Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1958
Encyclopedia
The 1958 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1958. Democrat Foster Furcolo
was elected Governor of Massachusetts
for a second term, defeating Republican Charles Gibbons
, Socialist Labor candidate Henning A. Blomen
, and Prohibition candidate Guy S. Williams.
In the race for Lieutenant Governor
, Democrat Robert F. Murphy
, defeated Republican Elmer C. Nelson
, Prohibition candidate Harold E. Bassett, and Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano.
George Fingold
was unopposed in the Republican primary.
On August 31, 1958, Fingold died unexpectedly at his home in Concord, Massachusetts
. As his death occurred only nine days before the primary, Fingold was the only candidate for Governor on the Republican ballot. Former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Charles Gibbons, former State Public Works Commissioner John A. Volpe
, and Assistant Attorney General Joseph P. McKay ran as write-in candidates.
Robert F. Murphy
and Elmer C. Nelson
ran unopposed for the Democratic and Republican nominations for Lt. Governor, respectively.
Foster Furcolo
John Foster Furcolo was a member of the Democratic Party who served as the 60th Governor of Massachusetts, a member of the United States House of Representatives, and in other government offices in Massachusetts. He was the first Italian-American governor of Massachusetts.-Life and career:Furcolo...
was elected Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
for a second term, defeating Republican Charles Gibbons
Charles Gibbons
Charles Gibbons was a U.S. politician who served as the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1952 to 1955 as a Republican. As of 2011 he is the last Republican to serve as Massachusetts Speaker of the House. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1956, but...
, Socialist Labor candidate Henning A. Blomen
Henning A. Blomen
Henning A. Blomen was a candidate for United States President of the Socialist Labor Party of America in 1968 and for Vice President of the United States in 1964. Blomen was also an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Massachusetts 14 times...
, and Prohibition candidate Guy S. Williams.
In the race for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts...
, Democrat Robert F. Murphy
Robert F. Murphy
Robert F. Murphy was an American politician who as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1949 Murphy became the first Democrat to serve as the Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives...
, defeated Republican Elmer C. Nelson
Elmer C. Nelson
Elmer C. Nelson is an American political figure who served as the Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee from 1953 to 1956, a delegate to the 1956 Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, and the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1958. He was...
, Prohibition candidate Harold E. Bassett, and Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano.
Primaries
Incumbent Governor Foster Furcolo ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination and Attorney GeneralMassachusetts Attorney General
The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The office of Attorney-General was abolished in 1843 and re-established in 1849. The current Attorney General is Martha Coakley....
George Fingold
George Fingold
George Fingold George Fingold George Fingold (born October 18, 1908 in Boston, Massachusetts, attended Suffolk University Law School, a private law school in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, and became a politician who served as Attorney General of Massachusetts from 1953-1958....
was unopposed in the Republican primary.
On August 31, 1958, Fingold died unexpectedly at his home in Concord, Massachusetts
Concord, Massachusetts
Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
. As his death occurred only nine days before the primary, Fingold was the only candidate for Governor on the Republican ballot. Former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Charles Gibbons, former State Public Works Commissioner John A. Volpe
John A. Volpe
John Anthony Volpe was the 61st and 63rd Governor of Massachusetts and a U.S. Secretary of Transportation.-Early life and education:Volpe was born in 1908 in Wakefield, Massachusetts. He was the son of Italian immigrants Vito and Filomena , who had come from Abruzzo to Boston's North End in 1905;...
, and Assistant Attorney General Joseph P. McKay ran as write-in candidates.
Robert F. Murphy
Robert F. Murphy
Robert F. Murphy was an American politician who as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1949 Murphy became the first Democrat to serve as the Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives...
and Elmer C. Nelson
Elmer C. Nelson
Elmer C. Nelson is an American political figure who served as the Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee from 1953 to 1956, a delegate to the 1956 Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, and the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1958. He was...
ran unopposed for the Democratic and Republican nominations for Lt. Governor, respectively.