Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1966
Encyclopedia
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 1966 was held on November 8. Republican
Ray Shafer
, the state's incumbent Lieutenant Governor, was elected to the state's highest office after holding off a charge from future governor Milton Shapp
.
A wealthy electronics executive, Shapp used his own money to score an upset in the Democratic
primary over the party establishment's choice, Bob Casey
(who would also go on to become governor). Shapp ran a spirited campaign, where he tagged himself as a "man against the machine," but the ambivalence of party leaders toward his renegade candidacy may have ultimately led to his defeat; has campaign was also hurt by fierce opposition from the Philadelphia media, over Shapp's personal involvement in attempting to stop the buyout of the Pennsylvania Railroad
.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02EEDC1530F935A15752C1A962958260.
In contrast to Shapp's exuberant campaign, Shafer had difficulty getting his campaign stabilized, particularly after the original nominee for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General Walter Alessandroni, was killed in an aviation accident. He ran on a solid record as a liberal Republican, but struggled to lose the reputation that his career was dependent upon Governor Bill Scranton; although because Shafter faced only token primary opposition, he was able to collect the resources that would allow him to compete financially with Shapp, he was forced to spend much of the early portion of the campaign defending his independence. However, the party split within Democratic ranks proved too much for Shapp to overcome, and Shafer won a moderate victory. http://books.google.com/books?id=1J_9q-lIWRkC&pg=PA112&lpg=PA112&dq=1998+ridge+itkin&source=bl&ots=AK6b-Ut25d&sig=ln8QefiZodyBTkRiIzEYxTt21Ro&hl=en&ei=cPjETOLTOoOglAenj8EH&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCQQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=1998%20ridge%20itkin&f=falsehttp://shafer.allegheny.edu/early.html
The campaign was smeared by charges of discrimination by both candidates. The Jewish Shapp faced anti-Semetic commentary at many of his rallies and accused GOP committees in several counties of attempted to frighten voters by emphasizing hateful, outdated myths about the Democrat's religion. In contrast, Shafer asserted that Democrats were attempted to portray him as a racist; in the closing weeks of the campaign, pamphlets were distributed in minority neighborhoods, which alleged that Shafer's home included a restrictive covenant
that would stop the sale of his property to any non-Caucasians.http://books.google.com/books?id=1J_9q-lIWRkC&pg=PA112&lpg=PA112&dq=1998+ridge+itkin&source=bl&ots=AK6b-Ut25d&sig=ln8QefiZodyBTkRiIzEYxTt21Ro&hl=en&ei=cPjETOLTOoOglAenj8EH&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCQQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=1998%20ridge%20itkin&f=false
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...
Ray Shafer
Raymond P. Shafer
Raymond Philip Shafer served as the 39th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor from 1963 to 1967...
, the state's incumbent Lieutenant Governor, was elected to the state's highest office after holding off a charge from future governor Milton Shapp
Milton Shapp
Milton Jerrold Shapp was the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979 and was the first Jewish governor of Pennsylvania.- Early life :...
.
A wealthy electronics executive, Shapp used his own money to score an upset in the Democratic
Democratic 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...
primary over the party establishment's choice, Bob Casey
Robert P. Casey
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Sr. was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995...
(who would also go on to become governor). Shapp ran a spirited campaign, where he tagged himself as a "man against the machine," but the ambivalence of party leaders toward his renegade candidacy may have ultimately led to his defeat; has campaign was also hurt by fierce opposition from the Philadelphia media, over Shapp's personal involvement in attempting to stop the buyout of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02EEDC1530F935A15752C1A962958260.
In contrast to Shapp's exuberant campaign, Shafer had difficulty getting his campaign stabilized, particularly after the original nominee for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General Walter Alessandroni, was killed in an aviation accident. He ran on a solid record as a liberal Republican, but struggled to lose the reputation that his career was dependent upon Governor Bill Scranton; although because Shafter faced only token primary opposition, he was able to collect the resources that would allow him to compete financially with Shapp, he was forced to spend much of the early portion of the campaign defending his independence. However, the party split within Democratic ranks proved too much for Shapp to overcome, and Shafer won a moderate victory. http://books.google.com/books?id=1J_9q-lIWRkC&pg=PA112&lpg=PA112&dq=1998+ridge+itkin&source=bl&ots=AK6b-Ut25d&sig=ln8QefiZodyBTkRiIzEYxTt21Ro&hl=en&ei=cPjETOLTOoOglAenj8EH&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCQQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=1998%20ridge%20itkin&f=falsehttp://shafer.allegheny.edu/early.html
The campaign was smeared by charges of discrimination by both candidates. The Jewish Shapp faced anti-Semetic commentary at many of his rallies and accused GOP committees in several counties of attempted to frighten voters by emphasizing hateful, outdated myths about the Democrat's religion. In contrast, Shafer asserted that Democrats were attempted to portray him as a racist; in the closing weeks of the campaign, pamphlets were distributed in minority neighborhoods, which alleged that Shafer's home included a restrictive covenant
Restrictive covenant
A restrictive covenant is a type of real covenant, a legal obligation imposed in a deed by the seller upon the buyer of real estate to do or not to do something. Such restrictions frequently "run with the land" and are enforceable on subsequent buyers of the property...
that would stop the sale of his property to any non-Caucasians.http://books.google.com/books?id=1J_9q-lIWRkC&pg=PA112&lpg=PA112&dq=1998+ridge+itkin&source=bl&ots=AK6b-Ut25d&sig=ln8QefiZodyBTkRiIzEYxTt21Ro&hl=en&ei=cPjETOLTOoOglAenj8EH&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCQQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=1998%20ridge%20itkin&f=false
Democratic
- Milton ShappMilton ShappMilton Jerrold Shapp was the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979 and was the first Jewish governor of Pennsylvania.- Early life :...
, CEO of Jerrold ElectronicsJerrold ElectronicsJerrold Electronics was a provider of cable television equipment, including subscriber converter boxes, distribution network equipment , and headend equipment in the United States.-History:...
- runningmate: Leonard StaiseyLeonard StaiseyLeonard C. Staisey was a Democratic politician from Pennsylvania. Staisey was born in Pittsburgh and lived for most of his life in Duquesne, a nearby mill town. He was a member of the State Senate from 1961 to 1966, when he resigned to run for Lieutenant Governor...
, Pennsylvania State Senator
- runningmate: Leonard Staisey
Republican
- Ray ShaferRaymond P. ShaferRaymond Philip Shafer served as the 39th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor from 1963 to 1967...
, Lieutenant Governor- runningmate: Ray BroderickRaymond J. BroderickRaymond Joseph Broderick was a United States federal judge, and the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971.-Biography:...
, attorney
- runningmate: Ray Broderick
Results
| Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1966 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Running mate | Votes | Percentage | |
| 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... |
Ray Shafer Raymond P. Shafer Raymond Philip Shafer served as the 39th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor from 1963 to 1967... |
Ray Broderick | 2,110,349 | 52.1 | |
| Democratic Democratic 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... |
Milton Shapp Milton Shapp Milton Jerrold Shapp was the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979 and was the first Jewish governor of Pennsylvania.- Early life :... |
Leonard Staisey Leonard Staisey Leonard C. Staisey was a Democratic politician from Pennsylvania. Staisey was born in Pittsburgh and lived for most of his life in Duquesne, a nearby mill town. He was a member of the State Senate from 1961 to 1966, when he resigned to run for Lieutenant Governor... |
1,868,719 | 46.1 | |
| Constitutional | Ed Swartz | Rick Swaney | 57,073 | 1.4 | |
| Socialist Workers Socialist Workers Party (United States) The Socialist Workers Party is a far-left political organization in the United States. The group places a priority on "solidarity work" to aid strikes and is strongly supportive of Cuba... |
George Taylor | Herman Johansen | 14,527 | .3% | |