1962 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

The 1962 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1962. Former Executive Councilor Endicott Peabody defeated incumbent Governor John A. Volpe in the general election.^[1]

1962 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

← 1960 November 6, 1962 1964 →

Nominee Endicott Peabody John Volpe Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,052,322 1,047,891 Percentage 49.92% 49.71%

County results Municipality results Peabody:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Volpe:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election John Volpe Republican Elected Governor Endicott Peabody Democratic

The election is notable as a demonstration of the political individualism of Italian Americans and historic lack of ethnic bloc voting among Americans of Italian descent, instead preferring to vote based on individual candidates and issues. John Volpe, just the second Massachusetts governor of Italian ancestry, lost his 1962 re-election campaign by a razor-thin 0.21%—a final margin that could be more than sufficiently explained by Volpe polling only 51% among the state's significant population of Italian Americans, roughly half of whom voted for the old-line Anglo-Saxon Protestant Endicott Peabody over a fellow ethnic.^[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Volpe, incumbent Governor

Results

Governor Volpe was unopposed for renomination.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Endicott Peabody, member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council
• Clement A. Riley, auto registrar

Results

1962 Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Endicott Peabody	596,553	79.96%
	Democratic	Clement A. Riley	149,499	20.04%
Total votes			746,052	100.00%

General election

Results

Peabody defeated Volpe by 4,431 votes. Peabody's slim margin of victory prompted a recount.^[3] On December 20, Volpe conceded the election to Peabody.^[4]

1962 Massachusetts gubernatorial election ^[1]: 9

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Endicott Peabody	1,052,322	49.92%	3.13
	Republican	John A. Volpe (incumbent)	1,047,891	49.71%	2.80
	Socialist Labor	Henning A. Blomen	5,477	0.26%	0.13
	Prohibition	Guy S. Williams	2,394	0.11%	0.20
Total votes			2,108,084	100.00%

See also

• 1961–1962 Massachusetts legislature