention was held on June 21, 1968.[3][4]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert L. Rock | 953 | 49.33 | |
| Democratic | Richard C. Bodine | 951 | 49.23 | |
| Absent/not voting | 28 | 1.45 | ||
| Total votes | 1,932 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Dr. Otis Bowen, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
- Earl Butz, former Assistant United States Secretary of Agriculture
- Edgar Whitcomb, incumbent Secretary of State of Indiana
Results
The Republican convention was held on June 18, 1968.[6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Edgar Whitcomb | 1,260 | 56.86 | |
| Republican | Otis Bowen | 527 | 23.78 | |
| Republican | Earl Butz | 429 | 19.36 | |
| Total votes | 2,216 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Governor
Candidates
- Melvin E. Hawk, Prohibition
- Robert L. Rock, Democratic
- Edgar Whitcomb, Republican
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Edgar Whitcomb | 1,080,271 | 52.72% | ||
| Democratic | Robert L. Rock | 965,816 | 47.13% | ||
| Prohibition | Melvin E. Hawk | 2,985 | 0.15% | ||
| Majority | 114,455 | 5.59% | |||
| Turnout | 2,049,072 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | ||||
Lieutenant governor
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard E. Folz | 1,086,704 | 54.00% | ||
| Democratic | James W. Beatty | 922,352 | 45.83% | ||
| Prohibition | James G. Harkless | 3,277 | 0.16% | ||
| Majority | 164,352 | 8.17% | |||
| Turnout | 2,012,333 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | ||||
References
- ^ America Votes 8, p. 116.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 112.
- ^ a b Myers, Hortense (June 22, 1968). "Rock wins Demo governor's spot". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, IN. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ Butters, Mary Ann (June 22, 1968). "Demo Women Take Active Part in Helping Favorite Candidates". Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 6. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ Foughty, Trevor (June 14, 2018). "That wild 1968 Indiana Democrat convention" (PDF). Howey Politics Indiana. Vol. 23, no. 41. Kokomo, Indiana. p. 7. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Cadou, Eugene J. (June 19, 1968). "Municipal vote gives Whitcomb the GOP nod". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, IN. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ Foughty, Trevor (June 15, 2018). "The close convention upset that history mostly forgot". Capital & Washington. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "IN Governor, 1968 - R Convention". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 50.
- ^ America Votes 8, p. 107.
- ^ "IN Governor, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "1968 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "1968 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results – Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
Bibliography
- Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
- Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1970). America Votes 8: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1968. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.
- Brown, Otis R.; Du Bois, William (2000). Doc: Memories from a Life in Public Service. Bloomington, Illinois: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-33767-4.