Gubernatorial elections
United States elections · 1970 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Wallace | Democratic | — | 74.50% | Elected |
| John L. Cashin | NDPA | — | 14.70% | — |
| A.C. Shelton | Independent | — | 8.90% | — |
| Jerome B. Couch | Prohibition | — | 1.10% | — |
| Menter G. Walker | Independent | — | 0.40% | — |
| John Watts | Whig | — | 0.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Alaska — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William A. Egan | Democratic | — | 52.40% | Elected |
| Keith Miller | Republican | — | 46.10% | — |
| Ralph M. Anderson | American Independent | — | 1.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Arizona — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Williams | Republican | — | 50.90% | Elected |
| Raúl Héctor Castro | Democratic | — | 49.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dale Bumpers | Democratic | — | 61.70% | Elected |
| Winthrop Rockefeller | Republican | — | 32.40% | — |
| Walter L. Carruth | American | — | 5.90% | — |
Sources & further reading
California — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan | Republican | — | 52.80% | Elected |
| Jesse M. Unruh | Democratic | — | 45.10% | — |
| Ricardo Romo | Peace & Freedom | — | 1.00% | — |
| William K. Shearer | American Independent | — | 1.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
Colorado — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John A. Love | Republican | — | 52.50% | Elected |
| Mark Anthony Hogan | Republican | — | 45.20% | — |
| Albert Gurule | Raza Unida | — | 1.80% | — |
| Walter R. Plankinton | American Independent | — | 0.30% | — |
| James Lauderdale | Socialist Workers | — | 0.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Connecticut — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Meskill | Republican | — | 53.80% | Elected |
| Emilio Daddario | Democratic | — | 46.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Florida — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reubin Askew | Democratic | — | 56.90% | Elected |
| Claude R. Kirk Jr. | Republican | — | 43.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Georgia — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Carter | Democratic | — | 59.30% | Elected |
| Hal Suit | Republican | — | 40.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Hawaii — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John A. Burns | Democratic | — | 57.70% | Elected |
| Samuel Pailthorpe King | Republican | — | 42.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Idaho — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cecil Andrus | Republican | — | 52.20% | Elected |
| Don Samuelson | Republican | — | 47.80% | — |
Sources & further reading
Iowa — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert D. Ray | Republican | — | 51.00% | Elected |
| Robert D. Fulton | Democratic | — | 46.60% | — |
| Robert Dilley | American Independent | — | 2.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Kansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Docking | Democratic | — | 54.30% | Elected |
| Kent Frizzell | Republican | — | 44.70% | — |
| P. Everett Sperry | Conservative | — | 0.60% | — |
| Marshall Uncapher | Prohibition | — | 0.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Maine — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth M. Curtis | Democratic | — | 50.14% | Elected |
| James S. Erwin | Republican | — | 49.86% | — |
Sources & further reading
Maryland — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Mandel | Democratic | — | 65.70% | Elected |
| Charles Stanley Blair | Republican | — | 32.40% | — |
| Robert Woods Merkle Jr. | American | — | 2.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
Massachusetts — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Sargent | Republican | — | 56.70% | Elected |
| Kevin White | Democratic | — | 42.80% | — |
| Henning A. Blomen | Socialist Labor | — | 0.40% | — |
| John C. Hedges | Prohibition | — | 0.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Michigan — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Milliken | Republican | — | 50.40% | Elected |
| Sander Levin | Democratic | — | 48.70% | — |
| James L. McCormick | American Independent | — | 0.70% | — |
| George Bouse | Socialist Workers | — | 0.10% | — |
| James Horvath | Socialist Labor | — | 0.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Minnesota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wendell R. Anderson | DFL | — | 54.00% | Elected |
| Douglas M. Head | Republican | — | 45.50% | — |
| Karl H. Heck | Industrial Government | — | 0.40% | — |
| Jack O. Kirkham | write-in | — | 0.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Nebraska — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. James Exon | Democratic | — | 53.80% | Elected |
| Norbert Tiemann | Republican | — | 43.80% | — |
| Albert C. Walsh | American | — | 2.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Nevada — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike O'Callaghan | Democratic | — | 48.10% | Elected |
| Edward Fike | Republican | — | 43.80% | — |
| Charles E. Springer | Independent | — | 4.40% | — |
| Daniel M. Hansen | Ind. American | — | 3.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter R. Peterson Jr. | Republican | — | 46.00% | Elected |
| Roger J. Crowley | Democratic | — | 44.10% | — |
| Meldrim Thomson Jr. | American | — | 9.90% | — |
Sources & further reading
New Mexico — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce King | Democratic | — | 51.30% | Elected |
| Pete Domenici | Republican | — | 46.40% | — |
| John A. Salazar | Independent NM | — | 1.60% | — |
| Wilfredo Sedillo | People's Constitutional | — | 0.80% | — |
Sources & further reading
New York — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Rockefeller | Republican | — | 52.40% | Elected |
| Arthur Goldberg | Democratic | — | 40.30% | — |
| Paul Adams | Conservative | — | 7.00% | — |
| Rasheed Storey | Communist | — | 0.10% | — |
| Clifton DeBerry | Socialist Workers | — | 0.10% | — |
| Stephen Emery | Socialist Labor | — | 0.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Ohio — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John J. Gilligan | Democratic | — | 54.20% | Elected |
| Roger Cloud | Republican | — | 43.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Oklahoma — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Hall | Democratic | — | 48.42% | Elected |
| Dewey F. Bartlett | Republican | — | 48.11% | — |
| Reuel Little | American | — | 3.48% | — |
Sources & further reading
Oregon — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom McCall | Republican | — | 55.60% | Elected |
| Robert W. Straub | Democratic | — | 44.20% | — |
| Doug McCall | write-in | — | 0.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Pennsylvania — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milton Shapp | Democratic | — | 55.20% | Elected |
| Raymond J. Broderick | Republican | — | 41.70% | — |
| Andrew J. Watson | Constitutional | — | 2.30% | — |
| Francis McGeever | American Independent | — | 0.60% | — |
| George S. Taylor | Socialist Labor | — | 0.10% | — |
| Clarissa Cain | Consumer | — | 0.10% | — |
| Pearl Cherlov | Socialist Workers | — | 0.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Rhode Island — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Licht | Democratic | — | 50.07% | Elected |
| Herbert F. DeSimone | Republican | — | 49.53% | — |
| John E. Powers | Socialist Workers | — | 0.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
South Carolina — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John C. West | Democratic | — | 51.70% | Elected |
| Albert Watson | Republican | — | 45.60% | — |
| A.W. Bethea | Independent | — | 2.00% | — |
| Thomas D. Broadwater | write-in | — | 0.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
South Dakota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard F. Kneip | Democratic | — | 54.90% | Elected |
| Frank Farrar | Republican | — | 45.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Tennessee — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winfield Dunn | Republican | — | 52.00% | Elected |
| John Jay Hooker | Democratic | — | 46.00% | — |
| Douglas L. Heinsohn | American | — | 2.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Texas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston Smith | Democratic | — | 53.40% | Elected |
| Paul Eggers | Republican | — | 46.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deane C. Davis | Republican | — | 57.00% | Elected |
| Leo O'Brien Jr. | Democratic | — | 43.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
Wisconsin — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Lucey | Democratic | — | 54.20% | Elected |
| Jack B. Olson | Republican | — | 44.90% | — |
| Leo James McDonald | American | — | 0.70% | — |
| Georgia Cozzini | Independent | — | 0.10% | — |
| Samuel K. Hunt | Independent | — | 0.10% | — |
| Myrtle Kastner | Independent | — | 0.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Wyoming — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley K. Hathaway | Republican | — | 62.80% | Elected |
| John J. Rooney | Democratic | — | 37.20% | — |
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.