Gubernatorial elections
United States elections · 1954 · held
State gubernatorial races held in this midterm year. Each governor is elected separately; there is no combined national percentage.
State races and results map
Each race has its own denominator. Missing counts are blank. The interactive map uses modern state outlines as navigation references.
Alabama — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Folsom | Democratic | — | 73.40% | Elected |
| Tom Abernathy | Republican | — | 26.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Arizona — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ernest McFarland | Democratic | — | 52.50% | Elected |
| J. Howard Pyle | Republican | — | 47.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orval Faubus | Democratic | — | 62.10% | Elected |
| Pratt Remmel | Republican | — | 37.90% | — |
Sources & further reading
California — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwin Knight | Republican | — | 56.80% | Elected |
| Richard P. Graves | Democratic | — | 43.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Colorado — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwin C. Johnson | Republican | — | 53.60% | Elected |
| Donald G. Brotzman | Democratic | — | 46.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Connecticut — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Ribicoff | Democratic | — | 49.50% | Elected |
| John Davis Lodge | Republican | — | 49.16% | — |
| Jasper McLevy | Socialist | — | 1.19% | — |
| Vivien Kellems | write-in | — | 0.15% | — |
Sources & further reading
Florida — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeRoy Collins | Democratic | — | 80.40% | Elected |
| J. Thomas Watson | Republican | — | 19.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Georgia — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Griffin | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
| Melvin E. Thompson | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Tom Linder | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Fred Hand | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Charlie Gowen | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Grace Wilkey Thomas | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Ben Garland | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Marvin Griffin | Democratic | — | — | — |
Multiple rounds or non-comparable percentages are described in the source; percentages are not combined.
Sources & further reading
Idaho — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert E. Smylie | Republican | — | 54.20% | Elected |
| Clark Hamilton | Democratic | — | 45.80% | — |
Sources & further reading
Iowa — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leo Hoegh | Republican | — | 51.40% | Elected |
| Clyde E. Herring | Democratic | — | 48.40% | — |
| Howard H. Tyler | Independent | — | 0.30% | — |
Sources & further reading
Kansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Hall | Republican | — | 53.00% | Elected |
| George Docking | Democratic | — | 46.00% | — |
| Chester A. Roberts | Prohibition | — | 0.90% | — |
| W.W. Tamplin | Socialist | — | 0.16% | — |
Sources & further reading
Maine — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmund Muskie | Democratic | — | 54.50% | Elected |
| Burton M. Cross | Republican | — | 45.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Maryland — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theodore McKeldin | Republican | — | 54.50% | Elected |
| Curley Byrd | Democratic | — | 45.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Massachusetts — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Herter | Republican | — | 51.80% | Elected |
| Robert F. Murphy | Democratic | — | 47.80% | — |
| Larence Gilfedder | Socialist Labor | — | 0.30% | — |
| Guy S. Williams | Prohibition | — | 0.14% | — |
Sources & further reading
Michigan — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G. Mennen Williams | Democratic | — | 55.60% | Elected |
| Donald S. Leonard | Republican | — | 44.10% | — |
| E. Harold Munn | Prohibition | — | 0.27% | — |
| Theos A. Grove | Socialist Labor | — | 0.05% | — |
| Frank Lovell | Socialist Workers | — | 0.03% | — |
Sources & further reading
Minnesota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orville Freeman | DFL | — | 52.70% | Elected |
| C. Elmer Anderson | Republican | — | 46.80% | — |
| Ross P. Schelin | Industrial Government | — | 0.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Nebraska — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Anderson | Republican | — | 60.30% | Elected |
| William Ritchie | Democratic | — | 39.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
Nevada — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles H. Russell | Republican | — | — | Elected |
| Vail Pittman | Democratic | — | — | — |
Source groups multiple ballots or rounds; counts are left blank and the final selected governor is marked.
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lane Dwinell | Republican | — | 55.10% | Elected |
| John Shaw | Democratic | — | 44.90% | — |
Sources & further reading
New Mexico — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John F. Simms | Democratic | — | 57.00% | Elected |
| Alvin Stockton | Republican | — | 43.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
New York — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W. Averell Harriman | Democratic | — | 49.61% | Elected |
| Irving Ives | Republican | — | 49.40% | — |
| John T. McManus | American Labor | — | 0.91% | — |
| David L. Weiss | Socialist Workers | — | 0.05% | — |
| Nathan Karp | Industrial Government | — | 0.03% | — |
Sources & further reading
North Dakota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Brunsdale | Republican | — | 64.20% | Elected |
| Cornelius Bymers | Democratic | — | 35.80% | — |
Sources & further reading
Ohio — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Lausche | Democratic | — | 54.10% | Elected |
| Jim Rhodes | Republican | — | 45.90% | — |
Sources & further reading
Oklahoma — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond Gary | Democratic | — | 58.70% | Elected |
| Reuben K. Sparks | Republican | — | 41.30% | — |
Sources & further reading
Oregon — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul L. Patterson | Republican | — | 56.90% | Elected |
| Joseph K. Carson | Democratic | — | 43.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Pennsylvania — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George M. Leader | Democratic | — | 53.70% | Elected |
| Lloyd H. Wood | Republican | — | 46.20% | — |
| Henry Beitscher | Progressive | — | 0.10% | — |
| Louis Dirle | Socialist Labor | — | 0.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Rhode Island — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis J. Roberts | Democratic | — | 57.70% | Elected |
| Dean J. Lewis | Republican | — | 41.70% | — |
| Arthur E. Marley | Independent | — | 0.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
South Carolina — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Bell Timmerman Jr. | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
| Lester L. Bates | Democratic | — | — | — |
| George Bell Timmerman Jr. | Democratic | — | — | — |
Multiple rounds or non-comparable percentages are described in the source; percentages are not combined.
Sources & further reading
South Dakota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Foss | Republican | — | 56.70% | Elected |
| Ed C. Martin | Democratic | — | 43.30% | — |
Sources & further reading
Tennessee — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank G. Clement | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
| Gordon W. Browning | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Raulston Schoolfield | Democratic | — | — | — |
| John Randolph Neal Jr. | Independent | — | — | — |
| W.E. Michel | Republican | — | — | — |
Source groups multiple ballots or rounds; counts are left blank and the final selected governor is marked.
Sources & further reading
Texas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allan Shivers | Democratic | — | 89.40% | Elected |
| Tod R. Adams | Republican | — | 10.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph B. Johnson | Republican | — | 52.30% | Elected |
| E. Frank Branon | Democratic | — | 47.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
Wisconsin — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter J. Kohler Jr. | Republican | — | 51.50% | Elected |
| William Proxmire | Democratic | — | 48.40% | — |
| Arthur Wepfer | Socialist Labor | — | 0.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Wyoming — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milward Simpson | Republican | — | 50.50% | Elected |
| William M. Jack | Democratic | — | 49.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Results: final · partial coverage · Separate state governor races
This entry covers governor elections held in the midterm year, including available special contests, not off-year elections or every sitting governor. Candidate-specific ideology is used where sourced; election-era party ideology is the fallback. Historical indirect selections and unavailable counts are identified separately. Source summaries may omit minor candidates; blank values do not mean zero votes.