1936 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
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| Elections in Massachusetts |
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 Massachusetts portal |
Gubernatorial elections were held in Massachusetts on November 3, 1936.
Democratic Governor James Michael Curley chose to run for United States Senate rather than seek a second term in office. Incumbent Democratic Treasurer Charles F. Hurley was elected Governor over former Republican State Treasurer John W. Haigis.
Democratic primary
Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Charles F. Hurley, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
- William H. McMasters, publicity agent and whistleblower in the Charles Ponzi case[1]
Declined
- James Michael Curley, incumbent Governor (to run for U.S. Senate)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles F. Hurley | 356,239 | 98.78% | |
| Democratic | William H. McMasters | 2,809 | 0.78% | |
| Write-in | All others | 1,596 | 0.44% | |
| Total votes | 360,644 | 100.00% | ||
| None | Blank votes | 92,879 | — | |
| Turnout | 453,523 | 100.00% | ||
Lt. Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Thomas F. Galvin, Lawrence City Alderman and Commissioner of Public Safety
- Francis E. Kelly, former member of the Boston City Council and candidate for Lt. Governor in 1932 and 1934
- Philip J. Philbin, special counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Education and Labor and ally of Senator David I. Walsh
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Francis E. Kelly | 171,045 | 45.20% | |
| Democratic | Philip J. Philbin | 131,133 | 34.65% | |
| Democratic | Thomas F. Galvin | 76,008 | 20.09% | |
| Write-in | All others | 241 | 0.06% | |
| Total votes | 378,427 | 100.00% | ||
| None | Blank votes | 75,102 | — | |
| Turnout | 453,529 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Governor
Candidates
Declared
Results
Haigis was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John W. Haigis | 418,095 | 99.74% | |
| Write-in | All others | 1,090 | 0.26% | |
| Total votes | 419,185 | 100.00% | ||
| None | Blank votes | 59,116 | — | |
| Turnout | 478,301 | 100.00% | ||
Lt. Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Leverett Saltonstall, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Results
Speaker Saltonstall was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Leverett Saltonstall | 410,660 | 99.98% | |
| Write-in | All others | 68 | 0.02% | |
| Total votes | 410,728 | 100.00% | ||
| None | Blank votes | 67,573 | — | |
| Turnout | 478,301 | 100.00% | ||
Independents and third parties
Communist
- Otis Archer Hood, of Boston
Socialist
- Alfred Baker Lewis, attorney, civil rights activist, and perennial candidate
Socialist Labor
- Horace I. Hillis, candidate for Lt. Governor in 1934
Townsend Plan
- Fred G. Bushold
Bushold officially ran on the "Union-Coughlin-Townsend" ticket.
Union
- William H. McMasters, publicity agent and whistleblower in the Charles Ponzi case[1]
Following his loss in the Democratic primary, McMasters accepted the nomination of the Union Party.
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles F. Hurley | 867,743 | 47.62% |  2.03
| |
| Republican | John W. Haigis | 704,576 | 46.08% |  3.78
| |
| Union | William H. McMasters | 68,467 | 3.76% | 3.76
| |
| Townsend | Fred G. Bushold | 23,605 | 1.30% | N/A | |
| Socialist | Alfred B. Lewis | 9,483 | 0.52% | 0.31
| |
| Communist | Otis Archer Hood | 6,026 | 0.28% | 0.05
| |
| Socialist Labor | Horace I. Hillis | 3,769 | 0.21% | 0.18
| |
| Prohibition | Alfred H. Evans | 3,424 | 0.19% | 0.01
| |
| Write-in | All others | 0 | 0.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
References
- ^ a b Zuckoff, Mitchell (Mar 8, 2005). Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend. Random House Publishing Group. p. 296. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ Election Statistics 1936, p. 135.
- ^ Election Statistics 1936, p. 141.
- ^ Election Statistics 1936, p. 242.
- ^ Election Statistics 1936, p. 245.
- ^ "MA Governor, 1936". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ Election Statistics 1936, p. 349.
Bibliography
Frederic W. Cook, Secretary of the Commonwealth (1936). Election Statistics, 1935–36. Boston, MA.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)