1960 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

The 1960 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1960. John A. Volpe was elected Governor of Massachusetts to replace Foster Furcolo. Volpe defeated Democrat Joseph D. Ward in the race. Also running were Henning A. Blomen of the Socialist Labor Party of America and Guy S. Williams of the Prohibition Party.

1960 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

November 8, 1960

Nominee John A. Volpe Joseph D. Ward Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,269,295 1,130,810 Percentage 52.51% 46.79%

Volpe:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Ward:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Foster Furcolo Democratic Elected Governor John A. Volpe Republican

In the race for lieutenant governor, Democrat Edward F. McLaughlin, Jr., defeated Republican Augustus Gardner Means, Prohibition candidate Thomas Maratea, and Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Francis E. Kelly, Attorney General
• John Francis Kennedy, Treasurer and Receiver-General
• Endicott Peabody, former member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council
• Gabriel Piemonte, former Boston City Councilor
• Alfred Magaletta, realtor
• Joseph D. Ward, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth

Declined

• Foster Furcolo, incumbent Governor (to run for US Senate)

Results

Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1960

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph D. Ward	180,848	30.23%
	Democratic	Endicott Peabody	152,762	26.53%
	Democratic	Francis E. Kelly	98,107	16.40%
	Democratic	Robert F. Murphy	76,577	12.80%
	Democratic	John Francis Kennedy	52,972	8.85%
	Democratic	Gabriel Piemonte	28,199	4.71%
	Democratic	Alfred Magaletta	8,826	1.48%
	Write-in	All others	3	0.00%
Total votes			598,294	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Volpe, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Works and administrator of the Federal Highway Administration

Withdrew following convention

• Frank S. Giles, Minority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Philip A. Graham, State Senator from Hamilton
• Howard J. Whitmore, Jr., former Mayor of Newton

Results

Following his endorsement at the state convention, Volpe was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

General election

Results

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1960

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John A. Volpe	1,269,295	52.51%
	Democratic	Joseph D. Ward	1,130,810	46.79%
	Socialist Labor	Henning A. Blomen	9,474	0.39%
	Prohibition	Guy S. Williams	7,396	0.31%
Total votes			2,416,975	100.00%

See also

• 1959–1960 Massachusetts legislature

References

Hayden, Irving N.; Grove, Lawrence R. (1961). A Manual for the Use of the General Court for 1961–1962. Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Company. pp. 286–99. Retrieved September 23, 2010.