1956 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

1956 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

← 1954 November 6, 1956 1958 →

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

County results Furcolo:      50–60%      60–70% Whittier:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

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

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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.

Republican primary[]

Governor[]

Candidates[]

Declared[]

• Sumner Whittier, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts

Results[]

Lt. Governor Whittier was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Lt. Governor[]

Candidates[]

Declared[]

• Charles Gibbons, former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

Results[]

Gibbons was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Democratic primary[]

Governor[]

Candidates[]

Declared[]

• Thomas H. Buckley, former Massachusetts Auditor
• Foster Furcolo, former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts

Results[]

Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1956 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Foster Furcolo	358,051	78.65%
	Democratic	Thomas Henry Buckley	131,496	21.35%

Lt. Governor[]

Candidates[]

Declared[]

• James A. Burke, former State Representative
• Robert F. Murphy, former House Minority Leader and nominee for Governor in 1954
• George A. Wells, Executive Councilor

Results[]

1956 Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary^[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[]

Results[]

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Foster Furcolo	1,234,618	52.76%	4.96
	Republican	Sumner G. Whittier	1,096,759	46.87%	4.89
	Socialist Labor	Henning A. Blomen	5,799	0.25%	0.05
	Prohibition	Mark R. Shaw	2,692	0.12%	0.02

Lieutenant Governor[]

Results[]

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert F. Murphy	1,158,704	51.23%	4.00
	Republican	Charles Gibbons	1,082,113	47.84%	4.17
	Socialist Labor	Francis A. Votano	13,286	0.59%	0.10
	Prohibition	Harold E. Bassett	7,894	0.39%	0.12

See also[]

• 1955–1956 Massachusetts legislature

References[]

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.