1974 Connecticut gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1974 United States gubernatorial elections.

1974 Connecticut gubernatorial election

←  1970 November 5, 1974 1978  →
Turnout	72.0% [1]
Nominee Ella Grasso Robert H. Steele Party Democratic Republican Running mate Robert K. Killian Nathan G. Agostinelli Popular vote 643,490 440,169 Percentage 58.35% 39.92%
County results Municipality results Steele:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Grasso:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Governor before election Thomas Meskill Republican Elected Governor Ella Grasso Democratic

The 1974 Connecticut gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974. Democratic nominee Ella Grasso defeated Republican nominee Robert H. Steele with 58.35% of the vote. Grasso thus became the first woman to be elected Governor of Connecticut and the first woman elected governor of a US state who was not the spouse or widow of a former Governor.

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Ella Grasso, Democratic
• Robert H. Steele, Republican

Other candidates

• Thomas J. Pallone, George Wallace Party ^[2]
• Allen C. Peichert, American

Results

1974 Connecticut gubernatorial election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ella Grasso	643,490	58.35%
	Republican	Robert H. Steele	440,169	39.92%
	George Wallace Party	Thomas J. Pallone	16,660	1.51%
	American	Allen C. Peichert	2,291	0.21%
Majority			203,321
Turnout			1,102,773
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. "Connecticut State Register and Manual, 1975". CT State Library.
2. "1974 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Connecticut". uselectionatlas.org.
3. Cook, Rhodes (November 5, 2013). America Votes 30: 2011-2012, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. CQ Press. ISBN   9781452290171 . Retrieved April 29, 2020.