1952 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1952 Massachusetts gubernatorial election Massachusetts 1908 presidential no 1950 Massachusetts gubernatorial election 1950 1954 Massachusetts gubernatorial election 1954 November 4, 1952 Christian A. Herter, U.S. Secretary of State (2358513075) (3x4b).jpg Christian Herter Republican Party (United States) 1,175,955 49.90% PaulADever (3x4a).jpg Paul A. Dever Democratic Party (United States) 1,161,499 49.29% 300px County results 300px| Municipality results 1 250px Herter: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Dever: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% Governor Paul A. Dever Democratic Party (United States) Christian Herter Republican Party (United States) The 1952 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1952. Republican Christian Herter defeated Democratic incumbent Paul A. Dever, Socialist Labor candidate Lawrence Gilfedder, Peace Progressive candidate Florence H. Luscomb, and Prohibition candidate Guy S. Williams. Background The traditional formal pre-primary convention had been abolished, and Governor Dever vetoed an attempt to reinstate it; nevertheless, Republicans announced their intent to hold an unofficial grassroots convention in Worcester on June 28.Harris John 8 Feb 1952 Herter to Run for Governor 1 The Boston Globe https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-herter-to-run-for-gover/186589629/ 20 Aug 2022Harris John 9 Feb 1952 Herter Accepts Governor 'Draft' 1 The Boston Globe https://www.newspapers.com/image/433373180 20 Aug 2022 Democratic primary Candidates Paul Dever, incumbent governor Results 1952 Democratic gubernatorial primaryhttps://archive.org/details/electionstatisti1952mass/page/230/mode/2up Election statistics, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1952 Paul Dever (incumbent) Democratic Party (US) 310,505 99.99% 37 0.01% 310,542 100.00% Blank votes None 207,074 — 517,616 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Christian Herter, U.S. representative from Boston Withdrew Howe Coolidge Amee, Cambridge attorney27 May 1952 Cambridge Attorney Enters G.O.P. Race for Governor 12 The Boston Globe https://www.newspapers.com/image/433502582 20 Aug 20225 Mar 1952 Amee Becomes 'Protest' Aspirant for Governor 12 The Boston Globe https://www.newspapers.com/image/433472042 20 Aug 2022 Laurence Curtis, former treasurer and receiver-general and nominee for lieutenant governor in 19506 Feb 1952 Herter Pushed for Governor; Laurence Curtis Announces Candidacy for GOP Nomination 1 The Berkshire County Eagle https://www.newspapers.com/image/533939909/ 20 Aug 2022 (endorsed Herter and ran for U.S. House) Charles Gibbons, state representative from Stoneham and House minority leader Declined Sumner Whittier, state senator from Everett (ran for lieutenant governor) Campaign The Republican primary was largely over before it began; the establishment cleared the field in favor of U.S. Representative Christian Herter. In February, Laurence Curtis announced his candidacy, calling for a "wholesale cleanup of conditions at the State House that have destroyed the hope of a square deal for Massachusetts citizens." He had been the leading Republican vote-getter in 1950. At the same time, U.S. Representative Christian Herter, vacationing in South Carolina, let it be known that he was willing to accept a draft for governor.6 Feb 1952 Herter Pondering Bid for Governor 2 The Boston Globe https://www.newspapers.com/image/533939909 20 Aug 2022 It was apparent that Herter, who supported Dwight D. Eisenhower for president, would have the support of the liberal Republican establishment, including Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., Leverett Saltonstall, Joseph W. Martin, and Sinclair Weeks. He announced his own candidacy two days after Curtis. Curtis pledged to remain in the race through the convention until the primary. However, he soon withdrew and endorsed Herter; Curtis was later elected to succeed Herter in Congress. Another potential candidate, Sumner Whittier, also immediately endorsed Herter and announced his campaign for lieutenant governor instead. Charles Gibbons initially said he would enter the race against Herter, but deferred until after the presidential primary, in which Herter was a candidate for delegate on the Eisenhower slate.19 Mar 1952 Gibbons May Oppose Herter Nomination 34 Holyoke Transcript-Telegram https://www.newspapers.com/image/837862896 20 Aug 2022 Herter spent much of the pre-convention period stumping for Eisenhower rather than his own candidacy.4 Mar 1952 Candidates Open Stretch Drive for N.H. Votes 13 The Boston Globe https://www.newspapers.com/image/433471306 20 Aug 2022 Even in appearances in the Commonwealth, he touted the presidential race to voters.5 Mar 1952 Herter Will Speak in County April 4 9 The North Adams Transcript https://www.newspapers.com/image/54742359 20 Aug 2022 Rep. Herter will not speak on behalf of his candidacy, but rather will aim his remarks at interesting independent voters to enroll in the Republican party for the coming presidential and state primaries. In early March, Cambridge attorney Howe Coolidge Amee entered the race, stating that he would refuse to abide by the pre-primary convention and would enter the primary directly. He framed his candidacy as merely a "protest against the scandalous and unconscionable measures employed by the hierarchy of my party in undertaking to foist upon us a candidate they must know cannot possibly be elected in November." Results 1952 Republican gubernatorial primary Christian Herter Republican Party (US) 389,335 99.99% 20 0.01% 389,355 100.00% Blank votes None 53,609 — 442,964 100.00% General election Candidates Paul Dever, incumbent governor (Democratic) Lawrence Gilfedder (Socialist Labor) Christian Herter, U.S. representative from Boston (Republican) Florence H. Luscomb, architect and suffragette (Peace Progressive) Guy S. Williams (Prohibition) Results 1952 Massachusetts gubernatorial electionElection Statistics; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1952 1952 https://archive.org/stream/electionstatisti1952mass#page/4/mode/2up Republican Party (United States) Christian Herter 1,175,955 49.90% Democratic Party (United States) Paul A. Dever (incumbent) 1,161,499 49.29% Peace Progressive Florence H. Luscomb 7,502 0.32% Socialist Labor Party of America Lawrence Gilfedder 6,159 0.26% Prohibition Party Guy S. Williams 5,163 0.22% See also 1951–1952 Massachusetts legislature References Category:Massachusetts gubernatorial elections Gubernatorial Massachusetts Category:November 1952 in the United States