Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1964

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The 1964 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1964. Former Governor John A. Volpe was elected to a two-year term. He defeated former Lieutenant Governor Francis X. Bellotti in the general election.

The race between Volpe and Bellotti was the first time in Massachusetts history that the two major parties backed sons of Italian immigrants for Governor.

This was the final election held before Governor's Term of office was extended from two to four years.

Primaries

Incumbent governor Endicott Peabody was challenged by Lieutenant Governor Francis X. Bellotti, Middlesex County District Attorney John J. Droney, and Perennial candidate Pasquale Caggiano.

Bellotti won the primary despite Peabody having the backing of most of the Party leadership, including Peabody's longtime close friend, Senator Ted Kennedy.

Volpe ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

1964 Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Francis X. Bellotti	363,675	49.61%
	Democratic	Endicott Peabody	336,780	45.94%
	Democratic	John J. Droney	27,357	3.73%
	Democratic	Pasquale Caggiano	5,250	0.72%

General election

Volpe defeated Bellotti by less than 25,000 votes. Volpe's victory came in a year in which Democrats gained seats in the United States House of Representatives and Senate and Lyndon Johnson won the Presidential election in a landslide.

1964 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John A. Volpe	1,176,462	50.27%
	Democratic	Francis X. Bellotti	1,153,416	49.29%
	Socialist Labor	Francis A. Votano	6,273	0.27%
	Prohibition	Guy S. Williams	3,713	0.16%
	Write-in	All others	266	0.01%

Former United States Attorney Elliot L. Richardson defeated executive councillor John W. Costello in the race for Lt. Governor.

1964 Massachusetts Lt. gubernatorial election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Elliot L. Richardson	1,121,985	50.22%
	Democratic	John W. Costello	1,097,380	49.11%
	Socialist Labor	Edgar E. Gaudet	9,551	0.43%
	Prohibition	Prescott E. Grout	5,424	0.24%