1960 Maine gubernatorial election

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Maine gubernatorial special election, 1960
Flag of Maine.svg
  1958 November 8, 1960 1962  
  JohnReed-Maine.jpg Frank M. Coffin (Maine Congressman).jpg
Nominee John H. Reed Frank M. Coffin
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote219,768197,447
Percentage52.67%47.33%

Maine Governor Election Results by County, 1960.svg
Election results by county
Reed:      50–60%     60–70%     70-80%
Coffin:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

John H. Reed
Republican

Elected Governor

John H. Reed
Republican

The 1960 Maine gubernatorial special election was a special election held to officially elect a governor following the death of Governor Clinton Clauson. It took place on November 8, 1960 with Republican Governor John Reed (who, as Maine Senate President, automatically took office upon Clauson's death) defeating Democrat Frank M. Coffin.

The election was also the first time since Maine was admitted to the Union that the state did not 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.

Results

1960 Gubernatorial Special Election, Maine [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican John H. Reed 219,76852.67%-
Democratic Frank M. Coffin 197,44747.33%-
Majority22,3215.35%

Notes

  1. Guide to US Elections, Fifth Edition, Volume II . CQ Press. 2005. pp.  1497–1499. ISBN   978-1-56802-981-8 . Retrieved 2009-05-11.

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