United States gubernatorial elections, 1966

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 1966 in 35 states. The results of the election were that 12 Democrats and 23 Republicans won election, bringing the partisan reflection of the nation's states to 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans.

Alabama

Until 1968, Alabama governors were not allowed two successive terms. To circumvent this, Wallace used his wife Lurleen as his stand-in. She died in 1968.^[1][2]

Alaska

Egan was defeated in 1966, but would get re-elected in 1970 (see United States gubernatorial elections, 1970).

Arizona

In Arizona, they operated on governors serving two-year terms until 1970, when Jack Richard Williams was the first governor to be elected to a four-year term.^[3][4] Previously, Williams had been elected governor for 2 2-year terms in 1966^[5] and in 1968.^[6] Arizona made the switch official from a two-year term to a four-year term in 1968 with an amendment.^[7]

Arizona adopted not only a 4-year term for governors starting in the general election of 1970, but they adopted a two consecutive term limit in 1992.^[8]

Arkansas

Arkansas had two-year terms for governors until 1984, when they switched to four-year terms for governors with Amendment 63.^[9]

Winthrop Rockefeller was elected the first Republican governor since Reconstruction.^[10]

California

Incumbent governor Pat Brown (Democrat) was defeated in his bid for a third term, by the future President Ronald Reagan (Republican).

Florida

William Haydon Burns was elected in 1964 for a 2-year term because Florida shifted their governors' races from presidential years to mid-term years. Starting in 1966, Florida did their 4-year gubernatorial races in midterm years.^[11]

Kirk was the first Republican governor in the 20th century.^[12]

In 1968, Florida adopted a new state constitution, and the governor got the option to serve two four-year terms in a row.^[13][14]

Georgia

Maddox was elected by the State Legislature, and Callaway was the first Republican nominee for Governor since 1876.^[15]

Oklahoma

During Henry Bellmon's first term (1963–1967), the Oklahoma Constitution was changed to allow its governor to serve consecutive terms, however, the rule change did not apply to Bellmon. Thus, Bellmon was not eligible to serve a second term. Bellmon later served another term from 1987–1991.^[16]

United States 1966 Governors' Races Chart

References