1956 Montana gubernatorial election

The 1956 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1956. Incumbent governor of Montana J. Hugo Aronson, who was first elected Governor in 1952, ran for re-election. He was unopposed in the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where he faced Arnold Olsen, the Attorney General of Montana and the Democratic nominee. Despite the fact that then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower won the state in a landslide that year in the presidential election, Aronson only narrowly defeated Arnold to win his second and final term as governor.

1956 Montana gubernatorial election

← 1952 November 6, 1956 1960 →
Turnout83.20%Decrease2.50[1]
 
Nominee J. Hugo Aronson Arnold Olsen
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 138,878 131,488
Percentage 51.37% 48.63%

County results
Aronson:      50–60%      60–70%
Olsen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

J. Hugo Aronson
Republican

Elected Governor

J. Hugo Aronson
Republican

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic Party primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Arnold Olsen 55,269 44.94
Democratic John W. Bonner 51,306 41.72
Democratic Danny O'Neill 14,777 12.01
Democratic J. M. Nickey 1,639 1.33
Total votes 122,991 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican Primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Hugo Aronson (incumbent) 50,444 100.00
Total votes 50,444 100.00

General election

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Results

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Montana gubernatorial election, 1956[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican J. Hugo Aronson (incumbent) 138,878 51.37% +0.41%
Democratic Arnold Olsen 131,488 48.63% −0.41%
Majority 7,390 2.73% +0.82%
Turnout 270,366
Republican hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary election Held in the State of Montana, June 5, 1956" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  3. ^ "Official Montana General Election Results, November 6, 1956" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2014.