1974 New York state election

The Democratic State Committee met from June 13 to 15 at Niagara Falls, New York, and designated Howard J. Samuels for Governor, but Congressman Hugh L. Carey polled enough votes to force a primary election.[2] They also designated Mario M. Cuomo for Lieutenant Governor;[3] the incumbent Arthur Levitt for Comptroller; Robert R. Meehan for Attorney General; Judge Harold A. Stevens and Appellate Justice Lawrence H. Cooke for the Court of Appeals; and Mayor of Syracuse Lee Alexander for the U.S. Senate.[4] Despite the state committee's stance, Carey and his reformist slate found support in disparate quarters. In August he was strongly endorsed by former New York City mayor Robert F. Wagner who, drawing a pointed comparison to Samuels, called Carey "free of boss ties and obligations".[5] The primary election was held on September 10.[6] Carey and his allies swept to victory: all the state party's designees were defeated, with only the unopposed Comptroller Levitt and one unopposed judge surviving the upset. Basil Paterson, who in 1970 received the most votes in the Democratic primary was not mentioned as a candidate for Governor in 1974.

The Republican State Committee met on June 12 at the Nassau Coliseum, and designated the incumbents Wilson, Lefkowitz, Rabin, Stevens and Javits for re-election; and completed the ticket with Nassau County Executive Ralph G. Caso for Lieutenant Governor; and Ex-Mayor of Rochester Stephen May for Comptroller.[8] On June 28, Rabin declined to run because he was already 69, just one year short of the constitutional age limit,[9] and on July 22, Appellate Justice Louis M. Greenblott, of Binghamton, was designated instead.[10]

The Conservative State Committee met on June 15, and designated the incumbent Republican Governor Wilson for re-election. T. David Bullard polled enough votes to force a primary election, but withdrew on June 29.[11] They also designated Republican Ralph G. Caso for Lieutenant Governor; Bradley J. Hurd (born c. 1902), "lumber dealer," of Buffalo, for Comptroller; Edward F. Campbell (born c. 1920), of Huntington, for Attorney General; the incumbent Democrat Harold A. Stevens, and Manhattan lawyer Henry S. Middendorf, Jr., for the Court of Appeals; and Barbara A. Keating, of Larchmont, for the U.S. Senate.[12]

The Liberal State Committee met on June 15, and designated Ex-Deputy Mayor of New York Edward A. Morrison for Governor; and Raymond B. Harding, of The Bronx, for Lieutenant Governor; with the understanding that both would step aside in favor of the winners of the Democratic primary to be held in September. They also endorsed the incumbents Levitt (Dem.), Lefkowitz (Rep.), Stevens (Dem.) and Javits (Rep.) for re-election.[13] On September 14, Morrison and Harding withdrew, and the State Committee endorsed the Democratic nominees Hugh L. Carey for Governor; and Mary Anne Krupsak for Lieutenant Governor. Morrison and Harding were nominated to run for the New York Supreme Court.[14]

The Republican, Liberal and Conservative tickets designated by the state committees were not challenged in primaries.

Six minor parties filed petitions to nominate candidates and appeared on the ballot.[15]

The "Courage Party," the New York state branch of the American Party, nominated Dr. Wayne S. Amato (born c. 1941), Ph.D. in chemical engineering, assistant professor at Syracuse University, for Governor; Charles R. Schanger, of Redford, for Lieutenant Governor; and Dr. William F. Dowling, Jr., dentist, of Garden City, for the U.S. Senate.[16]

The Free Libertarian Party nominated Jerry Tuccille, of Tarrytown, for Governor; Louis J. Sicilia, of Manhattan, for Lieutenant Governor; Robert S. Flanzer, of Brooklyn, for Comptroller; Leland W. Schubert, of Manhattan, for Attorney General; Melvin J. Hirshowitz and Jack A. Martin, both of Manhattan, for the Court of Appeals; and Percy L. Greaves, Jr., for the U.S. Senate.[17]

The Socialist Workers Party nominated Derrick Morrison (born 1946), of Manhattan, a writer for The Militant, for Governor. Morrison was actually ineligible for the office which requires a minimum age of 30. They also nominated James Mendietta, of Brooklyn, for Lieutenant Governor; Sam Manuel for Comptroller; Raymond Markey (born c. 1940), librarian, for Attorney General; and Rebecca Finch (born c. 1944) for the U.S. Senate.[18]

The Communist Party nominated Jose A. Ristorrucci (born c. 1943 in Puerto Rico) for Governor; Carol Twigg, of Buffalo, for Lieutenant Governor; Daniel Spector, of Brooklyn, for Comptroller; Michael Zagarell for Attorney General; and Mildred Edelman, of Manhattan, for the U.S. Senate.

The Socialist Labor Party nominated John Emanuel for Governor; and Robert E. Massi (born c. 1944), lawyer, of Brooklyn, for the U.S. Senate.

The U.S. Labor Party nominated Anton Chaitkin for Governor; Victoria Staton for Lieutenant Governor; Leif O. Johnson, of Manhattan, for Comptroller; Raymond M. Martino, of Goshen, for Attorney General; and Elijah C. Boyd, Jr. (born c. 1944), of Manhattan, for the U.S. Senate.