The 1970 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. Acting Governor Francis W. Sargent was elected to a four-year term. He defeated incumbent Boston Mayor Kevin H. White in the general election.

This was the first Massachusetts election in which the governor and lieutenant governor were elected as a ticket rather than separately.

Republican primary Governor Candidates Francis Sargent, acting governor

Acting Governor Francis Sargent was unopposed for renomination.

Lieutenant governor Candidates Donald R. Dwight, commissioner of finance and administration

Eliminated at convention Frank Harlan Freedman, mayor of Springfield John M. Quinlan, state senator from Dover

Withdrew Martin A. Linsky, state representative from Brookline

Campaign With Sargent's support, Dwight won the endorsement of the state party at the Republican convention. State Rep. Martin A. Linsky was Sargent's original choice for the nomination. However, two weeks before the convention, Linsky dropped out of the race after it was revealed that police officers had once stopped his car and informed him that the woman he was traveling with was a prostitute. After Linsky dropped out, Sargent endorsed Dwight.

Democratic primary Governor Candidates Francis X. Bellotti, former lieutenant governor and nominee for governor in 1964 Maurice A. Donahue, president of the Massachusetts Senate Kenneth O'Donnell, former aide to President John F. Kennedy Kevin White, mayor of Boston

Campaign Donahue won the vote of the state convention held on June 15 at the Curry Hicks Cage. Donahue received 697 votes, White received 589, and the remaining 78 went to Bellotti.

Results Despite losing at the convention, White went on to win the Democratic primary, defeating Donahue by 12,940 votes.

Lieutenant governor Candidates Rocco Antonelli, Somerville treasurer John J. Craven Jr., member of Boston School Committee Kathleen Ryan Dacey, member of Boston School Committee Michael Dukakis, state representative from Brookline James McCormack, attorney

Results

General election Sargent defeated White by 259,354 votes. He won 11 of Massachusetts' 14 counties, and beat White in his home city of Boston 54–45%.

Results

Results by county 1970 United States gubernatorial election in Massachusetts (by county) County Sargent % Sargent # White % White # Others % Others # Total #Barnstable 73.3% 27,941 26.4% 10,051 0.3% 113 38,105Berkshire 56.7% 24,967 42.2% 18,573 1.1% 478 44,018Bristol 48.5% 68,994 51.3% 73,024 0.3% 365 142,383Dukes 68.1% 1,731 31.5% 800 0.4% 10 2,541Essex 57.9% 131,265 41.8% 94,779 0.3% 748 226,792Franklin 60.7% 12,328 38.7% 7,848 0.7% 129 20,305Hampden 44.0% 58,656 54.9% 73,200 1.1% 1,466 133,322Hampshire 49.5% 18,179 50.1% 18,393 0.4% 132 36,704Middlesex 59.5% 283,312 40.0% 190,617 0.6% 2,486 476,415Nantucket 65.2% 854 34.6% 453 0.2% 3 1,310Norfolk 64.7% 142,806 34.9% 77,036 0.3% 825 220,667Plymouth 64.7% 67,294 35.0% 36,424 0.3% 311 104,029Suffolk 53.5% 113,801 45.5% 96,636 1.0% 2,179 212,616Worcester 51.0% 106,495 48.6% 101,435 0.3% 769 208,699 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Bristol Hampden Hampshire

See also 1969–1970 Massachusetts legislature

References