Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1956
Encyclopedia
The 1956 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1956. Democrat Foster Furcolo
was elected Governor of Massachusetts
to replace incumbent Christian Herter
, who did not run for re-election. Furcolo defeated Republican Sumner G. Whittier, Socialist Labor candidate Henning A. Blomen
, and Prohibition candidate Mark R. Shaw
.
In the race for Lieutenant Governor
, Democrat Robert F. Murphy
defeated Republican Charles Gibbons
, Prohibition candidate Harold E. Bassett, and Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano.
Foster Furcolo defeated former Massachusetts Auditor
Thomas Henry Buckley for the Democratic nomination. Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Sumner Whittier ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
In the lieutenant gubernatorial race, former State Representative Robert F. Murphy
defeated Executive Councilor
George A. Wells and former State Representative James A. Burke
for the Democratic nomination. Former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Charles Gibbons
ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Foster Furcolo
John Foster Furcolo was a member of the Democratic Party who served as the 60th Governor of Massachusetts, a member of the United States House of Representatives, and in other government offices in Massachusetts. He was the first Italian-American governor of Massachusetts.-Life and career:Furcolo...
was elected Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
to replace incumbent Christian Herter
Christian Herter
Christian Archibald Herter was an American politician and statesman; 59th governor of Massachusetts from 1953 to 1957, and United States Secretary of State from 1959 to 1961.-Early life:...
, who did not run for re-election. Furcolo defeated Republican Sumner G. Whittier, Socialist Labor candidate Henning A. Blomen
Henning A. Blomen
Henning A. Blomen was a candidate for United States President of the Socialist Labor Party of America in 1968 and for Vice President of the United States in 1964. Blomen was also an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Massachusetts 14 times...
, and Prohibition candidate Mark R. Shaw
Mark R. Shaw
Mark R. Shaw was a Prohibition Party candidate for the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts in 1946, 1952, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1966 and 1970. He was also the party's candidate for governor of that state in 1948 and in 1956...
.
In the race for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts...
, Democrat Robert F. Murphy
Robert F. Murphy
Robert F. Murphy was an American politician who as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1949 Murphy became the first Democrat to serve as the Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives...
defeated Republican Charles Gibbons
Charles Gibbons
Charles Gibbons was a U.S. politician who served as the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1952 to 1955 as a Republican. As of 2011 he is the last Republican to serve as Massachusetts Speaker of the House. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1956, but...
, Prohibition candidate Harold E. Bassett, and Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano.
Primaries
Former Treasurer and Receiver-General of MassachusettsTreasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
The Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts is an executive officer, elected state-wide every four years....
Foster Furcolo defeated former Massachusetts Auditor
Massachusetts Auditor
The Massachusetts State Auditor is a statewide elected office in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The current auditor is Suzanne Bump.-List of state auditors of Massachusetts:-External links:*...
Thomas Henry Buckley for the Democratic nomination. Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts...
Sumner Whittier ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
In the lieutenant gubernatorial race, former State Representative Robert F. Murphy
Robert F. Murphy
Robert F. Murphy was an American politician who as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1949 Murphy became the first Democrat to serve as the Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives...
defeated Executive Councilor
Massachusetts Governor's Council
The Massachusetts Governor's Council is a governmental body that provides advice and consent in certain matters such as judicial nominations, pardons, and commutations to the Governor of Massachusetts...
George A. Wells and former State Representative James A. Burke
James A. Burke
James Anthony Burke was a United States Representative from Massachusetts from 1959 to 1979.He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was educated in the Boston public schools and Lincoln Preparatory School and attended Suffolk University...
for the Democratic nomination. Former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Charles Gibbons
Charles Gibbons
Charles Gibbons was a U.S. politician who served as the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1952 to 1955 as a Republican. As of 2011 he is the last Republican to serve as Massachusetts Speaker of the House. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1956, but...
ran unopposed in the Republican primary.