1954 Maine gubernatorial election

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1954 Maine gubernatorial election
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←  1952 September 13, 1954 1956  →
  Muskie for Maine (cropped).jpg BurtonMCross.jpg
Nominee Edmund Muskie Burton M. Cross
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote135,673113,298
Percentage54.49%45.51%
1954 Maine gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Muskie:      50–60%     60–70%
Cross:      50-60%     60-70%
Governor before election

Burton M. Cross
Republican

Elected Governor

Edmund Muskie
Democratic

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." [1] 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. [2] Both Cross and Muskie were unopposed in their respective primaries.

Contents

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. [3] He stressed the need for "a two-party" approach to Maine politics with 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. [4] He criticized the Republican Party for neglecting the environment, failing to restart the economy, underutilizing skilled labor forces, and ignoring public investment. [5]

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. [6] [7] [8] After his win, he was asked by other Democrats running in elections outside of Maine to make a series of campaign stops. [9]

Results

1954 Gubernatorial Election, Maine [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Edmund Muskie 135,673 54.49% −
Republican Burton M. Cross (Incumbent)113,29845.51%−
Majority 22,3758.99%

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Notes

  1. ↑ Nevin, David (1970). Muskie of Maine. Ladd Library, Bates College: Random House, New York. p. 99. ... a man many deemed to be the single-most influential figure in Maine
  2. ↑ Witherell, James L. (2014). Ed Muskie: Made in Maine, The Early Years 1914–1960. Thomaston, Maine: Tilbury House Publishers. ISBN   978-0884483922.
  3. ↑ Blomquist 1999, pp. 92–93
  4. ↑ Blomquist 1999, p. 93
  5. ↑ Blomquist 1999, pp. 93–94
  6. ↑ Nevin, David (1970). Muskie of Maine. Ladd Library, Bates College: Random House, New York. p. 99. ... a man many deemed to be the single-most influential figure in Maine
  7. ↑ Blomquist, Robert (1999). "What is Past is Prologue: Senator Edmund S. Muskie's Environmental Policymaking Roots as Governor of Maine, 1955–58". Valparaiso University.
  8. ↑ Palmer, Kenneth T.; Taylor, G. Thomas (1992). Maine Politics & Government . U of Nebraska Press. p.  30. ISBN   0803287186.
  9. ↑ Blomquist 1999, p. 94
  10. ↑ Guide to US Elections, Fifth Edition, Volume II . CQ Press. 2005. pp.  1497–1499. ISBN   978-1-56802-981-8 . Retrieved May 12, 2009.


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