1974 Maine gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1974 Maine gubernatorial election Maine presidential no 1970 Maine gubernatorial election 1970 1978 Maine gubernatorial election 1978 November 5, 1974 Image:James B. Longley (Maine governor) (cropped).jpg 150x150px James B. Longley Independent 142,464 39.70% Image:George John Mitchell.jpg George J. Mitchell Democratic Party (United States) 132,219 36.84% 3x4.svg James Erwin Republican Party (United States) 84,176 23.46% 280px County results 280px Municipality results 300px Longley: #e6e6e6 30–40% #d9d9d9ff 40–50% #bdbdbdff 50–60% #969696ff 60–70% #737373ff 70–80%Mitchell: #bdd3ff 30–40% #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Erwin: #FFC8CD 30–40% #ffb2b2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #a80000 >90% Tie: #decde6ff 40–50% Governor Kenneth M. Curtis Democratic Party (United States) James B. Longley Independent politician The 1974 Maine gubernatorial election took place in the US state on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Democratic Governor Kenneth M. Curtis was term-limited and could not seek re-election. Independent candidate James B. Longley defeated Democratic Party challenger (and future Senate Majority Leader) George J. Mitchell and Republican James Erwin in a tight three-way contest. Longley's victory made him the first independent (non-party-affiliated) governor in Maine's history. Campaign Democratic primary George Mitchell was an early front-runner for the governorship in 1974. He had defeated Joseph Brennan and four others in the Democratic primary, and had the backing of popular former governor (and then-U.S. Senator) Edmund Muskie. Many Maine political observers believed Mitchell would be able to easily beat back the challenge from James Erwin and become Maine's next governor. Gubernatorial campaign, 1973-74 1–2 The George J. Mitchell Papers Finding Aid http://library.bowdoin.edu/arch/mitchell/faid/3/index.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20120126060410/http://library.bowdoin.edu/arch/mitchell/faid/3/index.shtml 2012-01-26 dead Mitchell ran on the campaign theme "There are two Maines. There should only be one." He argued that Maine was a gorgeous state with rich natural resources and was a thriving tourist destination, but at the same time it had high unemployment and a large number of Maine families lived below the poverty line. His campaign focused on ways to bring together the two Maines – a place with a protected environment and a strong economy. Candidates Joseph E. Brennan, member of the Maine Senate, of Portland Peter S. Kelley, member of the Maine Senate, of Caribou Lloyd LaFountain, attorney, of Biddeford Aaron Levine, of Waterville George J. Mitchell, attorney, of South Portland Jack Smith, of Portland Results Democratic primary resultshttps://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/Elections/Returns/1974/19740611/elec_19740611c.pdf Maine Primary Election Results - June 11, 1974 Maine.gov George J. Mitchell Democratic Party (United States) 33,312 37.52 Joseph E. Brennan Democratic Party (United States) 23,443 26.41 Peter S. Kelley Democratic Party (United States) 21,358 24.06 Lloyd LaFountain Democratic Party (United States) 7,954 8.95 Aaron Levine Democratic Party (United States) 1,545 1.74 Jack Smith Democratic Party (United States) 1,165 1.31 88,777 100.00 Republican primary James Erwin of York, another early front-runner in the race,Day, John S., "Longley holds lead over Mitchell", Bangor Daily News via Google, November 6, 1974. Retrieved 2012-06-20. had served in the Maine House and Senate before winning his first of three terms as attorney general in 1967. He had challenged incumbent governor John H. Reed in the 1966 Republican gubernatorial primary, but Reed would defeat him. In 1970, he won the GOP nomination, but lost the general election by 890 votes to the Democratic incumbent Curtis. Erwin's campaign theme was "Erwin This Time." Erwin defeated three members of the State Legislature to be renominated by the GOP. The runner up, State Senator Harrison Richardson, was bested by only 1,351 votes. According to his 2005 obituary, Erwin was "born in New York City and grew up in Englewood, N.J. He spent his summers on his mother's family's farm in South Berwick, which is now the site of Berwick Academy. He graduated from Dartmouth College and served in the Army during World War II."https://archive.today/20130118170332/http://articles.boston.com/2005-07-16/news/29224351_1_allagash-wilderness-waterway-gubernatorial-race-attorney "James Erwin, at 84; former attorney general of Maine", Associated Press via Boston Globe, July 16, 2005. Retrieved 2012-06-20. Candidates James S. Erwin, attorney general of Maine and Republican nominee for governor in 1970, of Pittston Harrison Richardson, member of the Maine Senate, of Cumberland Stanley Sproul, member of the Maine House of Representatives and mayor of Augusta Wakine Tanous, member of the Maine Senate, of East Millinocket Results Republican primary results James S. Erwin Republican Party (United States) 38,044 39.30 Harrison Richardson Republican Party (United States) 36,693 37.91 Wakine Tanous Republican Party (United States) 18,786 19.41 Stanley Sproul Republican Party (United States) 7,954 8.22 96,794 100.00 Independent candidate James B. Longley was the owner of a successful insurance agency in Lewiston, who got his first opportunity in statewide politics when then-Governor Curtis asked him to lead a state government commission called the Maine Management and Cost Survey Commission, which was intended to make government more efficient, and cut costs. After some initial reluctance, Longley accepted the position and pursued the job with vigor.Cover Susan Dead Serious: Independent Jim Longley wanted to be 'the people's governor' Kennebec Journal 2007-12-31 http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4587604.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080511184453/http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4587604.html 2008-05-11 Longley made several recommendations that were projected to save the state in excess of $24 million. One of his major proposals included restructuring the Maine university system, which he felt was grossly inefficient. His work at the commission gave him a prominent statewide profile, something he decided to try to turn into an electoral mandate when Governor Curtis retired in 1974. Longley had been a lifelong Democrat, but due to earning a maverick reputation acting in a non-partisan role on the cost-cutting commission and because he inadvertently missed the filing deadline for party candidates, he ran as an independent. Some Maine observers believed he knew he would be unable to beat both former Muskie adviser George Mitchell and state Senator Joseph Brennan in a Democratic primary, causing him to not file with the party. He ran on the slogan "Think About It", a phrase he often used with insurance customers to get them to consider his products. The issues In 1974, the economy was volatile and inflation was high. Maine's economy was in a weak position with high unemployment and low wages, and all three candidates focused on this economic uncertainty in their respective campaigns. Issues such as oil prices, health care, the environment and care for the elderly were also major themes that dominated the debate by the candidates. Longley campaigned on a platform of cutting government and making it more efficient, hoping to capitalize on the reputation he had earned with the commission. However, he struggled to get attention in the race, as most media outlets focused on Mitchell and James Erwin (who had run for governor the previous cycle as well). Toward the tail end of the campaign, however, increased attention was focused on Longley, with newspapers profiling his candidacy and speculating that he was on par with the other two candidates. When the Bangor Daily News issued an endorsement of Longley, many observers believed it gave Longley instant legitimacy. General election An Associated Press poll three days before the election showed Mitchell and Erwin running neck and neck, with Longley trailing by double digits. However, that same poll noted that 37 percent of the electorate was still undecided, leaving open the possibility that they could swing any direction at the last minute. On Election Day, Longley won with 40% of the vote, followed by Mitchell at 37%, and Erwin with 23%. Mitchell attributed his loss to "distrust and cynicism about politics and politicians [after Watergate]", "widespread concern over the economy", and "the fact that James Longley had conducted a very excellent campaign." Results 1974 Maine gubernatorial election results Guide to US Elections, Fifth Edition, Volume II CQ Press 2005 1497–1499 https://archive.org/details/guidetouselectio00cqpr/page/1497 978-1-56802-981-8 2009-05-06 registration Independent James B. Longley 142,464 39.70% +39.70% Democratic Party (United States) George J. Mitchell 132,219 36.84% -13.30% Republican Party (United States) James S. Erwin 84,176 23.46% -26.40% 10,245 2.85% Independent Democratic Party (United States) Counties that flipped from Democratic to Independent Androscoggin (largest city: Lewiston) Kennebec (largest city: Augusta) Oxford (largest town: Rumford) Penobscot (largest city: Bangor) Counties that flipped from Republican to Independent Franklin (largest town: Farmington) Hancock (largest municipality: Ellsworth) Knox (largest municipality: Rockland) Lincoln (largest city: Waldoboro) Piscataquis (largest municipality: Dover-Foxcroft) Sagadahoc (largest town: Bath) Somerset (largest town: Skowhegan) Waldo (largest city: Belfast) Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Washington (largest city: Calais) Notes expanded 1974 Maine Gubernatorial Category:November 1974 elections in the United States