1958 Maine gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1958 Maine gubernatorial election Maine presidential no 1956 Maine gubernatorial election 1956 1960 Maine gubernatorial special election 1960 (special) September 8, 1958 150x150px ClintonClauson (cropped).jpg Clinton Clauson Democratic Party (United States) 145,673 51.98% HoraceHildreth.jpg Horace Hildreth Republican Party (United States) 134,572 48.02% File:1958 Maine gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 280px County resultsClauson: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Hildreth: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Governor Edmund Muskie Democratic Party (United States) Clinton Clauson Democratic Party (United States) The 1958 Maine gubernatorial election took place on September 8, 1958. Incumbent Democratic Governor Edmund Muskie was term limited and seeking election to the United States Senate, and thus did not run. Democrat Clinton Clauson, then mayor of Waterville, unexpectedly defeated Muskie's chosen Democratic candidate in the primary, Maynard Dolloff, and faced off against Republican Horace Hildreth, who had previously served two terms as governor from 1945 to 1949, in the general election. Though Hildreth was the heavy favorite to win, Clauson was able to narrowly defeat him, retaining the Blaine House for the Democrats. The election was also the last time that Maine would hold its election in September. Traditionally, Maine had held its elections two months before the rest of the nation, which had help give birth to the phrase "As Maine goes, so goes the nation" and its status as a bellwether state. However, following a 1957 referendum, the state constitution was amended to hold all elections after 1958 in November and shift from two-year to four-year terms. Thus, Clauson became the first Governor elected to a four-year term, with the next election being scheduled for November 1962. However, Clauson died in December of 1959, forcing a special election to be held in 1960 to elect a governor to serve the balance of Clauson's term. Democratic primary Candidates Clinton Clauson, former mayor of Waterville Maynard C. Dolloff, State Grange Master, of Gray Results Democratic primary results Clinton Clauson Democratic Party (United States) 20,736 51.79 Maynard C. Dolloff Democratic Party (United States) 19,301 48.21 40,037 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Philip F. Chapman, former state senator, of Portland Horace A. Hildreth, former Governor of Maine (1945–1949), former United States Ambassador to Pakistan (1951–1957), of Cumberland Results Republican primary results Horace A. Hildreth Republican Party (United States) 63,424 62.00 Philip F. Chapman Republican Party (United States) 38,865 38.00 102,289 100.00 Results 1958 Gubernatorial Election, Maine 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 2009-05-11 registration Democratic Party (United States) Clinton Clauson 145,673 51.98% - Republican Party (United States) Horace A. Hildreth 134,572 48.02% - 11,101 3.96% Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Aroostook (largest city: Presque Isle) Franklin (largest town: Farmington) Knox (largest municipality: Rockland) Penobscot (largest city: Bangor) Piscataquis (largest municipality: Dover-Foxcroft) Washington (largest city: Calais) Waldo (largest city: Belfast) Notes expanded 1958 Maine Gubernatorial Maine gubernatorial election