1956 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

← 1954 November 6, 1956 1958 →

Nominee Foster Furcolo Sumner G. Whittier Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,234,618 1,096,759 Percentage 52.76% 46.87%

County results Municipality results Furcolo:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Whittier:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Christian A. Herter Republican Elected Governor Foster Furcolo Democratic

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v t e

The 1956 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1956. Democrat Foster Furcolo was elected Governor of Massachusetts to replace incumbent Christian Herter, who did not run for re-election. Furcolo defeated Republican Sumner G. Whittier, Socialist Labor candidate Henning A. Blomen, and Prohibition candidate Mark R. Shaw.

In the race for lieutenant governor, Democrat Robert F. Murphy defeated Republican Charles Gibbons, Prohibition candidate Harold E. Bassett, and Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Sumner Whittier, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts

Results

Lt. Governor Whittier was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Thomas H. Buckley, former Massachusetts Auditor
• Foster Furcolo, former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts

Results

General election

Results

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Foster Furcolo	1,234,618	52.76%	4.96
	Republican	Sumner G. Whittier	1,096,759	46.87%	4.89
	Socialist Labor	Henning A. Blomen	5,799	0.25%	0.05
	Prohibition	Mark R. Shaw	2,692	0.12%	0.02