1974 United States gubernatorial elections

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 1974, in 35 states and two territories. The Democrats achieved a net gain of four seats, Republicans took a net loss of five seats, and one Independent was elected to the governorship of a state. This election coincided with the Senate and the House elections.

1974 United States gubernatorial elections
November 5, 1974
37 governorships
35 states; 2 territories
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Seats before 32 18
Seats after 36 13
Seat change Increase4 Decrease5
Seats up 23 12
Seats won 27 7
  Third party
 
Party Independent
Seats before 0
Seats after 1
Seat change Increase1
Seats up 0
Seats won 1
  Republican hold
  Republican gain
  Democratic hold
  Democratic gain
  Independent gain

In Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas, governors were elected to four-year terms for the first time, instead of two-year terms. As of 2023, this is the last time that a Democrat was elected South Dakota governor. This is the first time a woman has been elected governor whose husband was not governor of any state. (In this case, Connecticut.)

Election results 1974

A bolded state name features an article about the specific election.

States
State Incumbent Party First
elected		 Result Candidates
Alabama George Wallace Democratic 1962
1966 (term-limited)
1970		 Incumbent re-elected.[1]
Alaska William A. Egan Democratic 1958
1966 (defeated)
1970		 Incumbent lost re-election.[2]
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
Arizona Jack Williams Republican 1966 Incumbent retired.[3]
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Arkansas Dale Bumpers Democratic 1970 Incumbent retired.[4]
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY David Pryor (Democratic) 65.57%
  • Ken Coon (Republican) 34.41%
California Ronald Reagan Republican 1966 Incumbent retired.[5]
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Colorado John D. Vanderhoof Republican 1973[lower-alpha 1] Incumbent lost election to full term.[6]
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Connecticut Thomas Meskill Republican 1970 Incumbent retired.[7]
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Florida Reubin Askew Democratic 1970 Incumbent re-elected.[8]
  • Green tickY Reubin Askew (Democratic) 58.35%
  • Jerry Thomas (Republican) 38.8%
Georgia Jimmy Carter Democratic 1970 Incumbent term-limited.[9]
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
Hawaii John A. Burns Democratic 1962 Incumbent retired.[10]
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
Idaho Cecil Andrus Democratic 1970 Incumbent re-elected.[11]
Iowa Robert D. Ray Republican 1968 Incumbent re-elected.[12]
Kansas Robert Docking Democratic 1966 Incumbent term-limited.[13]
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
Maine Kenneth M. Curtis Democratic 1970 Incumbent term-limited.[14]
New governor elected.
Independent gain.
Maryland Marvin Mandel Democratic 1966 Incumbent re-elected.[15]
Massachusetts Francis Sargent Republican 1969[lower-alpha 2] Incumbent lost re-election.[16]
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Michigan William Milliken Republican 1969[lower-alpha 3] Incumbent re-elected.[17]
Minnesota Wendell R. Anderson Democratic 1970 Incumbent re-elected.[18]
Nebraska J. James Exon Democratic 1970 Incumbent re-elected.[19]
Nevada Mike O'Callaghan Democratic 1970 Incumbent re-elected.[20]
New Hampshire Meldrim Thomson Jr. Republican 1972 Incumbent re-elected.[21]
New Mexico Bruce King Democratic 1970 Incumbent term-limited.[22]
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
New York Malcolm Wilson Republican 1973[lower-alpha 4] Incumbent lost election to full term.[23]
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Ohio John J. Gilligan Democratic 1970 Incumbent lost re-election.[24]
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
Oklahoma David Hall Democratic 1970 Incumbent lost re-nomination.[25]
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
Oregon Tom McCall Republican 1966 Incumbent term-limited.[26]
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania Milton Shapp Democratic 1966 Incumbent re-elected.[27]
  • Green tickY Milton Shapp (Democratic) 53.66%
  • Andrew L. Lewis Jr. (Republican) 45.11%
  • Stephen Depue (Constitutionalist) 0.96%
  • Frederick L. Stanton (Socialist Workers) 0.26%
Rhode Island Philip Noel Democratic 1972 Incumbent re-elected.[28]
  • Green tickY Philip Noel (Democratic) 78.48%
  • James Nugent (Republican) 21.52%
South Carolina John C. West Democratic 1970 Incumbent term-limited.[29]
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
South Dakota Richard F. Kneip Democratic 1970 Incumbent re-elected.[30]
Tennessee Winfield Dunn Republican 1970 Incumbent term-limited.[31]
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Texas Dolph Briscoe Democratic 1972 Incumbent re-elected.[32]
Vermont Thomas P. Salmon Democratic 1972 Incumbent re-elected.[33]
Wisconsin Patrick Lucey Democratic 1970 Incumbent re-elected.[34]
Wyoming Stanley K. Hathaway Republican 1966 Incumbent retired.[35]
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.

Territories and federal district
Territory Incumbent Party First
elected		 Result Candidates
District of Columbia None (New office) New office.
New mayor elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Green tickY Walter Washington (Democratic) 82.5%
  • Sam Harris (Independent) 7.3%
  • Jackson R. Champion (Republican) 3.7%
  • Raymond V. Ellis (Independent) 2.9%
  • Nan Bailey (Socialist Workers) 2.3%
  • Tommye Lynn Grant (Independent) 1.3%
Guam Carlos Camacho Republican 1970 Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.

See also

Notes
  1. Vanderhoof took office after his predecessor (John Arthur Love) resigned.
  2. Sargent took office after his predecessor (John Volpe) resigned.
  3. Milliken took office after his predecessor (George W. Romney) resigned.
  4. Wilson took office after his predecessor (Nelson Rockefeller) resigned.

References
  1. "AL Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  2. "AK Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  3. "AZ Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  4. "AR Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  5. "CA Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  6. "CO Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  7. "CT Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  8. "FL Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  9. "GA Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  10. "HI Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  11. "ID Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  12. "IA Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  13. "KS Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  14. "ME Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  15. "MD Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  16. "MA Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  17. "MI Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  18. "MN Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  19. "NE Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  20. "NV Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  21. "NH Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  22. "NM Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  23. "NY Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  24. "OH Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  25. "OK Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  26. "OR Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  27. "PA Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  28. "RI Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  29. "SC Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  30. "SD Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  31. "TN Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  32. "TX Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  33. "VT Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  34. "WI Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  35. "WY Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
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