1968 Indiana gubernatorial election

The 1968 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1968.

1968 Indiana gubernatorial election

← 1964 November 5, 1968 1972 →
 
Nominee Edgar Whitcomb Robert L. Rock
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,080,271 965,816
Percentage 52.72% 47.13%

County results
Whitcomb:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Rock:      50–60%

Governor before election

Roger D. Branigin
Democratic

Elected Governor

Edgar Whitcomb
Republican

Incumbent Democratic Governor Roger D. Branigin was term-limited.

Republican nominee Edgar Whitcomb defeated Democratic nominee Robert L. Rock with 52.72% of the vote.

Nominations

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Until 1976, all nominations for statewide office in Indiana were made by state conventions.[1][2]

Democratic nomination

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Candidates

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Results

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The Democratic convention was held on June 21, 1968.[3][4]

Democratic convention results[3][5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert L. Rock 953 49.33
Democratic Richard C. Bodine 951 49.23
Absent/not voting 28 1.45
Total votes 1,932 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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The Republican convention was held on June 18, 1968.[6][7]

Republican convention results[6][8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edgar Whitcomb 1,260 56.86
Republican Otis Bowen 527 23.78
Republican Earl Butz 429 19.36
Total votes 2,216 100.00

General election

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Governor

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Candidates

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Results

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1968 Indiana gubernatorial election[9][10][11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Edgar Whitcomb 1,080,271 52.72%
Democratic Robert L. Rock 965,816 47.13%
Prohibition Melvin E. Hawk 2,985 0.15%
Majority 114,455 5.59%
Turnout 2,049,072 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Lieutenant governor

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1968 Indiana lieutenant gubernatorial election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Richard E. Folz 1,086,704 54.00%
Democratic James W. Beatty 922,352 45.83%
Prohibition James G. Harkless 3,277 0.16%
Majority 164,352 8.17%
Turnout 2,012,333 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

References

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  1. ^ America Votes 8, p. 116.
  2. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 112.
  3. ^ a b Myers, Hortense (June 22, 1968). "Rock wins Demo governor's spot". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, IN. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Butters, Mary Ann (June 22, 1968). "Demo Women Take Active Part in Helping Favorite Candidates". Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 6. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  5. ^ Foughty, Trevor (June 14, 2018). "That wild 1968 Indiana Democrat convention" (PDF). Howey Politics Indiana. Vol. 23, no. 41. Kokomo, Indiana. p. 7. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Cadou, Eugene J. (June 19, 1968). "Municipal vote gives Whitcomb the GOP nod". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, IN. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  7. ^ Foughty, Trevor (June 15, 2018). "The close convention upset that history mostly forgot". Capital & Washington. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  8. ^ "IN Governor, 1968 - R Convention". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  9. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 50.
  10. ^ America Votes 8, p. 107.
  11. ^ "IN Governor, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "1968 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  13. ^ "1968 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results – Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved June 4, 2020.

Bibliography

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