1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Country:Pennsylvania
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1970 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1970
Next Election:1978 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Next Year:1978
Image1:File:Milton Shapp (1976).png
Nominee1:Milton Shapp
Running Mate1:Ernie Kline
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,878,252
Percentage1:53.7%
Nominee2:Drew Lewis
Running Mate2:Ken Lee
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,578,917
Percentage2:45.1%
Map Size:260px
Governor
Before Election:Milton Shapp
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Milton Shapp
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 5. Incumbent Democratic Governor Milton Shapp defeated Republican Drew Lewis. Under the state's 1968 constitution, Shapp was the first governor who was eligible to run for consecutive terms.[1] [2]

Primary elections

Candidates

Incumbent Governor Shapp easily dispelled a spirited challenge from Martin Mullen, a state representative from Philadelphia who was well known as a firebrand conservative opponent of abortion and pornography.

Republican primary

Candidates

With a short Republican bench, wealthy staffing executive Drew Lewis was the only serious contender in the race.

Results

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Shapp's popularity had waned somewhat since his comfortable victory in 1970; although he could claim to have saved the state from bankruptcy, he did so at the expense of large tax increases. Furthermore, Shapp, an unabashed liberal, had difficulty rekindling support from the state's rural, socially conservative regions. However, Shapp and Democrats as a whole received a significant boost from the Watergate scandal; with President Richard Nixon's popularity in a tailspin, many of the top tier Republicans declined to run. Instead, the party turned to the wealthy businessman Lewis, who was able to project an "outsider" image. Lewis focused on local issues and greatly undercut Shapp in rural areas; despite lagging at the polls in traditional Democratic strongholds such as Pittsburgh and Scranton, Shapp preserved a moderate victory by winning the combined vote of suburban Philadelphia, an unexpected accomplishment for a Democrat at the time.[3]

Results

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1974[4] [5]
PartyCandidateRunning mateVotesPercentage
DemocraticMilton Shapp (Incumbent)Ernie Kline (Incumbent) 1,878,252 53.66%
RepublicanDrew LewisKen Lee1,578,91745.11%
ConstitutionalStephen DepueEllis Werft33,6910.96%
Socialist WorkersRoberta ScherrFred Stanton8,9800.26%
Write-insWrite-in3740.01%
Totals3,500,214100.00%
Voter turnout (Voting age population)63.31%

Notes

a. Scherr, at the time, was only 21 years old and, therefore, ineligible to be governor.[6]

Sources

Notes and References

  1. "Democrats Regain Control." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 6, 1974, p. 7 (subscription required).
  2. Allan Jr., William. "Wait Until Next Time, County Republicans Sigh." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, November 6, 1974, p. 2 (subscription required).
  3. Book: Kennedy, John J.. Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests From 1950-2004. 2006. University Press of America. 9780761832799.
  4. The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 626.
  5. The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 625.
  6. News: Ostrosky . Steve . Will Shapp deny Lewis . November 1, 1974 . . Pennsylvania State University.