A Massachusetts general election was held on November 3, 1964, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The election included: statewide elections for United States Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, and Auditor; district elections for U.S. Representatives, State Representatives, State Senators, and Governor's Councillors; and ballot questions at the state and local levels.
Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held on September 10, 1964.
This was the final election before the term of office for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of the commonwealth, treasurer, and auditor was extended from two to four years.
Governor
Republican John A. Volpe was elected over Democrat Francis X. Bellotti, Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano, and Prohibition candidate Guy S. Williams. Incumbent governor Endicott Peabody lost in the Democratic primary to Bellotti, his lieutenant governor.
Lieutenant governor
Republican Elliot L. Richardson was elected Lieutenant Governor over Democrat John W. Costello.
Republican primary Candidates Elliott Richardson, former United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
Results Richardson ran unopposed in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor.
Democratic primary Candidates John W. Costello, member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council
Withdrew following convention Joseph E. McGuire, Worcester attorney
Withdrew at convention Joseph G. Bradley, state representative from Newton Edward F. Harrington, mayor of New Bedford George P. Macheras, Lowell City Councilor Rico Matera, former state representative from East Boston
Eliminated at convention Joseph Alecks James A. DeGuglielmo Daniel Dibble, mayor of Holyoke Thomas S. Eisenstadt, member of the Boston School Committee George H. O'Fannell, state representative Andre R. Sigourney, state representative from Nahant Mario Umana, state senator from East Boston Harold L. Vaughn
Convention On the first ballot, Governor's Councillor John W. Costello led with 428 votes to Worcester attorney and Industrial Accident Board member Joseph E. McGuire's 404, state senator Mario Umana's 250, and state representative Joseph G. Bradley's 112. The other seven candidates received less than the 100 votes required to remain on the ballot and Bradley chose to drop out, which left Costello, McGuire, and Umana as the only remaining candidates. Costello led again on the second ballot, with 641 votes to McGuire's 600 and Umana's 343, but did not receive enough votes to win the nomination. The same happened on the third (687 votes for Costello to McGuire's 656 and Umana's 172). On the fourth ballot, Umana fell to 99 votes, which eliminated him from the contest. On the fifth and final ballot Costello won the party's endorsement by defeating McGuire 724 votes to 691.
Balloting1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th John W. Costello 428641687?724Joseph E. McGuire404600656?691Mario Umana25034317299—Joseph G. Bradley112————
Results Costello was unopposed for the nomination for lieutenant governor.
General election
Attorney General
Incumbent Attorney General Edward Brooke defeated Democrat James W. Hennigan, Jr.
General election Results
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth Kevin White defeated Republican Wallace B. Crawford.
General election Results
Treasurer and Receiver-General
Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General John T. Driscoll did not run for re-election as he had been appointed Chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.
Robert Q. Crane defeated Republican Robert C. Hahn in the general election.
Democratic primary Candidates John J. Buckley, Mayor of Lawrence and member of the Governor's Council Robert Q. Crane, state representative from Brighton Louise Day Hicks, member of the Boston School Committee John Francis Kennedy, former Treasurer and Receiver-General (1955–61)
Results
General election
Auditor
Incumbent Auditor Thomas J. Buckley died on September 9, 1964, the night before the Democratic primary. Because no sticker campaign received enough votes to win the nomination, the Democratic State Committee chose Thaddeus M. Buczko to succeed Buckley for the Democratic nomination.
In the general election, Buczko defeated Republican Elwynn Miller.
Democratic primary Candidates Thomas J. Buckley, incumbent (died September 9, 1964)
Results
Committee vote
General election Results
United States Senate
Democrat Ted Kennedy was re-elected over Republican Howard J. Whitmore, Jr., Socialist Labor candidate Lawrence Gilfedder, and Prohibition candidate Grace F. Luder.
References