The 1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 5. Incumbent Democratic Governor Milton Shapp defeated Republican Drew Lewis. Under the state's 1968 constitution, Shapp was the first governor who was eligible to run for consecutive terms."Democrats Regain Control." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 6, 1974, p. 7 (subscription required).Allan Jr., William. "Wait Until Next Time, County Republicans Sigh." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, November 6, 1974, p. 2 (subscription required).
Democratic primary Candidates Harvey Johnston Martin P. Mullen, State Representative from Philadelphia Milton Shapp, incumbent Governor
Incumbent Governor Shapp easily dispelled a spirited challenge from Martin Mullen, a state representative from Philadelphia who was well known as a firebrand conservative opponent of abortion and pornography.
Results
Republican primary Candidates Alvin Jacobson Drew Lewis, staffing executive and Richard Schweiker campaign manager Leonard Strunk
With a short Republican bench, wealthy staffing executive Drew Lewis was the only serious contender in the race.
Results
General election Candidates Stephen Depue (Constitutional) Running mate: Ellis Werft Drew Lewis, staffing executive (Republican) Running mate: Ken Lee, Speaker of the State House of Representatives Roberta Scherr (Socialist Workers) Running mate: Fred Stanton Milton Shapp, incumbent Governor (Democratic) Running mate: Ernie Kline, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
Campaign Shapp's popularity had waned somewhat since his comfortable victory in 1970; although he could claim to have saved the state from bankruptcy, he did so at the expense of large tax increases. Furthermore, Shapp, an unabashed liberal, had difficulty rekindling support from the state's rural, socially conservative regions. However, Shapp and Democrats as a whole received a significant boost from the Watergate scandal; with President Richard Nixon's popularity in a tailspin, many of the top tier Republicans declined to run. Instead, the party turned to the wealthy businessman Lewis, who was able to project an "outsider" image. Lewis focused on local issues and greatly undercut Shapp in rural areas; despite lagging at the polls in traditional Democratic strongholds such as Pittsburgh and Scranton, Shapp preserved a moderate victory by winning the combined vote of suburban Philadelphia, an unexpected accomplishment for a Democrat at the time.
Results Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1974The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 626.The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 625.PartyCandidateRunning mateVotesPercentage Democratic Milton Shapp (Incumbent) Ernie Kline (Incumbent) 1,878,252 53.66% Republican Drew Lewis Ken Lee 1,578,917 45.11% Constitutional Stephen Depue Ellis Werft 33,691 0.96% Socialist Workers Roberta Scherr Fred Stanton 8,980 0.26% Write-ins Write-in 374 0.01% Total votes 3,500,214 100.00% Voter turnout (Voting age population) 63.31%
Notes
a. Scherr, at the time, was only 21 years old and, therefore, ineligible to be governor.
References
Sources