The 1956 Maine gubernatorial election took place on September 10, 1956. Incumbent Democratic Governor Edmund Muskie was seeking re-election, and faced off against Republican Willis A. Trafton Jr. in the general election. Extremely popular, Muskie was able to easily win re-election, carrying every county in the state bar the Republican strongholds of Hancock and Lincoln.
Democratic primary Muskie was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Republican primary
Candidates
Philip F. Chapman Jr., state senator Alexander A. LaFleur, former Maine Attorney General (1951–1954) Willis A. Trafton Jr., Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (1955–1956)
Results
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Cumberland (largest city: Portland) Franklin (largest town: Farmington) Knox (largest municipality: Rockland)
Notes