1950 Massachusetts general election

← 1948 November 7, 1950 1952 →
Part of the 1950 United States elections

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v t e

The 1950 Massachusetts general election was held on November 7, 1950, throughout Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 19.

At the federal level, Republicans maintained their majority in the state by holding eight of fourteen seats in the United States House of Representatives. Incumbents were re-elected in each House seat.

In the race for Governor, Democratic incumbent Paul Dever was re-elected over former Lieutenant Governor Arthur W. Coolidge.

Democratic incumbents swept the six elections for statewide offices.

Governor

Democratic incumbent Paul A. Dever was reelected over Republican Arthur W. Coolidge, Socialist Labor candidate Horace Hillis, and Prohibition candidate Mark R. Shaw.

Lieutenant governor

Democratic incumbent Charles F. Sullivan was reelected over Republican Laurence Curtis and Socialist Labor candidate Lawrence Gilfedder.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• William N. Bergan, Hull selectman
• G. Edward Bradley, Mayor of Somerville
• John Francis Cahill, former Democratic State Committee Chair
• J. Frank Murphy
• Charles F. Sullivan, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Laurence Curtis, former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
• Warren G. Harris, former Governor's Councilor
• Daniel E. McLean, former Mayor of Beverly
• Harris S. Richardson, State Senator
• Robert W. Welch, Jr., businessman and anti-communist activist

Results

General election

Attorney general

Incumbent Francis E. Kelly attorney general defeated Benjamin F. Chesky, Eli Y. Krovitsky, Isadore H. Y. Muchnick in the Democratic primary and Republican Frederick Ayer Jr., Socialist Workers candidate Anthony Martin, and Prohibition candidate Howard B. Rand in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Benjamin F. Chesky
• Francis E. Kelly, incumbent Attorney General
• Eli Y. Krovitsky
• Isadore H. Y. Muchnick, member of the Boston School Committee

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Frederick Ayer Jr., Republican Party fundraiser and nephew of George S. Patton
• Edward Butterworth, former State Representative
• George Fingold, member of the Malden City Council
• Edwin W. Hadley, professor at Northeastern University School of Law
• Frank F. Walters

Results

General election

Secretary of the Commonwealth

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Anthony L. Bruno
• Stephen J. Carr
• Edward J. Cronin, incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth
• Martin Graham
• Paul V. Shaughnessy, member of the Waltham School Committee
• Alfred L. Smith
• Alfred R. Vitale
• John F. Welch

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Adams
• William B. Bailey, former State Representative
• Henry Clay
• Douglas Lawson
• Ranny Weeks, bandleader
• Russell A. Wood, former Massachusetts Auditor and State Representative
• Ada F. York

Results

General election

Treasurer and Receiver-General

Republican primary

Candidates

• Fred J. Burrell, former Treasurer and Receiver-General
• Roy C. Papalia, Watertown selectman

Results

General election

Auditor

Republican primary

Candidates

• William G. Andrew, former interim district attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts
• Warren A. Rood

Results

General election