November 5, 1974 1978 → 53.50% 42.29% | 992,284 784,353 | |
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The 1974 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974. Michael Dukakis was elected to a four-year term, from January 4, 1975 until January 4, 1979. He defeated incumbent Governor of Massachusetts Francis W. Sargent in the general election.
Contents
Governor
Governor Sargent defeated former State Commerce Commissioner Carroll Sheehan in the Republican primary.
In the Democratic Primary, Michael Dukakis, a former State Representative and the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor in 1970, defeated Attorney General Robert H. Quinn.
Lieutenant Governor
Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Donald R. Dwight was unopposed in the Republican Primary. Thomas P. O'Neill III, son of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Tip O'Neill, defeated Christopher A. Iannella, Eva Hester, John P. Lynch, and Thomas Martin Sullivan for the Democratic nomination.
General election
Dukakis defeated Sargent by 207,931 votes. It was the first gubernatorial victory for the Massachusetts Democratic Party since 1962.