1974 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1974 United States gubernatorial elections.

1974 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 5, 1974 1976  →

Nominee Meldrim Thomson Jr. Richard W. Leonard Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 115,933 110,591 Percentage 51.15% 48.79%

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

Governor before election Meldrim Thomson Jr. Republican Elected Governor Meldrim Thomson Jr. Republican

The 1974 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Republican Governor Meldrim Thomson Jr. defeated Democratic nominee Richard W. Leonard with 51.15% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 10, 1974.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Hugh J. Gallen, State Representative ^[1]
• Richard W. Leonard, former Air Force pilot and state legislator ^[2]
• Harry V. Spanos, State Senator

Results

Democratic primary results ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard W. Leonard	16,503	36.55
	Democratic	Harry V. Spanos	14,149	31.34
	Democratic	Hugh J. Gallen	13,030	28.86
	Democratic	Write-ins	1,467	3.25
Total votes			45,147	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ralph Brewster
• Elmer E. Bussey, perennial candidate
• David L. Nixon, State Senator ^[7]
• Meldrim Thomson Jr., incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary results ^{[8] [4] [5] [6]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Meldrim Thomson Jr. (incumbent)	47,244	54.73
	Republican	Gerald J. Zeiller	37,286	43.20
	Republican	Ralph W. Brewster	841	0.97
	Republican	Elmer E. Bussey	682	0.79
	Republican	Write-ins	267	0.31
Total votes			86,320	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Richard W. Leonard, Democratic
• Meldrim Thomson, Republican

Results

1974 New Hampshire gubernatorial election ^{[9] [10] [11] [12]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Meldrim Thomson Jr. (incumbent)	115,933	51.15%
	Democratic	Richard W. Leonard	110,591	48.79%
	Write-in	Scattering	141	0.06%
Majority			5,342	2.36%
Turnout			226,665	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "Gov. Hugh J. Gallen". www.nga.gov. National Governors Association. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
2. Kifner, John (October 31, 1974). "G.O.P. in New Hampshire Given Edge In Races for Governor and Congress". New York Times. New York, NY. p. 54. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
3. "NH Governor, 1974 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
4. Manual for the General Court 1975, p. 314.
5. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 128.
6. America Votes 11, p. 212.
7. "New Hampshire Candidate". New York Times. New York, NY. May 2, 1974. p. 52. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
8. "NH Governor, 1974 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
9. "NH Governor, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
10. Manual for the General Court 1975, p. 524.
11. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 68.
12. America Votes 11, p. 207.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN   1-56802-396-0.
• Stark, Robert L., ed. (1975). Manual for the General Court of New Hampshire. Vol. 44. Concord, NH: Department of State, New Hampshire.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1975). America Votes 11: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1974. Washington, D.C.: Elections Research Center.