Gubernatorial elections
United States elections · 1956 · held
State gubernatorial races held in this election 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.
Arizona — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ernest McFarland | Democratic | — | 59.60% | Elected |
| Horace B. Griffen | Republican | — | 40.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orval Faubus | Democratic | — | 80.70% | Elected |
| Roy Mitchell | Republican | — | 19.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Colorado — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen McNichols | Democratic | — | 51.30% | Elected |
| Donald G. Brotzman | Republican | — | 48.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
Delaware — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | — | 52.00% | Elected |
| Elbert N. Carvel | Democratic | — | 48.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Florida — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeRoy Collins | Democratic | — | 73.70% | Elected |
| William A. Washburne Jr. | Republican | — | 26.30% | — |
Sources & further reading
Illinois — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Stratton | Republican | — | 50.34% | Elected |
| Richard B. Austin | Democratic | — | 49.48% | — |
| Edward C. Gross | Socialist Labor | — | 0.18% | — |
Sources & further reading
Indiana — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harold W. Handley | Republican | — | 55.60% | Elected |
| Ralph Tucker | Democratic | — | 44.00% | — |
| J. Ralston Miller | Prohibition | — | 0.35% | — |
| Merle N. Miller | Socialist Labor | — | 0.06% | — |
Sources & further reading
Iowa — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herschel C. Loveless | Democratic | — | 51.20% | Elected |
| Leo Hoegh | Republican | — | 48.80% | — |
Sources & further reading
Kansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Docking | Democratic | — | 55.40% | Elected |
| Warren W. Shaw | Republican | — | 42.20% | — |
| Harry O. Lytle Jr. | Prohibition | — | 2.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Maine — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmund Muskie | Democratic | — | 59.20% | Elected |
| Willis A. Trafton | Republican | — | 40.80% | — |
Sources & further reading
Massachusetts — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foster Furcolo | Democratic | — | 52.80% | Elected |
| Sumner G. Whittier | Republican | — | 46.90% | — |
| Henning A. Blomen | Socialist Labor | — | 0.25% | — |
| Mark R. Shaw | Prohibition | — | 0.12% | — |
Sources & further reading
Michigan — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G. Mennen Williams | Democratic | — | 54.70% | Elected |
| Albert Cobo | Republican | — | 45.10% | — |
| Alfred T. Halsted | Prohibition | — | 0.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Minnesota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orville Freeman | DFL | — | 51.40% | Elected |
| Ancher Nelsen | Republican | — | 48.20% | — |
| Rudolph Gustafson | Industrial Government | — | 0.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Missouri — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James T. Blair Jr. | Democratic | — | 52.10% | Elected |
| Lon Hooker | Republican | — | 47.90% | — |
Sources & further reading
Montana — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Hugo Aronson | Republican | — | 51.40% | Elected |
| Arnold Olsen | Democratic | — | 48.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Nebraska — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Anderson | Republican | — | 54.30% | Elected |
| Frank Sorrell | Democratic | — | 40.20% | — |
| George Morris | Independent | — | 5.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lane Dwinell | Republican | — | 54.70% | Elected |
| John Shaw | Democratic | — | 45.30% | — |
Sources & further reading
New Mexico — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwin L. Mechem | Republican | — | 52.20% | Elected |
| John F. Simms | Democratic | — | 47.80% | — |
Sources & further reading
North Carolina — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luther H. Hodges | Democratic | — | 67.00% | Elected |
| Kyle Hayes | Republican | — | 33.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
North Dakota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John E. Davis | Republican | — | 58.50% | Elected |
| Wallace E. Warner | Democratic-NPL | — | 41.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Ohio — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. William O'Neill | Republican | — | 56.00% | Elected |
| Michael DiSalle | Democratic | — | 44.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
Oregon — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert D. Holmes | Democratic | — | 50.50% | Elected |
| Elmo Smith | Republican | — | 49.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Rhode Island — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis J. Roberts | Democratic | — | 50.09% | Elected |
| Christopher Del Sesto | Republican | — | 49.91% | — |
Sources & further reading
South Dakota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Foss | Republican | — | 54.40% | Elected |
| Ralph Herseth | Democratic | — | 45.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Texas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Daniel | Democratic | — | 78.40% | Elected |
| William R. Bryant | Republican | — | 15.20% | — |
| W. Lee O'Daniel | write-in | — | 6.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Utah — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Dewey Clyde | Republican | — | 38.20% | Elected |
| L.C. "Rennie" Romney | Democratic | — | 33.40% | — |
| J. Bracken Lee | Independent | — | 28.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph B. Johnson | Republican | — | 57.50% | Elected |
| E. Frank Branon | Democratic | — | 42.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Washington — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Rosellini | Democratic | — | 54.60% | Elected |
| Emmett T. Anderson | Republican | — | 45.00% | — |
| Henry Killman | Socialist Labor | — | 0.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
West Virginia — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cecil H. Underwood | Republican | — | 53.90% | Elected |
| Bob Mollohan | Democratic | — | 46.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Wisconsin — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon Wallace Thomson | Republican | — | 51.90% | Elected |
| William Proxmire | Democratic | — | 48.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Results: final · partial coverage · Separate state governor races
This entry covers governor elections held in the election 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.