1954 Maine gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1954 Maine gubernatorial election Maine presidential no 1952 Maine gubernatorial election 1952 1956 Maine gubernatorial election 1956 September 13, 1954 File:Muskie for Maine (cropped).jpg 150x150px Edmund Muskie Democratic Party (United States) 135,673 54.49% File:BurtonMCross.jpg Burton M. Cross Republican Party (United States) 113,298 45.51% File:1954 Maine gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 280px County resultsMuskie: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Cross: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Governor Burton M. Cross Republican Party (United States) Edmund Muskie Democratic Party (United States) The 1954 Maine gubernatorial election took place on September 13, 1954. Incumbent Republican Governor Burton M. Cross was seeking a second term which would have made him the fifth consecutive Governor (all Republicans) to be elected twice. Democratic state representative Edmund Muskie was widely viewed as the underdog due to Maine's solidly Republican history — Muskie acknowledged this himself by saying, "[this is] more as a duty than an opportunity because there was no chance of a Democrat winning."Nevin David Muskie of Maine Random House, New York 1970 Ladd Library, Bates College 99 ... a man many deemed to be the single-most influential figure in Maine However, Muskie was able to pull an upset victory and become the first Democrat to be elected to the Blaine House since Louis J. Brann in 1934, and only the fourth Democrat in the 20th century. He also became Maine's first Roman Catholic governor.Witherell James L. https://books.google.com/books?id=lhrCBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT3 Ed Muskie: Made in Maine, The Early Years 1914–1960 Tilbury House Publishers 2014 978-0884483922 Thomaston, Maine Both Cross and Muskie were unopposed in their respective primaries. Muskie ran on a party platform of environmentalism and public investment. His environmental platform argued for the establishment of the Maine Department of Conservation to "have jurisdiction of forestry, inland fish and game, sea and shore fisheries, mineral, water, and other natural resources" and the creation of anti-pollution legislation.Blomquist 1999, pp. 92–93 He stressed the need for "a two-party" approach to Maine politics which resonated with both Democratic and Republican voters wishing to see change. Muskie's central campaign slogan was "Maine Needs A Change" referencing the multi-year Republican dominance of state politics.Blomquist 1999, p. 93 He criticized the Republican Party for neglecting the environment, failing to restart the economy, underutilizing skilled labor forces, and ignoring public investment.Blomquist 1999, pp. 93–94 Muskie's surprise win has been viewed as a causal link to the end of Republican political dominance in Maine and the rise of the Maine Democratic Party.Nevin David Muskie of Maine Random House, New York 1970 Ladd Library, Bates College 99 ... a man many deemed to be the single-most influential figure in MaineBlomquist Robert 1999 What is Past is Prologue: Senator Edmund S. Muskie's Environmental Policymaking Roots as Governor of Maine, 1955–58 https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1141&context=law_fac_pubs Valparaiso UniversityPalmer Kenneth T. https://archive.org/details/mainepoliticsgov00palm_0 Maine Politics & Government Taylor G. Thomas 1992 U of Nebraska Press 0803287186 30 en registration After his win, he was asked by other Democrats running in elections outside of Maine to make a series of campaign stops.Blomquist 1999, p. 94 Results 1954 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 2009-05-12 registration Democratic Party (United States) Edmund Muskie 135,673 54.49% - Republican Party (United States) Burton M. Cross (Incumbent) 113,298 45.51% - 22,375 8.99% Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Aroostook (largest city: Presque Isle) Kennebec (largest city: Augusta) Oxford (largest town: Rumford) Penobscot (largest city: Bangor) Piscataquis (largest municipality: Dover-Foxcroft) Sagadahoc (largest town: Bath) Somerset (largest town: Skowhegan) Washington (largest city: Calais) Waldo (largest city: Belfast) York (largest town: Biddeford) Notes expanded 1954 Maine Gubernatorial Category:September 1954 in the United States