1956 United States gubernatorial elections

none January 2025 1956 United States gubernatorial elections United States 1912 legislative no 1955 United States gubernatorial elections 1955 1957 United States gubernatorial elections 1957 Seats up Seats won 30 governorshipsIncluding a special election in Oregon. November 6, 1956;September 10, 1956 (ME) Democratic Party (United States) 27 29 2 14 16 Republican Party (United States) 21 19 2 16 14 324px #0671B0 Democratic gain #92C5DE Democratic hold#CA0120 Republican gain #F48882 Republican hold United States gubernatorial elections were held in 1956, in 30 states, concurrent with the House, Senate elections and the presidential election, on November 6, 1956 (September 10 in Maine). The special election in Oregon was due to the death of incumbent governor Paul L. Patterson on January 31.https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/patterson_paul/#.W8qG7xNKhp8 Paul L. Patterson (1900-1956) oregonencyclopedia.org en 2018-10-20 This was the last time Colorado, Maine, and Ohio elected their governors to 2-year terms, all switching to 4-years from the 1958 election. Race summary StateGovernorPartyFirstelectedStatusCandidates ArizonaErnest McFarland 1954Incumbent re-elected. Democratic Party (US) Ernest McFarland (Democratic) 59.6% Republican Party (US) Horace B. Griffen (Republican) 40.5%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=11019/8 AZ Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 ArkansasOrval Faubus 1954Incumbent re-elected. Democratic Party (US) Orval Faubus (Democratic) 80.7% Republican Party (US) Roy Mitchell (Republican) 19.4%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=172659 AR Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 ColoradoEdwin C. Johnson 1954Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Stephen McNichols (Democratic) 51.3% Republican Party (US) Donald G. Brotzman (Republican) 48.7%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=261850 CO Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 DelawareJ. Caleb Boggs 1952Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) J. Caleb Boggs (Republican) 52.0% Democratic Party (US)Elbert N. Carvel (Democratic) 48.1%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174210 DE Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 FloridaLeRoy Collins1954(special)Incumbent re-elected. Democratic Party (US) LeRoy Collins (Democratic) 73.7% Republican Party (US) William A. Washburne Jr. (Republican) 26.3%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=131880 FL Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 IllinoisWilliam Stratton 1952Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) William Stratton (Republican) 50.34% Democratic Party (US) Richard B. Austin (Democratic) 49.48% Socialist Labor Party (US) Edward C. Gross (Socialist Labor) 0.18%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=121508 IL Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 IndianaGeorge N. Craig1952 Incumbent term-limited.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Harold W. Handley (Republican) 55.6% Democratic Party (US) Ralph Tucker (Democratic) 44.0% Prohibition Party (US) J. Ralston Miller (Prohibition) 0.35% Socialist Labor Party (US) Merle N. Miller (Socialist Labor) 0.06%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174223 IN Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 IowaLeo Hoegh1954Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Herschel C. Loveless (Democratic) 51.2% Republican Party (US) Leo Hoegh (Republican) 48.8%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174238 IA Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 KansasFred Hall1954Incumbent lost renomination.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) George Docking (Democratic) 55.4% Republican Party (US)Warren W. Shaw (Republican) 42.2% Prohibition Party (US)Harry O. Lytle Jr. (Prohibition) 2.4%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173453 KS Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 MaineEdmund Muskie 1954Incumbent re-elected. Democratic Party (US) Edmund Muskie (Democratic) 59.2% Republican Party (US) Willis A. Trafton (Republican) 40.8%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174309 ME Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 MassachusettsChristian Herter 1952Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Foster Furcolo (Democratic) 52.8% Republican Party (US)Sumner G. Whittier (Republican) 46.9% Socialist Labor Party (US)Henning A. Blomen (Socialist Labor) 0.25% Prohibition Party (US)Mark R. Shaw (Prohibition) 0.12%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174322 MA Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 MichiganG. Mennen Williams 1948Incumbent re-elected. Democratic Party (US) G. Mennen Williams (Democratic) 54.7% Republican Party (US)Albert Cobo (Republican) 45.1% Prohibition Party (US)Alfred T. Halsted (Prohibition) 0.2%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=111044 MI Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 MinnesotaOrville Freeman 1954Incumbent re-elected. Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Orville Freeman (DFL) 51.4% Republican Party (US) Ancher Nelsen (Republican) 48.2% Independent Rudolph Gustafson (Industrial Government) 0.4%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=56943 MN Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 MissouriPhil M. Donnelly 19441948 (term-limited)1952 Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) James T. Blair Jr. (Democratic) 52.1% Republican Party (US) Lon Hooker (Republican) 47.9%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174331 MO Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 MontanaJ. Hugo Aronson 1952Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) J. Hugo Aronson (Republican) 51.4% Democratic Party (US) Arnold Olsen (Democratic) 48.6%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173715 MT Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 NebraskaVictor Anderson Nebraska politician 1954Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) Victor Anderson (Republican) 54.3% Democratic Party (US) Frank Sorrell (Democratic) 40.2% Independent George Morris (Independent) 5.6%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173689 NE Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 New HampshireLane Dwinell 1954Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) Lane Dwinell (Republican) 54.7% Democratic Party (US) John Shaw (Democratic) 45.3%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174346 NH Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 New MexicoJohn F. Simms1954Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Edwin L. Mechem (Republican) 52.2% Democratic Party (US)John F. Simms (Democratic) 47.8%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173707 NM Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 North CarolinaLuther H. Hodges 1954Hodges became governor in 1954 when predecessor (William B. Umstead) died.Incumbent re-elected. Democratic Party (US) Luther H. Hodges (Democratic) 67.0% Republican Party (US) Kyle Hayes (Republican) 33.1%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=78946 NC Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019North Dakota Norman Brunsdale 1950Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) John E. Davis (Republican) 58.5% North Dakota Democratic-NPL Wallace E. Warner (Democratic-NPL) 41.5%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173569 ND Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 OhioFrank Lausche 19441946 (lost)1948Incumbent retired.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) C. William O'Neill (Republican) 56.0% Democratic Party (US) Michael DiSalle (Democratic) 44.0%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=27752 OH Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 Oregon(special)Elmo Smith 1956Smith became governor on January 31, 1956 when predecessor (Paul L. Patterson) died.Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Robert D. Holmes (Democratic) 50.5% Republican Party (US) Elmo Smith (Republican) 49.5%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=41124 OR Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 Rhode IslandDennis J. Roberts 1950Incumbent re-elected. Democratic Party (US) Dennis J. Roberts (Democratic) 50.09% Republican Party (US) Christopher Del Sesto (Republican) 49.91%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=261856 RI Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 South DakotaJoe Foss 1954Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) Joe Foss (Republican) 54.4% Democratic Party (US) Ralph Herseth (Democratic) 45.6%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173682 SD Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 TexasAllan Shivers 1949Shivers became governor in 1949 when predecessor (Beauford H. Jester) died.Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Price Daniel (Democratic) 78.4% Republican Party (US) William R. Bryant (Republican) 15.2% Independent W. Lee O'Daniel (write-in) (Independent) 6.4%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173700 TX Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 UtahJ. Bracken Lee 1948Incumbent lost renomination, but ran as an independent.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) George Dewey Clyde (Republican) 38.2% Democratic Party (US) L.C. "Rennie" Romney (Democratic) 33.4% Independent J. Bracken Lee (Independent) 28.4%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=171534 UT Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 VermontJoseph B. Johnson 1954Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) Joseph B. Johnson (Republican) 57.5% Democratic Party (US) E. Frank Branon (Democratic) 42.5%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=144186 VT Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 WashingtonArthur B. Langlie 1948Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Albert Rosellini (Democratic) 54.6% Republican Party (US) Emmett T. Anderson (Republican) 45.0% Socialist Labor Party (US) Henry Killman (Socialist Labor) 0.4%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=58367 WA Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 West VirginiaWilliam C. Marland 1952 Incumbent term-limited.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Cecil H. Underwood (Republican) 53.9% Democratic Party (US) Bob Mollohan (Democratic) 46.1%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=171667 WV Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 WisconsinWalter J. Kohler Jr. 1950Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Vernon Wallace Thomson (Republican) 51.9% Democratic Party (US)William Proxmire (Democratic) 48.1%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=171657 WI Governor, 1956 Our Campaigns 14 March 2019 Closest races States where the margin of victory was under 1%: Rhode Island, 0.18% Illinois, 0.86% States where the margin of victory was under 5%: Oregon, 1.04% Iowa, 2.44% Colorado, 2.68% Montana, 2.74% Minnesota, 3.23% Wisconsin, 3.78% Delaware, 3.90% Missouri, 4.14% New Mexico, 4.46% Utah, 4.77% States where the margin of victory was under 10%: Massachusetts, 5.89% West Virginia, 7.76% South Dakota, 8.68% New Hampshire, 9.46% Michigan, 9.52% Washington, 9.63% Red denotes states won by Republicans. Blue denotes states won by Democrats. See also 1956 United States elections 1956 United States presidential election 1956 United States Senate elections 1956 United States House of Representatives elections Notes References 30emcollapsed Category:September 1956 in the United States Category:November 1956 in the United States