Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1970
Encyclopedia
The 1970 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. Acting Governor Francis W. Sargent
was elected to a four-year term. He defeated incumbent Boston Mayor Kevin H. White in the general election.
Maurice A. Donahue
, former Presidential aide Kenneth O'Donnell
, and former Lieutenant Governor Francis X. Bellotti
. Donahue won the vote of the state convention held on June 15 at the Curry Hicks Cage
. Donahue received 697 votes, White received 589, and the remaining 78 went to Bellotti. Despite losing at the convention, White went on to win the Democratic Primary; defeating Donahue by 12,940 votes.
State Representative Michael Dukakis
defeated Somerville
treasurer Rocco Antonelli, Boston School Committeeman and former Governor's Councillor
John J. Craven, Jr., former Boston School Committeewoman Kathleen Ryan Dacey, and attorney James McCormack
to become the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor.
Commissioner of Finance and Administration Donald R. Dwight defeated State Senator John M. Quinlan and Springfield
Mayor Frank H. Needman at the Republican convention to win his party's nomination for Lieutenant Governor. State Representative Martin A. Linsky was Sargent's orignial choice for the nomination, however two weeks before the convention, Linsky dropped out of the race after it was revealed that police officers had once stopped his car and informed him that the woman was traveling with was a prostitute. After Linsky dropped out, Sargent endorsed Dwight.
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...
was elected to a four-year term. He defeated incumbent Boston Mayor Kevin H. White in the general election.
Conventions and primaries
The Democratic Primary was a four way contest between Kevin White, Senate PresidentPresident of the Massachusetts Senate
The President of the Massachusetts Senate is the presiding officer. In the United States Congress, the Vice President of the United States is the ex officio President of the United States Senate. In Massachusetts, however, the President of the Senate is elected from and by the Senators...
Maurice A. Donahue
Maurice A. Donahue
Maurice A. Donahue is an American politician who served as President of the Massachusetts Senate from 1964 to 1971....
, former Presidential aide Kenneth O'Donnell
Kenneth O'Donnell
Kenneth Patrick O'Donnell , known as Kenny, was a top aide to U.S. President John F. Kennedy and part of the group of Kennedys' close advisors called the "Irish Mafia"...
, and former Lieutenant Governor Francis X. Bellotti
Francis X. Bellotti
Francis Xavier Bellotti is an American lawyer and politician. In his first campaign he was the Democratic nominee for District Attorney of Norfolk County in 1958, but was defeated in the general election. In 1962 Bellotti was elected as Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
. Donahue won the vote of the state convention held on June 15 at the Curry Hicks Cage
Curry Hicks Cage
Curry Hicks Cage is an athletic facility on the campus of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. It was built in 1931 by alumni Clinton Goodwin. It was named in 1941 for Curry Hicks, who had been the athletic director at the school since 1911...
. Donahue received 697 votes, White received 589, and the remaining 78 went to Bellotti. Despite losing at the convention, White went on to win the Democratic Primary; defeating Donahue by 12,940 votes.
State Representative 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...
defeated Somerville
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
treasurer Rocco Antonelli, Boston School Committeeman and former Governor's Councillor
Massachusetts Governor's Council
The 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...
John J. Craven, Jr., former Boston School Committeewoman Kathleen Ryan Dacey, and attorney James McCormack
James McCormack
James McCormack, Jr., was a United States Army officer who served in World War II, and was later the first Director of Military Applications of the United States Atomic Energy Commission....
to become the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor.
Commissioner of Finance and Administration Donald R. Dwight defeated State Senator John M. Quinlan and Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
Mayor Frank H. Needman at the Republican convention to win his party's nomination for Lieutenant Governor. State Representative Martin A. Linsky was Sargent's orignial choice for the nomination, however two weeks before the convention, Linsky dropped out of the race after it was revealed that police officers had once stopped his car and informed him that the woman was traveling with was a prostitute. After Linsky dropped out, Sargent endorsed Dwight.