1966 Maryland gubernatorial election

1966 Maryland gubernatorial election

← 1962 November 8, 1966 1969 (special) →

Nominee Spiro Agnew George P. Mahoney Hyman A. Pressman Party Republican Democratic Independent Popular vote 455,318 373,543 90,899 Percentage 49.50% 40.61% 9.88%

County results Agnew:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Mahoney:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election J. Millard Tawes Democratic Elected Governor Spiro Agnew Republican

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The 1966 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1966. Incumbent Democratic Governor J. Millard Tawes was unable to seek a third term in office. In the election to succeed him, George P. Mahoney, a controversial segregationist, emerged from the Democratic primary due to splintered support for the two major candidates. Baltimore County Executive Spiro Agnew, was nominated by the Republican Party as their gubernatorial candidate. Mahoney and Agnew squared off, along with independent candidate Hyman A. Pressman. Ultimately, Agnew was victorious over Mahoney, with Pressman a distant third. This year was the last time that the state of Maryland elected a Republican governor until 2002. Agnew was later nominated for Vice President by the Republican National Convention, per Richard Nixon's request, in 1968, an election he and Nixon won.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• George P. Mahoney, Baltimore paving contractor and perennial candidate
• Carlton R. Sickles, United States Congressman from Maryland's At-large congressional district
• Thomas B. Finan, Attorney General of Maryland
• Clarence W. Miles, lawyer and community activist
• Charles J. Luthardt, Sr.
• Morgan L. Amaimo, real estate broker and perennial candidate
• Ross Zimmerman Pierpont, surgeon
• Andrew J. Easter, perennial candidate

Results[]

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Baltimore County Executive Spiro Agnew
• Andrew John Groszer, Jr.
• John J. Harbaugh, Democratic candidate for the United States Senate in 1964
• Henry J. Laque, Jr., perennial candidate
• Louis R. Milio, Maryland congressional candidate

Results[]

General election[]

Campaign[]

Baltimore paving contractor and perennial candidate George P. Mahoney won the Democratic primary on a segregationist platform, which was possible due to the presence of several strong candidates. Mahoney's slogan, "Your home is your castle--protect it",^[3] as well as his stance on many civil rights issues,^[4] prompted Baltimore City Comptroller Hyman A. Pressman to enter the race as an independent candidate. Mahoney's controversial stances caused many in the Maryland Democratic Party to split their support between Agnew, which was possible due to his socially progressive views, and Pressman, which enabled Agnew to win the election with a plurality, taking 70% of the black vote.^[5]

Results[]

References[]