1976 United States gubernatorial elections

1976 United States gubernatorial elections

←  1975 November 2, 1976 1977  →
15 governorships 14 states; 1 territory
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Seats before 36 13 Seats after 37 12 Seat change 1 1 Seats up 8 6 Seats won 9 5
Republican hold   Republican gain   Democratic hold   Democratic gain

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 2, 1976, in 14 states and one territory. Democrats achieved a net gain of one in these elections. This coincided with the House, Senate elections, and the presidential election.

This was the last year in which Illinois held a gubernatorial election on the same year as the presidential election. The state of Illinois moved its gubernatorial election date to midterm congressional election years. As a result, the governor elected this year, served a term of only two years.

Election results

State	Incumbent	Party	First elected	Result	Candidates
Arkansas	David Pryor	Democratic	1974	Incumbent re-elected. [1]	Y David Pryor (Democratic) 83.24% Leon Griffith (Republican) 16.74%
Delaware	Sherman W. Tribbitt	Democratic	1972	Incumbent lost re-election. [2] New governor elected. Republican gain.	Y Pete du Pont (Republican) 56.86% Sherman W. Tribbitt (Democratic) 42.46% George Cripps (American) 0.55% Harry Connor (Prohibition) 0.13%
Illinois	Dan Walker	Democratic	1972	Incumbent lost re-nomination. [3] [4] New governor elected. Republican gain.	Y James R. Thompson (Republican) 64.68% Michael Howlett (Democratic) 34.71% Ishmael Flory (Communist) 0.22%
Indiana	Otis Bowen	Republican	1972	Incumbent re-elected. [5]	Y Otis Bowen (Republican) 56.85% Larry Conrad (Democratic) 42.63% Daniel P. Talbot (American) 0.45% Samuel L. Washington (U.S. Labor) 0.08%
Missouri	Kit Bond	Republican	1972	Incumbent lost re-election. [6] New governor elected. Democratic gain.	Y Joseph P. Teasdale (Democratic) 50.23% Kit Bond (Republican) 49.55% Leon Striler (Nonpartisan) 0.22%
Montana	Thomas Lee Judge	Democratic	1972	Incumbent re-elected. [7]	Y Thomas Lee Judge (Democratic) 61.7% Robert Woodahl (Republican) 36.58% Charley Mahoney (Independent) 1.72%
New Hampshire	Meldrim Thomson Jr.	Republican	1972	Incumbent re-elected. [8]	Y Meldrim Thomson Jr. (Republican) 57.66% Harry Spanos (Democratic) 42.32%
North Carolina	James Holshouser	Republican	1972	Incumbent term-limited. [9] New governor elected. Democratic gain.	Y Jim Hunt (Democratic) 64.99% David Flaherty (Republican) 33.9% Herbert F. "Chub" Seawell Jr. (American) 0.82% Arlan Andrews (Libertarian) 0.29%
North Dakota	Arthur A. Link	Democratic-NPL	1972	Incumbent re-elected. [10]	Y Arthur A. Link (Democratic-NPL) 51.58% Richard Elkin (Republican) 46.53% Martin Vaaler (American) 1.89%
Rhode Island	Philip Noel	Democratic	1972	Incumbent retired. [11] New governor elected. Democratic hold.	Y J. Joseph Garrahy (Democratic) 54.82% James Taft (Republican) 44.71% John C. Swift (Independent) 0.32%
Utah	Cal Rampton	Democratic	1964	Incumbent retired. [12] New governor elected. Democratic hold.	Y Scott M. Matheson (Democratic) 52.02% Vernon B. Romney (Republican) 45.96% L. S. Brown (American) 1.33% Betty Bates (Concerned Citizens) 0.69%
Vermont	Thomas P. Salmon	Democratic	1972	Incumbent retired. [13] New governor elected. Republican gain.	Y Richard A. Snelling (Republican) 53.39% Stella Hackel (Democratic) 40.48% Bernie Sanders (Liberty Union) 6.09%
Washington	Daniel J. Evans	Republican	1964	Incumbent retired. [14] New governor elected. Democratic gain.	Y Dixy Lee Ray (Democratic) 53.14% John Spellman (Republican) 44.43% Art Manning (American) 0.8% Red Kelly (OWL Party) 0.8% Henry Killman (Socialist Labor) 0.27%
West Virginia	Arch A. Moore Jr.	Republican	1968	Incumbent term-limited. [15] New governor elected. Democratic gain.	Y Jay Rockefeller (Democratic) 66.15% Cecil H. Underwood (Republican) 33.82%

Close states

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

1. Missouri, 0.68%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. North Dakota, 5.05%
2. Utah, 6.06%
3. Washington, 8.71%

Arkansas

1976 Arkansas gubernatorial election

←  1974 November 2, 1976 1978  →

Nominee David Pryor Leon Griffith Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 605,083 121,716 Percentage 83.24% 16.74%

County results Pryor:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

Governor before election David Pryor Democratic Elected Governor David Pryor Democratic

The 1976 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday November 2, Incumbent Democratic governor David Pryor defeated Republican candidate Leon Griffith with 83.24% of the vote.

Delaware

1976 Delaware gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  →

Nominee Pete du Pont Sherman W. Tribbitt Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 130,531 97,480 Percentage 56.86% 42.46%

County results House district results du Pont:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Tribbitt:     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election Sherman W. Tribbitt Democratic Elected Governor Pete du Pont Republican

The 1976 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Pitting incumbent Democratic Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt Against U.S. Representative Pete du Pont. Largely due to the state's unresolved financial problems, du Pont defeated Governor Tribbitt by a landslide margin of 57% to 42%. This is the last time that an incumbent governor of Delaware lost re-election.

Illinois

1976 Illinois gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 2, 1976 1978  →
Turnout	74.18% 1.1 pp
Nominee Jim Thompson Michael Howlett Party Republican Democratic Running mate Dave O'Neal Neil Hartigan Popular vote 3,000,395 1,610,258 Percentage 64.68% 34.71%
County results Thompson:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90% Howlett:     50–60%
Governor before election Dan Walker Democratic Elected Governor James R. Thompson Republican

The 1976 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 2, 1976. ^[16] Incumbent first-term Democratic governor Dan Walker lost renomination to Illinois Secretary of State Michael Howlett, who was an ally of Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley. Howlett then lost the general election to Republican nominee James R. Thompson. This election was the first of seven consecutive Republican gubernatorial victories in Illinois, a streak not broken until the election of Democrat Rod Blagojevich in 2002. This election is the most recent time an Illinois gubernatorial election was held concurrently with a Presidential election.

Indiana

1976 Indiana gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  →

Nominee Otis Bowen Larry A. Conrad Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,236,555 927,243 Percentage 56.85% 42.63%

County results Bowen:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Conrad:      40–50%     50–60%

Governor before election Otis Bowen Republican Elected Governor Otis Bowen Republican

The 1976 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Republican Governor Otis Bowen defeated Democratic nominee Larry A. Conrad with 56.85% of the vote.

Missouri

1976 Missouri gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  →

Nominee Joseph Teasdale Kit Bond Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 971,184 958,110 Percentage 50.2% 49.6%

County results Teasdale:      50–60%     60–70% Bond:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election Kit Bond Republican Elected Governor Joseph Teasdale Democratic

The 1976 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976 and resulted in a narrow victory for the Democratic nominee, Joseph P. Teasdale, over the Republican candidate, incumbent Governor Kit Bond, and two other candidates. Teasdale defeated William J. Cason and George D. Weber for the Democratic nomination.

Montana

1976 Montana gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  →
Turnout	74.60%10.00 [17]
Nominee Thomas Lee Judge Bob Woodahl Party Democratic Republican Running mate Ted Schwinden Antoinette Fraser Rosell Popular vote 195,420 115,848 Percentage 61.7% 36.6%
County results Judge:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Woodahl:      40–50%     50–60% Mahoney:      50–60%
Governor before election Thomas Lee Judge Democratic Elected Governor Thomas Lee Judge Democratic

The 1976 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Governor of Montana Thomas Lee Judge, who was first elected in 1972, ran for re-election. He won the Democratic primary unopposed, and moved on to the general election, where he was opposed by Bob Woodahl, the Attorney General of Montana and the Republican nominee. Ultimately, Judge defeated Woodahl by a landslide to win his second and final term as governor.

New Hampshire

1976 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

←  1974 November 2, 1976 1978  →

Nominee Meldrim Thomson Jr. Harry V. Spanos Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 197,589 145,015 Percentage 57.66% 42.32%

County results Municipality results Thomson:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Spanos:     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 1976 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Republican Governor Meldrim Thomson Jr. defeated Democratic nominee Harry V. Spanos with 57.66% of the vote.

North Carolina

1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  →

Nominee Jim Hunt David Flaherty Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,081,293 564,102 Percentage 64.99% 33.90%

County results Hunt:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Flaherty:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election James Holshouser Republican Elected Governor Jim Hunt Democratic

The 1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Democratic nominee Jim Hunt defeated Republican nominee David T. Flaherty with 64.99% of the vote.

North Dakota

1976 North Dakota gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  →

Nominee Arthur A. Link Richard Elkin Party Democratic–NPL Republican Running mate Wayne Sanstead Ernest G. Pyle Popular vote 153,309 138,321 Percentage 51.6% 46.5%

County results Link:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Elkin:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election Arthur A. Link Democratic–NPL Elected Governor Arthur A. Link Democratic–NPL

The 1976 North Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic governor Arthur A. Link Ran for a second term against Republican Richard Elkin. Link won reelection defeating Elkin 52% to 47%.

Rhode Island

1976 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

←  1974 November 2, 1976 1978  →

Nominee J. Joseph Garrahy James L. Taft Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 218,561 178,254 Percentage 54.82% 44.71%

County results Municipality results Garrahy:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Taft:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election Philip Noel Democratic Elected Governor J. Joseph Garrahy Democratic

The 1976 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Democratic nominee J. Joseph Garrahy defeated Republican nominee James L. Taft Jr. with 54.82% of the vote.

Utah

1976 Utah gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  →

Nominee Scott M. Matheson Vernon B. Romney Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 280,706 248,027 Percentage 52.02% 45.96%

County results Matheson:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Romney:      40–50%     50–60%

Governor before election Cal Rampton Democratic Elected Governor Scott M. Matheson Democratic

The 1976 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Democratic candidate Scott M. Matheson defeated Republican nominee Vernon B. Romney, who had defeated Dixie L. Leavitt for his party's nomination, with 52.02% of the vote.

Vermont

1976 Vermont gubernatorial election

←  1974 November 2, 1976 (1976-11-2) 1978  →

Nominee Richard Snelling Stella B. Hackel Bernie Sanders Party Republican Democratic Liberty Union Popular vote 99,268 75,262 11,317 Percentage 53.4% 40.4% 6.1%

County results Municipality results Snelling:     30-40%     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90% Hackel:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Governor before election Thomas P. Salmon Democratic Elected Governor Richard Snelling Republican

The 1976 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democrat Thomas P. Salmon did not seek another term as Governor of Vermont, instead running for United States Senate. Republican candidate Richard A. Snelling won the election, defeating Democratic candidate Stella B. Hackel and Liberty Union candidate Bernie Sanders.

Washington

1976 Washington gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  →

Nominee Dixy Lee Ray John Spellman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 821,797 687,039 Percentage 53.14% 44.43%

County results Ray:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Spellman:      40-50%     50-60%     60-70%

Governor before election Daniel J. Evans Republican Elected Governor Dixy Lee Ray Democratic

The 1976 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. This election was especially significant in that Washington elected its first female governor, Dixy Lee Ray. Wesley C. Uhlman and John Patric unsuccessfully ran in the blanket primary.

West Virginia

1976 West Virginia gubernatorial election

←  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  →

Nominee Jay Rockefeller Cecil H. Underwood Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 495,661 253,420 Percentage 66.15% 33.82%

County results Rockefeller:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Underwood:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election Arch A. Moore, Jr. Republican Elected Governor Jay Rockefeller Democratic

The 1976 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1976, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Democrat Jay Rockefeller, the nephew of the then current Vice President of the United States, Nelson Rockefeller, defeated Republican Cecil Underwood.

See also

• 1976 United States elections
  • 1976 United States presidential election
  • 1976 United States Senate elections
  • 1976 United States House of Representatives elections

References

1. "AR Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
2. "DE Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
3. "IL Governor- D Primary Race - Mar 16, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
4. "IL Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
5. "IN Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
6. "MO Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
7. "MT Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
8. "NH Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
9. "NC Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
10. "ND Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
11. "RI Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
12. "UT Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
13. "VT Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
14. "WA Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
15. "WV Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
16. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 2, 1976 JUDICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH, 16, 1976" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
17. "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.