1970 Maryland gubernatorial election

The 1970 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democrat Marvin Mandel defeated Republican nominee Charles Stanley Blair with 65.73% of the vote. This election was the first of eight consecutive Democratic gubernatorial victories in Maryland, a streak not broken until the election of Republican Bob Ehrlich in 2002.

1970 Maryland gubernatorial election

← 1969 (special) November 3, 1970 1974 →

Nominee Marvin Mandel Charles Stanley Blair Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 639,579 314,336 Percentage 65.73% 32.30%

County results Mandel:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Blair:      40–50%

Governor before election Marvin Mandel Democratic Elected Governor Marvin Mandel Democratic

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 15, 1970.^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Marvin Mandel, incumbent Governor
• William Edward Roberts Sr.
• Dan W. Salamone
• George Herman Wright
• Milton Rothstein

Declined

• Sargent Shriver, former U.S. Ambassador to France and Director of the Peace Corps^[2]

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Marvin Mandel (incumbent)	414,160	89.05
	Democratic	William Edward Roberts Sr.	21,462	4.62
	Democratic	Dan W. Salamone	11,670	2.51
	Democratic	George Herman Wright	11,361	2.44
	Democratic	Milton Rothstein	6,417	1.38
Total votes			465,070	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Charles Stanley Blair, former Secretary of State of Maryland
• Peter James
• John C. Webb Jr.

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles Stanley Blair	101,541	81.54
	Republican	Peter James	15,790	12.68
	Republican	John C. Webb Jr.	7,194	5.78
Total votes			124,525	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Marvin Mandel, Democratic
• Charles Stanley Blair, Republican

Other candidates

• Robert Woods Merkle Sr., American

Results

1970 Maryland gubernatorial election^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Marvin Mandel (incumbent)	639,579	65.73%
	Republican	Charles Stanley Blair	314,336	32.30%
	American	Robert Woods Merkle Sr.	19,184	1.97%
Majority			325,243
Turnout			973,099
	Democratic hold		Swing