1966 Massachusetts elections

The 1966 Massachusetts general election was held on November 8, 1966, throughout Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 13.

1966 Massachusetts general election

November 8, 1966
Part of the 1966 United States elections

At the federal level, Republican Edward Brooke was elected to the United States Senate over Democrat Endicott Peabody and Democrats won seven of twelve seats in the United States House of Representatives. Former Speaker of the House Joseph W. Martin Jr. was the only incumbent not re-elected, after his defeat in the Republican primary against Margaret Heckler.

In the race for Governor, incumbent Republican governor John Volpe defeated Democratic challenger Edward J. McCormack Jr. Overall, Republicans won three of the six elected state-wide offices. Incumbents were re-elected in four races.

This was the first election in which the term of office for all state officers was extended from two to four years.

Governor

Main article: 1966 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

Republican John A. Volpe was re-elected over Democrat Edward J. McCormack, Jr., Socialist Labor candidate Henning A. Blomen, and Prohibition candidate John C. Hedges.

Lieutenant governor

1966 Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor election

Nominee Francis Sargent Joseph E. McGuire Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,059,846 859,907 Percentage 54.6% 44.3%

Lieutenant Governor before election Elliot Richardson Republican Elected Lieutenant Governor Francis Sargent Republican

Lt. Governor Elliott Richardson did not run for re-election. Republican Francis W. Sargent was elected Lieutenant Governor over Democrat Joseph E. McGuire.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Francis Sargent, Commissioner of Public Works

Declined

• Elliot Richardson, incumbent Lieutenant Governor (running for Attorney General)

Results

Francis Sargent was unopposed for the nomination.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Herbert L. Connolly, auto dealer
• Joseph E. McGuire, attorney from Worcester

Results

1966 Massachusetts Democratic Lt. gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph E. McGuire	307,560	54.82%
	Democratic	Herbert L. Connolly	235,808	45.17%
	Write-in		7	0.00%
Total votes			543,375	100.00%

General election

Results

Francis W. Sargent defeated Joseph E. McGuire by 199,939 votes. It was the last general election in which the Governor and Lt. Governor were elected separately.

1966 Massachusetts Lt. gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Francis W. Sargent	1,059,846	54.58%	4.36
	Democratic	Joseph E. McGuire	859,907	44.28%	4.83
	Socialist Labor	Francis A. Votano	14,822	0.76%	0.33
	Prohibition	Grace F. Luder	7,202	0.37%	0.13
	Write-in		66	0.00%
Total votes			1,941,843	100.00%

Attorney general

1966 Massachusetts Attorney General election

Nominee Elliot Richardson Francis Bellotti Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,036,739 946,219 Percentage 51.8% 47.3%

Attorney General before election Edward Brooke Republican Elected Attorney General Elliott Richardson Republican

Incumbent Attorney General Edward Brooke did not run for re-election.

Republican Lt. Governor Elliot Richardson defeated former Democrat Lt. Governor Francis X. Bellotti to win the open race.

As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican was elected Attorney General of Massachusetts and Richardson remains the last Republican to serve in the office.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Francis X. Bellotti, former Lieutenant Governor (1963–65) and nominee for Governor in 1964
• Robert DeGiacomo
• Foster Furcolo, former Governor (1957–61)

Results

Massachusetts Attorney General Democratic Primary, 1966

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Francis X. Bellotti	349,844	56.91%
	Democratic	Foster Furcolo	146,137	23.77%
	Democratic	Robert DeGiacomo	118,700	19.31%
	Write-in		16	0.01%
Total votes			614,697	100.00%

General election

Results

1966 Massachusetts Attorney General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Elliot Richardson	1,036,739	51.84%	15.34
	Democratic	Francis X. Bellotti	946,219	47.31%	14.83
	Socialist Workers	Edgar E. Gaudet	16,901	0.85%	0.64
	Write-in		48	0.00%
Total votes			1,999,907	100.00%

Secretary of the Commonwealth

1966 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth election

Nominee Kevin White Raymond Trudel Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,357,131 562,708 Percentage 70.0% 29.0%

Secretary of the Commonwealth before election Kevin White Democratic Elected Secretary of the Commonwealth Kevin White Democratic

Incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth Kevin White, defeated Republican Raymond Trudel, Socialist Labor candidate Willy N. Hogseth, and Prohibition candidate F. Oliver Drake in the general election.

General election

Results

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1966

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Kevin White (incumbent)	1,357,131	70.03%	1.17
	Republican	Raymond Trudel	562,708	29.04%	0.89
	Prohibition	F. Oliver Drake	9,289	0.48%	0.20
	Socialist Workers	Willy N. Hogseth	8,625	0.45%	0.07
	Write-in		4	0.00%
Total votes			1,937,757	100.00%

Treasurer and Receiver-General

1966 Massachusetts Treasurer election

Nominee Robert Q. Crane Joseph Fernandes Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,197,981 689,367 Percentage 62.5% 36.0%

Treasurer and Receiver-General before election Robert Q. Crane Democratic Elected Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane Democratic

Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane defeated Republican Joseph Fernandes, Socialist Labor candidate Domenico DiGirolamo, and Prohibition candidate Julia Kohler in the general election.

General election

Results

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1966

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert Q. Crane (incumbent)	1,197,981	62.55%	1.59
	Republican	Joseph Fernandes	689,367	35.99%	0.71
	Socialist Workers	Domenico DiGirolamo	18,819	0.98%	0.61
	Prohibition	Julia Kohler	9,203	0.48%	0.19
	Write-in		27	0.00%
Total votes			1,915,397	100.00%

Auditor

1966 Massachusetts Auditor election

Nominee Thaddeus Buczko John J. Buckley Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,102,844 808,584 Percentage 57.1% 41.5%

Auditor before election Thaddeus M. Buczko Democratic Elected Auditor Thaddeus M. Buczko Democratic

Incumbent Auditor Thaddeus M. Buczko defeated state representative James H. Kelly in the Democratic primary.

In the general election, Buczko defeated Republican John J. Buckley, Socialist Labor candidate August Johnson, and Prohibition candidate Roger I. Williams in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Thaddeus M. Buczko, incumbent Auditor
• James H. Kelly, State Representative

Results

1966 Democratic Massachusetts Auditor primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thaddeus M. Buczko (incumbent)	336,187	60.25%
	Democratic	James H. Kelly	221,805	39.75%
	Write-in		7	0.00%
Total votes			557,999	100.00%

General election

Results

1966 Massachusetts Auditor election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Thaddeus M. Buczko (incumbent)	1,102,844	57.08%	1.30
	Republican	John J. Buckley	808,584	41.85%	1.19
	Socialist Workers	August Johnson	12,479	0.65%	0.22
	Prohibition	Roger I. Williams	8,196	0.42%	0.11
	Write-in		4	0.00%
Total votes			1,932,107	100.00%

United States Senate

Main article: 1966 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

Republican Edward Brooke was elected over Democrat Endicott Peabody, Socialist Labor candidate Lawrence Gilfedder, and Prohibition candidate Mark R. Shaw.

See also

• 165th Massachusetts General Court (1967–1968)