1971 United States gubernatorial elections

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1971 United States gubernatorial elections
Flag of the United States.svg
  1970 November 2, 1971;
February 1, 1972 (LA)
1972  

3 governorships
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Seats before2921
Seats after3020
Seat changeIncrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg1
Seats up21
Seats won30

1971 United States gubernatorial elections results map.svg
  Democratic hold
  Democratic gain

United States gubernatorial elections were held in three states.

Contents

In Mississippi and Kentucky, general elections took place on 2 November 1971. In Louisiana, their general election took place on 1 February 1972 after the party primaries on 6 November 1971 and a Democratic primary runoff on 18 December 1971. In Mississippi and Louisiana, there were no party changes (in both cases, from Democrat to Democrat). In Kentucky, there was a Democratic gain.

In Kentucky, Louie B. Nunn was not allowed to run for a second term under the term limits rule at the time, a rule that was changed in 1992. [1]

In Mississippi, John Bell Williams was also barred from a second term under the term limits rule at the time, a rule that was changed in the mid-1980s. [2]

In Louisiana, John McKeithen had been allowed a second term due to a new rule enacted that allowed governors two consecutive terms, and thus was allowed to run for a second term (see Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1967). [3] Thus, he too was term-limited.

Election results

StateIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Kentucky Louie Nunn Republican 1967 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Louisiana John McKeithen Democratic 1964 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
Mississippi John Bell Williams Democratic 1967 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.

Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. Kentucky, 6.21%

References

  1. "Kentucky Constitution Section 71". Archived from the original on July 27, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  2. "Gov.-elect Bryant's 8 appointments could impact college board". November 22, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  3. Honan, William (June 5, 1999). "J. J. McKeithen, 81, Governor Of Louisiana, 1964 to 1972". The New York Times . Retrieved November 3, 2013.