1966 Maryland gubernatorial election
The 1966 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1966. Incumbent Democratic Governor J. Millard Tawes was unable to seek a third term in office. In the election to succeed him, George P. Mahoney, a controversial segregationist, emerged from the Democratic primary due to splintered support for the two major candidates. Baltimore County Executive Spiro Agnew, was nominated by the Republican Party as their gubernatorial candidate. Mahoney and Agnew squared off, along with independent candidate Hyman A. Pressman. Ultimately, Agnew was victorious over Mahoney, with Pressman a distant third. This year was the last time that the state of Maryland elected a Republican governor until 2002. Agnew was later nominated for Vice President by the Republican National Convention, per Richard Nixon's request, in 1968, an election he and Nixon won.
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![]() County results Agnew: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% Mahoney: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 2023[update] this marks the last time the following Independent city and Counties have voted Republican in a gubernatorial election: Baltimore City, Montgomery, and Prince George’s.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- George P. Mahoney, Baltimore paving contractor and perennial candidate
- Carlton R. Sickles, U.S. Representative from Lanham (representing Maryland at-large)
- Thomas B. Finan, Attorney General of Maryland
- Clarence W. Miles, lawyer and community activist
- Charles J. Luthardt, Sr.
- Morgan L. Amaimo, real estate broker and perennial candidate
- Ross Zimmerman Pierpont, surgeon
- Andrew J. Easter, perennial candidate
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | George P. Mahoney | 148,446 | 30.21 | |
Democratic | Carlton R. Sickles | 146,607 | 29.84 | |
Democratic | Thomas B. Finan | 134,216 | 27.31 | |
Democratic | Clarence W. Miles | 42,304 | 8.61 | |
Democratic | Charles J. Ludhardt, Sr. | 7,336 | 1.49 | |
Democratic | Morgan L. Amaimo | 6,048 | 1.23 | |
Democratic | Ross Zimmerman Pierpont | 4,311 | 0.88 | |
Democratic | Andrew J. Easter | 2,098 | 0.43 | |
Total votes | 491,366 | 100.00 |
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Spiro Agnew, Baltimore County Executive
- Andrew John Groszer, Jr.
- John J. Harbaugh, Democratic candidate for the United States Senate in 1964
- Henry J. Laque, Jr., perennial candidate
- Louis R. Milio, Maryland congressional candidate
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Spiro Agnew | 98,531 | 83.16 | |
Republican | Andrew John Groszer, Jr. | 9,987 | 8.43 | |
Republican | John J. Harbaugh | 4,322 | 3.65 | |
Republican | Henry J. Laque, Jr. | 3,365 | 2.84 | |
Republican | Louis R. Milio | 2,277 | 1.92 | |
Total votes | 118,482 | 100.00 |
General election
editCampaign
editBaltimore paving contractor and perennial candidate George P. Mahoney won the Democratic primary on a segregationist platform, which was possible due to the presence of several strong candidates. Mahoney's slogan, "Your home is your castle--protect it",[3] as well as his stance on many civil rights issues,[4] prompted Baltimore City Comptroller Hyman A. Pressman to enter the race as an independent candidate. Mahoney's controversial stances caused many in the Maryland Democratic Party to split their support between Agnew, which was possible due to his socially progressive views, and Pressman, which enabled Agnew to win the election with a plurality, taking 70% of the black vote.[5]
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Spiro Agnew | 455,318 | 49.50% | +5.15% | |
Democratic | George P. Mahoney | 373,543 | 40.61% | −15.03% | |
Independent | Hyman A. Pressman | 90,899 | 9.88% | ||
Write-ins | 1 | 0.00% | |||
Majority | 81,775 | 8.89% | −2.39% | ||
Turnout | 919,761 | ||||
Republican gain from Democratic | Swing |
References
edit- ^ "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0174, Page 0525 - Maryland Manual, 1969-70".
- ^ "Maryland Manual - Governor of Maryland, Republican Party" (PDF). Maryland State Archives. 1969–1970. p. 526.
- ^ "George Mahoney, 87, Maryland Candidate". The New York Times. March 21, 1989.
- ^ Hardesty, Richard. [A] Veil of Voodoo. Graduate School of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, 05 May 2008. Web.
- ^ Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, from Eisenhower to the Tea Party*, p. 191
- ^ "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0173, Page 0503 - Maryland Manual, 1967-68".