The 1962 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1962. Former Executive Councilor Endicott Peabody defeated incumbent Governor John A. Volpe in the general election.[1]
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Peabody:
40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Volpe: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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The election is notable as a demonstration of the political individualism of Italian Americans and historic lack of ethnic bloc voting among Americans of Italian descent, instead preferring to vote based on individual candidates and issues. John Volpe, just the second Massachusetts governor of Italian ancestry, lost his 1962 re-election campaign by a razor-thin 0.21%—a final margin that could be more than sufficiently explained by Volpe polling only 51% among the state's significant population of Italian Americans, roughly half of whom voted for the old-line Anglo-Saxon Protestant Endicott Peabody over a fellow ethnic.[2]
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- John Volpe, incumbent Governor
Results
editGovernor Volpe was unopposed for renomination.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Endicott Peabody, member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council
- Clement A. Riley, auto registrar
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Endicott Peabody | 596,553 | 79.96% | |
| Democratic | Clement A. Riley | 149,499 | 20.04% | |
| Total votes | 746,052 | 100.00% | ||
General election
editResults
editPeabody defeated Volpe by 4,431 votes. Peabody's slim margin of victory prompted a recount.[3] On December 20, Volpe conceded the election to Peabody.[4]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Endicott Peabody | 1,052,322 | 49.92% |  3.13
| |
| Republican | John A. Volpe (incumbent) | 1,047,891 | 49.71% |  2.80
| |
| Socialist Labor | Henning A. Blomen | 5,477 | 0.26% | 0.13
| |
| Prohibition | Guy S. Williams | 2,394 | 0.11% | 0.20
| |
| Total votes | 2,108,084 | 100.00% | |||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Election statistics : The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1962). Office of Secretary of the Commonwealth. 1962. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- ^ Sowell, Thomas (1981). Ethnic America: A History. New York: Basic Books. p. 128. ISBN 0465020755.
- ^ "Recount Asked In Massachusetts Governor's Race". Park City Daily News. November 9, 1962. Retrieved July 25, 2010.
- ^ "Volpe Concedes Governor Race". The Deseret News. December 20, 1962. Retrieved July 25, 2010.
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