1954 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

1954 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

November 2, 1954

Nominee Christian A. Herter Robert F. Murphy Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 985,339 910,087 Percentage 51.76% 47.80%

Municipal results

Governor before election Christian A. Herter Republican Elected Governor Christian A. Herter Republican

The 1954 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1954. Republican governor Christian Herter was re-elected, defeating Democrat Robert F. Murphy, Socialist Labor candidate Lawrence Gilfedder, and Prohibition candidate Guy S. Williams.

In the race for lieutenant governor, Republican Sumner G. Whittier defeated Democrat James A. Burke, Prohibition candidate Donald E. Babcock, and Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano.

Primaries

State Representative Robert F. Murphy defeated former Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General Francis E. Kelly for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Christian Herter ran unopposed for the Republican nomination

Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert F. Murphy	254,996	70.27%
	Democratic	Francis E. Kelly	107,861	29.73%

General election

Governor

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Christian A. Herter (incumbent)	985,339	51.76%
	Democratic	Robert F. Murphy	910,087	47.80%
	Socialist Labor	Lawrence Gilfedder	5,766	0.30%
	Prohibition	Guy S. Williams	2,579	0.14%

Lieutenant Governor

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Sumner G. Whittier	972,745	52.01%
	Democratic	James A. Burke	883,440	47.23%
	Socialist Labor	Francis A. Votano	9,215	0.49%
	Prohibition	Donald E. Babcock	5,067	0.27%

See also

• 1953–1954 Massachusetts legislature

References

Hayden, Irving N.; Grove, Lawrence R. (1955). A Manual for the Use of the General Court for 1955–1956. Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Company. pp. 298–99. Retrieved September 23, 2010.