1970 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1970 United States gubernatorial elections.

1970 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

←  1968 November 3, 1970 1972  →

Nominee Walter R. Peterson Jr. Roger J. Crowley Meldrim Thomson Party Republican Democratic American Popular vote 102,298 98,098 22,033 Percentage 45.99% 44.10% 9.91%

County results Municipality results Peterson:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Crowley:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Thomson:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60% No Data/Vote:

Governor before election Walter R. Peterson Jr. Republican Elected Governor Walter R. Peterson Jr. Republican

The 1970 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970.

Incumbent Republican Governor Walter R. Peterson Jr. defeated Democratic nominee Roger J. Crowley with 45.99% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 8, 1970.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Roger J. Crowley, former State Commissioner of Resources and Economic Development ^[1]
• Dennis J. Sullivan, Mayor of Nashua ^[1]
• Charles F. Whittemore, former State Commissioner of Health and Welfare ^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Roger J. Crowley	17,089	47.48
	Democratic	Charles F. Whittemore	13,354	37.10
	Democratic	Dennis J. Sullivan	4,747	13.19
	Democratic	Write-ins	804	2.23
Total votes			35,994	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Elmer E. Bussey, perennial candidate
• Walter R. Peterson Jr., incumbent Governor
• Meldrim Thomson Jr., publisher and unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for Governor in 1968 ^[1]

Results

Republican primary results ^{[2] [3] [4] [6]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Walter R. Peterson Jr. (incumbent)	43,667	50.87
	Republican	Meldrim Thomson Jr.	41,392	48.22
	Republican	Elmer E. Bussey	612	0.71
	Republican	Write-ins	162	0.19
Total votes			85,833	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Robert J. Crowley, Democratic
• Walter R. Peterson Jr., Republican
• Meldrim Thomson Jr., American. Having been defeated in the Republican primary, Thomson stood for George Wallace's American Party. ^{[7] [8]}

Results

1970 New Hampshire gubernatorial election ^{[9] [10] [11] [12]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Walter R. Peterson Jr. (incumbent)	102,298	45.99%
	Democratic	Robert J. Crowley	98,098	44.10%
	American	Meldrim Thomson Jr.	22,033	9.91%
	Write-in	Scattering	12	0.01%
Majority			4,200	1.89%
Turnout			222,441	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "New Hampshire Governor Has Lead Over His G.O.P. Opponent". New York Times. New York, NY. September 9, 1970. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
2. Manual for the General Court 1971, p. 304.
3. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 128.
4. America Votes 9, p. 215.
5. "NH Governor, 1970 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
6. "NH Governor, 1970 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
7. "Thomson Joins Presidential Race". New York Times. New York, NY. November 1, 1979. p. 16. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
8. Bernotas, Adolphe V. (April 20, 2001). "Former Gov. Thomson dead at 89". Portsmouth Herald. Portsmouth, NH. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
9. Manual for the General Court 1971, p. 456.
10. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 68.
11. America Votes 9, p. 211.
12. "NH Governor, 1970". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 10, 2020.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN   1-56802-396-0.
• Stark, Robert L., ed. (1971). Manual for the General Court of New Hampshire. Vol. 42. Concord, NH: Department of State, New Hampshire.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1972). America Votes 9: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1970. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute. ISBN   9780871870339.