31 governorships 19 governorships 32 18 | 31 19 Start date November 6, 1973 | |
United States gubernatorial elections were held 6 November 1973, in two states. In both cases, a conservative managed to win in the end, while a moderate (or liberal) lost.
In Virginia, Mills E. Godwin, Jr. had won a term for governor as a Democrat in the 1965 gubernatorial election. This time, he won as a Republican. Howell too was also an ex-Democrat as well. Howell tried to run from a populist stance, but he wasn't successful. Godwin pushed the conservative line and won.
In New Jersey, Cahill had the image of a moderate Republican, but scandals that he himself didn't do and a dislike of his stance on taxes led to his defeat to Sandman, a more conservative Republican. Sandman wasn't liked by moderate Republicans and didn't get their support, a factor that would favor Byrne in the end. It didn't help matters for Sandman that Cahill didn't give much support either beyond an endorsement.