November 8, 1960 1962 → 52.67% 47.33% | 219,768 197,447 Start date November 1, 1960 | |
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Winner John H Reed | ||
The 1960 Maine gubernatorial election was a special election held to officially elect a governor following the death of Governor Clinton Clauson. It took place on November 8, 1960 with Republican Governor John Reed (who, as Maine Senate President, automatically took office upon Clauson's death) defeating Democrat Frank M. Coffin.
The election was also the first time since Maine was admitted to the Union that the state did not hold its election in September. Traditionally, Maine had held its elections two months before the rest of the nation, which had help give birth to the phrase "As Maine goes, so goes the nation" and its status as a bellwether state. However, following a 1957 referendum, the state constitution was amended to hold all elections after 1958 in November.