1976 New Hampshire gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	1976 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
Country:	New Hampshire
Type:	Presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1974 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	1974
Next Election:	1978 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
Next Year:	1978
Election Date:	November 2, 1976
Nominee1:	Meldrim Thomson Jr.
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	197,589
Percentage1:	57.66%
Nominee2:	Harry V. Spanos
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	145,015
Percentage2:	42.32%
Governor
Before Election:	Meldrim Thomson Jr.
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Meldrim Thomson Jr.
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

The 1976 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Republican Governor Meldrim Thomson Jr. defeated Democratic nominee Harry V. Spanos with 57.66% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 14, 1976.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Carmen C. Chimento, American Independent Party candidate for the 1974 and 1975 United States Senate elections in New Hampshire
• James A. Connor, former county attorney for Hillsborough County
• Hugh J. Gallen, State Representative^[1]
• Harry V. Spanos, former State Senator

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ralph Brewster
• Meldrim Thomson Jr., incumbent Governor
• Gerald J. Zeiller, former staffer to Senators Styles Bridges and Norris Cotton^[2]

Results

General election

Candidates

• Harry Spanos, Democratic
• Meldrim Thomson, Republican

Results

Bibliography

• Book: Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997 . Washington, D.C. . Congressional Quarterly Inc. . 1998 . 1-56802-396-0 . .
• Book: Kelley . Edward C. . Manual for the General Court of New Hampshire . 1977 . 45 . Concord, NH . Department of State, New Hampshire . 1977 . .
• Book: Scammon . Richard M. . McGillivray . Alice V. . America Votes 12: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1976 . Washington, D.C. . Elections Research Center . 1977 . .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gov. Hugh J. Gallen . www.nga.gov . National Governors Association . 24 April 2020 .
2. News: Lydon . Christopher . 12 September 1976 . Vermont Governor in Close Democratic Senate Race As 4 New England States Hold Primaries Tuesday . New York Times . New York, NY . 24 April 2020 .