United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 6, 1962 in 35 states, concurrent with the House and Senate elections.
In Minnesota, the governor was elected to a 4-year term for the first time, instead of a 2-year term. In North Dakota, this was the last election on a 2-year cycle, before switching to a 4-year term for governors.
The Democratic and Republican parties each gained seven governorships from the other party, leaving the overall partisan balance unchanged.
Race summary
StateGovernorPartyFirstelectedStatusCandidates Alabama 1958 Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. Alaska1958Incumbent re-elected. Arizona 1958Incumbent re-elected. Arkansas 1954Incumbent re-elected. California 1958Incumbent re-elected. Colorado 1956Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. Connecticut 1961 Incumbent re-elected. Georgia 1958Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. Hawaii1959Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Idaho 1954Incumbent re-elected. Iowa1960Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Kansas1960Incumbent re-elected. Maine 1959Incumbent re-elected. Maryland 1958Incumbent re-elected. Massachusetts 1960Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Michigan 1960Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. Minnesota 1960Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Nebraska 1960Incumbent re-elected. Nevada 1958Incumbent re-elected. New Hampshire 1958Incumbent lost renomination.Democratic gain. New Mexico19501954195619581960Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. New York 1958Incumbent re-elected. North Dakota 1960Incumbent re-elected. Ohio 1958Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. Oklahoma 1958 Incumbent term-limited.Republican gain. Oregon 1958Incumbent re-elected. Pennsylvania 1958 Incumbent term-limited.Republican gain. Rhode Island 1960Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. South Carolina 1958 Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. South Dakota 1960Incumbent re-elected. Tennessee 1958Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. Texas 1956Incumbent lost renomination.Democratic hold. Vermont 1960Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Wisconsin 1958Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. Wyoming 1958Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain.
Closest races States where the margin of victory was under 1%: Minnesota, 0.008% Rhode Island, 0.12% Maine, 0.16% Massachusetts, 0.21% North Dakota, 0.88% Wisconsin, 0.94%
States where the margin of victory was under 5%: Vermont, 1.08% Michigan, 2.91% Nebraska, 4.47% Alaska, 4.54%
States where the margin of victory was under 10%: California, 5.07% Iowa, 5.12% New Mexico, 5.97% Connecticut, 6.42% Kansas, 7.82% Texas, 8.41% Wyoming, 8.94% New York, 9.12% Idaho, 9.28% Arizona, 9.66%
Red denotes states won by Republicans. Blue denotes states won by Democrats.
Notes
See also 1962 United States elections 1962 United States Senate elections 1962 United States House of Representatives elections
References