United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 1970, in 35 states and two territories. This election coincided with the Senate and the House elections.

In 1970, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wisconsin elected their governors to four-year terms for the first time, having previously elected them to two-year terms. Democrats gained 11 governorships. As of 2026, this remains the last time Democrats posted a double-digit gain of governorships, or that Republicans won the governorship of the US Virgin Islands.

Race summary StateGovernorPartyFirstelectedStatusCandidates Alabama 1967 Incumbent lost renomination.Democratic hold. Alaska 1969 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Arizona 1966Incumbent re-elected. Arkansas 1966Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. California 1966 Incumbent re-elected. Colorado 1962 Incumbent re-elected. Connecticut 1961Incumbent retired.Republican gain. Florida 1966 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Georgia 1966 Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. Hawaii 1962Incumbent re-elected. Idaho 1966 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Iowa 1968Incumbent re-elected. Kansas 1966Incumbent re-elected. Maine 1966Incumbent re-elected. Maryland 1969Incumbent elected to full term. Massachusetts 1969 Incumbent elected to full term. Michigan 1969Incumbent elected to full term. Minnesota 1966 Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. Nebraska 1966 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Nevada 1966 Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. New Hampshire 1968Incumbent re-elected. New Mexico 1966Incumbent term-limited.Democratic gain. New York 1958Incumbent re-elected. Ohio 1962Incumbent term-limited.Democratic gain. Oklahoma 1966 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Oregon 1966Incumbent re-elected. Pennsylvania 1966 Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. Rhode Island 1968Incumbent re-elected. South Carolina 1965Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. South Dakota 1968Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Tennessee 1966 Incumbent term-limited.Republican gain. Texas 1966Incumbent re-elected. Vermont 1968Incumbent re-elected. Wisconsin 1964Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. Wyoming 1966Incumbent re-elected.

Territories Territory Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Guam Office created. First governor elected.Republican gain. U.S. Virgin Islands Office created. First governor elected.Republican gain.

Closest races States where the margin of victory was under 1%: Maine, 0.28% Oklahoma, 0.31% Rhode Island, 0.54%

States where the margin of victory was under 5%: Michigan, 1.67% Arizona, 1.78% New Hampshire, 1.89% Nevada, 4.29% Iowa, 4.36% Idaho, 4.44% New Mexico, 4.89%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%: US Virgin Islands, 5.08% Tennessee, 5.97% South Carolina, 6.05% Alaska, 6.25% Texas, 6.88% Colorado, 7.22% Connecticut, 7.53% California, 7.70% Minnesota, 8.50% Wisconsin, 9.36% Kansas, 9.58% South Dakota, 9.70%

Alabama

In Alabama, Governor Albert Brewer (who succeeded to the governorship upon Lurleen Wallace's death in 1968) had to endure a very nasty Democratic primary against former Governor George Wallace. In addition, there were no Republicans in the race for governor. Wallace won the Democratic primary and the November general election.

Alaska

In Alaska, then-Lt. Gov. Keith Miller had gotten the job of governor in 1969 after Walter Hickel resigned to be part of President Nixon's Cabinet. He lost in 1970 to former Governor William Egan.

Arizona

In Arizona, governors were elected to serve two-year terms until 1970, when Jack Richard Williams was the first governor to be elected to a four-year term. Previously, Williams had been elected governor twice to two-year terms in 1966 and in 1968. Arizona made the switch official from a two-year term to a four-year term in 1968 with an amendment.

Arkansas

In Arkansas, Winthrop Rockefeller was the first Republican governor in Arkansas since the Reconstruction period. He was defeated in his bid for a third term, by the Democratic challenger Dale Bumpers.

California

Incumbent Republican Governor and future President Ronald Reagan was elected to a second term as governor with about 53% of the vote over Speaker of the State Assembly Jesse Unruh.

Connecticut

Incumbent John Dempsey, a Democrat, did not seek re-election. 6th District Congressman Thomas Joseph Meskill (Republican) defeated 1st District Congressman Emilio Q. Daddario (Democratic) 53.76% to 46.23%.

Colorado

In Colorado, John Arthur Love won re-election.

Florida

Florida's Claude R. Kirk Jr. was the first Republican governor since Reconstruction, and was defeated by Democrat Reubin Askew.

Georgia

In Georgia, governors were limited to one term until a constitutional amendment in 1976. Future president Democrat Jimmy Carter won the election.

Hawaii

In Hawaii, Burns won another term in 1970, but in 1973, Burns had health problems and his Lt. Governor, George Ariyoshi, took over as acting governor; in 1974, with Burns' retirement, he won a term in his own right. Burns died in 1975.

Idaho

Iowa

Iowa also had its governors serving two-year terms until Robert D. Ray won a four-year term in 1974. Previously, Ray had won a two-year term in 1968, a two-year term this year (1970), and would win another two-year term in 1972. Iowa made the four-year term switch official with an amendment to the state's constitution in 1972.

Kansas

Like Arizona and Iowa, Kansas also had its governors serving two-year terms until 1974, when a constitutional amendment was added, creating a four-year term for governors. Docking was elected governor in 1966, 1968, 1970, and would get elected in 1972.

Maine

Democrat Kenneth Curtis was narrowly re-elected after a recount.

Maryland

In Maryland, Democrat Marvin Mandel first won the governorship in 1969 in a special election when Republican Spiro Agnew resigned in order to become Vice President of the United States. In 1970, Mandel ran for a full term and won.

Massachusetts

John A. Volpe resigned in 1969 to become President Nixon's Secretary of Transportation. Francis W. Sargent then became acting governor. In 1970, Sargent got a term in his own right.

Michigan

George W. Romney resigned in 1969 to become President Nixon's Housing and Urban Development Secretary. William Milliken became governor, and won a full term in 1970.

Minnesota

Nebraska

Norbert Tiemann was the first Nebraskan to get a four-year term in the 1966 governor's race. Democrat J. James Exon defeated Tiemann in 1970.

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Mexico

New Mexico had a two-year term for governors until 1970, when the state constitution was changed to a four-year term with governors being ineligible for consecutive terms. Bruce King was elected to the first of three non-consecutive terms.

New York

In New York, Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller won re-election to a fourth term. Rockefeller served until 1973, when he resigned.

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, although the constitution was changed to allow governors to have two consecutive terms, the rule didn't apply to the then-current Gov. Raymond P. Shafer. The election was won by Milton Shapp.

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Democrat John C. West won the election.

South Dakota

South Dakota had governors on two-year terms until 1972, when a constitutional amendment allowed the governor to have a four-year term. Richard F. Kneip would be the first governor to be elected to a four-year term, though he resigned to accept an appointment. Kneip, elected governor for a two-year term this year (1970), would be re-elected for another two-year term in 1972.

Tennessee

Republican Winfield Dunn was elected in 1970.

Texas

Vermont

Wisconsin

In 1968, Wisconsin changed its constitution from a two-year term for governor to a four-year term, and had the governor run on the same ticket as the Lieutenant Governor. Patrick Lucey would become the first governor to serve under this new system.

Wyoming

Governor Stanley K. Hathaway won re-election to a second four-year term.

Territories Guam

U.S. Virgin Islands

See also 1970 United States elections 1970 United States Senate elections 1970 United States House of Representatives elections 1970 in the United States

Notes

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