Election Name: | 1956 Colorado gubernatorial election |
Country: | Colorado |
Flag Year: | 1911 |
Type: | Presidential |
Ongoing: | no |
Previous Election: | 1954 Colorado gubernatorial election |
Previous Year: | 1954 |
Next Election: | 1958 Colorado gubernatorial election |
Next Year: | 1958 |
Election Date: | November 6, 1956 |
Image1: | File:Stephen McNichols 1962.jpg |
Nominee1: | Stephen McNichols |
Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Popular Vote1: | 331,283 |
Percentage1: | 51.34% |
Nominee2: | Donald Brotzman |
Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
Popular Vote2: | 313,950 |
Percentage2: | 48.66% |
Map Size: | 250px |
Governor | |
Before Election: | Edwin C. Johnson |
Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
After Election: | Stephen McNichols |
After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1956 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1956. Democratic nominee Stephen McNichols defeated Republican nominee Donald G. Brotzman with 51.34% of the vote.
Primary elections were held on September 11, 1956.[1]
McNichols narrowly won the election by being able to capture majority of the vote in Colorado's then two largest cities and counties: Denver and Pueblo. He also won Adams, Denver and Pueblo counties along with several rural farming counties and the coal counties of southern Colorado.[2] Meanwhile, Brotzman performed best in large farming areas as well as in several cities like Fort Collins, Boulder, and Golden. Factors like Democrats being better organized along with McNichols being a popular lieutenant governor to also popular governor Edwin Johnson helped propel him to victory.