George P. Mahoney

George Perry Mahoney was an Irish Catholic (born December 16, 1901, died March 18, 1989 in Baltimore) and an American politician from the state of Maryland, mostly famous as the Democratic Party nominee for Governor in 1966.

He was born in Baltimore as son of William D. Mahoney and Matilda "Cook" Mahoney. He married his wife Abigail Catherine O'Donnell (died in 1963) on November 24, 1927, and later Ann Matilda Fagg. He worked as an engineer and a construction executive and real estate developer.

Under Maryland Governor Herbert O'Conor (a fellow Irishman from Baltiumore's 10th Ward), Mahoney was appointed as a member on the State Racing Commission where he made a name for himself accusing the industry of fixing horse races by injecting horses with stimulants and narcotics. He was later named Chairman by Governor O'Conor. In 1950 he served as a member of the Democratic National Committee from Maryland. Later he ran unsuccessfully for nominations for Governor in 1950, 1954 and 1962, and to the U.S. Senate (1952, 1956, 1958).

Mahoney was also a delegate from Maryland for Democratic National Conventions in 1952, 1956, 1960 and 1964.

He won the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1966. However, as a member of the Dixiecrat-style segregationist wing of party he lost the support of many Democratic voters, who instead favored the Republican candidate, Baltimore County Executive Spiro Agnew (who in 1969 became Vice President under Richard Nixon). Agnew won the election.

In 1968 Mahoney ran for a Senate seat again, this time not as a Democrat, but with the support of George Wallace and his segregationist American Independent Party, but lost.

Mahoney was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Elks and Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.