United States gubernatorial elections were held in 1956, in 30 states, concurrent with the House, Senate elections and the presidential election, on November 6, 1956 (September 10 in Maine). The special election in Oregon was due to the death of incumbent governor Paul L. Patterson on January 31.
This was the last time Colorado, Maine, and Ohio elected their governors to 2-year terms, all switching to 4-years from the 1958 election.
Race summary
StateGovernorPartyFirstelectedStatusCandidates Arizona 1954Incumbent re-elected. Arkansas 1954Incumbent re-elected. Colorado 1954Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. Delaware 1952Incumbent re-elected. Florida1954(special)Incumbent re-elected. Illinois 1952Incumbent re-elected. Indiana1952 Incumbent term-limited.Republican hold. Iowa1954Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Kansas1954Incumbent lost renomination.Democratic gain. Maine 1954Incumbent re-elected. Massachusetts 1952Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. Michigan 1948Incumbent re-elected. Minnesota 1954Incumbent re-elected. Missouri 19441948 1952 Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. Montana 1952Incumbent re-elected. Nebraska 1954Incumbent re-elected. New Hampshire 1954Incumbent re-elected. New Mexico1954Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. North Carolina 1954Incumbent re-elected. North Dakota 1950Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Ohio 19441946 1948Incumbent retired.Republican gain. Oregon 1956Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Rhode Island 1950Incumbent re-elected. South Dakota 1954Incumbent re-elected. Texas 1949Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. Utah 1948Incumbent lost renomination, but ran as an independent.Republican hold. Vermont 1954Incumbent re-elected. Washington 1948Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. West Virginia 1952 Incumbent term-limited.Republican gain. Wisconsin 1950Incumbent retired.Republican hold.
Closest races States where the margin of victory was under 1%: Rhode Island, 0.18% Illinois, 0.86%
States where the margin of victory was under 5%: Oregon, 1.04% Iowa, 2.44% Colorado, 2.68% Montana, 2.74% Minnesota, 3.23% Wisconsin, 3.78% Delaware, 3.90% Missouri, 4.14% New Mexico, 4.46% Utah, 4.77%
States where the margin of victory was under 10%: Massachusetts, 5.89% West Virginia, 7.76% South Dakota, 8.68% New Hampshire, 9.46% Michigan, 9.52% Washington, 9.63%
Red denotes states won by Republicans. Blue denotes states won by Democrats.
See also 1956 United States elections 1956 United States presidential election 1956 United States Senate elections 1956 United States House of Representatives elections
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