1962 Ohio lieutenant gubernatorial election

1962 Ohio lieutenant gubernatorial election

← 1958 November 6, 1962 1966  →

Nominee John William Brown John J. Gallagher Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,629,158 1,303,047 Percentage 55.56% 44.44%

Lieutenant Governor before election John W. Donahey Democratic Elected Lieutenant Governor John William Brown Republican

The 1962 Ohio lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1962, to elect the lieutenant governor of Ohio. Primaries were held on May 8, 1962. Democratic incumbent lieutenant governor John W. Donahey chose to unsuccessfully run for Ohio State Auditor rather than seek re-election. Republican former governor John William Brown won the election, defeating his Democratic opponent John J. Gallagher by eleven percentage points.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John T. Flanigan
• John J. Gallagher
• James A. Lantz, Ohio State Auditor (1962–1963)
• Harold L. Milligan
• James L. Powers

Campaign

John J. Gallagher won a crowded primary 10 points ahead of his closest opponent, Ohio State Auditor James A. Lantz.

Results

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John J. Gallagher	174,030	31.99%
	Democratic	James A. Lantz	117,010	21.51%
	Democratic	James L. Powers	92,701	17.04%
	Democratic	John T. Flanigan	89,790	16.51%
	Democratic	Harold L. Milligan	70,436	12.95%
Total votes			543,967	100.0%

Republican primary

Candidates

• William R. Van Aken, former Ohio State House representative (1947–1948), (1943–1944)
• John William Brown, former governor of Ohio (1957), and former lieutenant governor (1953–1957)
• William T. Weisenborn
• Charles W. Whalen Jr., Ohio state senator (1961–1967)
• Wayne Wilke, attorney
• George V. Woodling

Campaign

Despite facing a crowded primary, Brown easily won the Republican nomination in a landslide over his five opponents, winning by 32 percentage points.

Results

Republican primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John William Brown	257,261	47.91%
	Republican	Charles W. Whalen Jr.	85,119	15.85%
	Republican	George V. Woodling	70,827	13.19%
	Republican	Wayne Wilke	63,669	11.86%
	Republican	Charles W. Whalen Jr.	44,146	8.22%
	Republican	William T. Weisenborn	15,971	2.97%
Total votes			536,993	100.0%

General election

Candidates

• John William Brown, former governor of Ohio (1957), and former lieutenant governor (1953–1957) (Republican)
• John J. Gallagher (Democratic)

Results

1962 Ohio lieutenant gubernatorial election results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John William Brown	1,629,158	55.56%	+10.26
	Democratic	John J. Gallagher	1,303,047	44.44%	−10.26
Total votes			2,932,205	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

References

1. "1962 Democratic Primary - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
2. "1962 Republican Primary - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
3. "1962 General Election Overview - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 27, 2025.