Massachusetts general election, 1974
Encyclopedia
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 3, 1974 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The election included:
Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 10, 1974.
Michael Dukakis
and Thomas P. O'Neill III
were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, over Republican
incumbents Francis W. Sargent
and Donald R. Dwight
.
Robert H. Quinn
did not run for reelection.
Francis X. Belotti defeated George Sacco, Edward Francis Harrington
, S. Lester Ralph, Edward M. O'Brien, and Barry Hannon in the Democratic Primary.
Josiah Spaulding
defeated Charles Codman Cabot, Jr. and William I. Cowin
for the Republican nomination.
Belotti defeated Spaulding and Socialist Workers Party candidate Jeanne Lafferty in the general election.
defeated incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth
John Davoren
in the Democratic primary.
In the general election, Guzzi defeated Republican John M. Quinlan.
Robert Q. Crane
defeated Charles Mark Furcolo in the Democratic Primary.
Erna Ballantine ran an unsuccessful sticker campaign
for the Republican nomination.
Thaddeus M. Buczko
ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary and the General Election.
The election included:
- statewide elections for GovernorGovernor of MassachusettsThe 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:...
, Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor of MassachusettsThe 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...
, Attorney GeneralMassachusetts Attorney GeneralThe 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....
, Secretary of the CommonwealthMassachusetts Secretary of the CommonwealthThe Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth is the principal public information officer of the state government of the U.S...
, Treasurer, and AuditorMassachusetts AuditorThe Massachusetts State Auditor is a statewide elected office in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The current auditor is Suzanne Bump.-List of state auditors of Massachusetts:-External links:*...
; - district elections for U.S. Representatives, State RepresentativesMassachusetts House of RepresentativesThe Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
, State Senators, and Governor's CouncillorsMassachusetts Governor's CouncilThe Massachusetts Governor's Council is a governmental body that provides advice and consent in certain matters such as judicial nominations, pardons, and commutations to the Governor of Massachusetts...
; and - ballot questions at the state and local levels.
Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 10, 1974.
Governor & Lieutenant Governor
DemocratsDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
and Thomas P. O'Neill III
Thomas P. O'Neill III
Thomas Phillip O'Neill III leads a public relations and government affairs firm called O'Neill and Associates in Boston. He is the son of Tip O'Neill, who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987.From 1975 to 1983, O'Neill served as lieutenant governor of...
were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, over 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...
incumbents Francis W. Sargent
Francis W. Sargent
Francis William Sargent was the 64th Governor of Massachusetts from 1969 to 1975. Born in 1915 in Hamilton, Massachusetts, he was known for his sharp wit and self-deprecating manner...
and Donald R. Dwight
Donald R. Dwight
Donald Rathburn Dwight was lieutenant governor of Massachusetts from 1971 to 1975. He served as a Republican alongside Governor Francis W. Sargent....
.
Attorney General
Incumbent 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....
Robert H. Quinn
Robert H. Quinn
Robert H. Quinn is a Massachusetts attorney and former politician.Quinn was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1957 to 1969 and the speaker of that body from 1967 to 1969...
did not run for reelection.
Francis X. Belotti defeated George Sacco, Edward Francis Harrington
Edward Francis Harrington
Edward Francis Harrington is a United States federal judge.-Early life:Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Harrington received an A.B. from College of the Holy Cross in 1955 and a J.D. from Boston College Law School in 1960. He was in the United States Navy Lieutenant, JAG Corps from 1955 to 1957....
, S. Lester Ralph, Edward M. O'Brien, and Barry Hannon in the Democratic Primary.
Josiah Spaulding
Josiah Spaulding
Josiah Augustus "Si" Spaulding was an American businessman, attorney, and politician.-Education and military service:...
defeated Charles Codman Cabot, Jr. and William I. Cowin
William I. Cowin
William Irvin Cowin is an American jurist, politician, and state cabinet secretary who served as Massachusetts Secretary of Consumer Affairs from 1971 to 1972 and Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance from 1972 to 1974...
for the Republican nomination.
Belotti defeated Spaulding and Socialist Workers Party candidate Jeanne Lafferty in the general election.
Secretary of the Commonwealth
State Representative Paul GuzziPaul Guzzi
Paul H. Guzzi is an American businessman and former Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.He is president and chief executive officer of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.- Biography :...
defeated incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth
Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth is the principal public information officer of the state government of the U.S...
John Davoren
John Davoren
John Francis Xavier "Jack" Davoren was a U.S. politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1955–1967 and Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth from 1967–1974. While in the house, he served as the House Majority Leader from 1962–1964 and Speaker from...
in the Democratic primary.
In the general election, Guzzi defeated Republican John M. Quinlan.
Treasurer and Receiver-General
Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-GeneralTreasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
The Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts is an executive officer, elected state-wide every four years....
Robert Q. Crane
Robert Q. Crane
Robert Quentin Crane is an American politician who served as Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts from 1965–1991. He is credited with starting the Massachusetts Lottery.- Early life :...
defeated Charles Mark Furcolo in the Democratic Primary.
Erna Ballantine ran an unsuccessful sticker campaign
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
for the Republican nomination.
Auditor
Incumbent AuditorMassachusetts Auditor
The Massachusetts State Auditor is a statewide elected office in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The current auditor is Suzanne Bump.-List of state auditors of Massachusetts:-External links:*...
Thaddeus M. Buczko
Thaddeus M. Buczko
Thaddeus M. Buczko is an American politician who served as a Salem, Massachusetts city councilor, a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and as Massachusetts Auditor...
ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary and the General Election.