Maryland special gubernatorial election, 1970
Encyclopedia
The Maryland special gubernatorial election, 1969 was not a direct election, but a vote in the Maryland General Assembly
to determine who would assume the governorship of Maryland
after Spiro Agnew
's resignation to became 39th Vice President of the United States
.
At this time Maryland
didn't have a position of Lieutenant Governor
and state's law does not determine a person who would assume office of Governor in case of vacancy (like the others states, when there is always a designated person such as Lt. Governor, Senate President or Secretary of State).
In case of vacancy General Assembly votes on nomination of the new Governor.
In 1969 the Assembly has a Democratic majority, so it was clear that Republican
Agnew's successor would be a Democrat.
The election was held on January 7, 1969.
Candidates:
Vote:
So although there were three democratic candidates and only one republican, Mandel was elected easily. He was elected in regular direct election in 1970 (and at that time Maryland established office of Lieutenant Governor), and re-elected in 1974.
Maryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
to determine who would assume the governorship of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
after Spiro Agnew
Spiro Agnew
Spiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland...
's resignation to became 39th Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
.
At this time Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
didn't have a position of Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
The Lieutenant Governor of Maryland is the second highest ranking official in the executive branch of the state government of Maryland in the United States. He or she is elected on the same ticket as the Governor of Maryland and must meet the same qualifications.The current Lieutenant Governor is...
and state's law does not determine a person who would assume office of Governor in case of vacancy (like the others states, when there is always a designated person such as Lt. Governor, Senate President or Secretary of State).
In case of vacancy General Assembly votes on nomination of the new Governor.
In 1969 the Assembly has a Democratic majority, so it was clear that Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Agnew's successor would be a Democrat.
The election was held on January 7, 1969.
Candidates:
- State Senator William S. JamesWilliam S. JamesWilliam S. James , called Bill or Billy James by contemporaries, was a politician from the U.S. state of Maryland. James was first elected to office as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing Harford County in 1946, and after serving two terms was elected to the Maryland Senate in...
(D) - State Representative Francis X. Gallagher (D)
- State Representative Marvin MandelMarvin MandelMarvin Mandel , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 56th Governor of Maryland in the United States from January 7, 1969, to January 17, 1979. He was Maryland's first, and, to date, only Jewish governor.- Early life :...
(D) - U.S. Representative Rogers MortonRogers MortonRogers Clark Ballard Morton was an American politician who served as Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Commerce under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, respectively...
(R)
Vote:
- Mandel (D) - 126 (70.00%)
- Morton (R) - 26 (14.44%)
- Gallagher (D) - 15 (8.33%)
- James (D) - 13 (7.22%)
So although there were three democratic candidates and only one republican, Mandel was elected easily. He was elected in regular direct election in 1970 (and at that time Maryland established office of Lieutenant Governor), and re-elected in 1974.