1960 Montana gubernatorial election

1960 Montana gubernatorial election

← 1956 November 8, 1960 1964 →
Turnout85.70%Increase2.50[1]
 
Nominee Donald Grant Nutter Paul C. Cannon
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 154,230 125,651
Percentage 55.11% 44.89%

County results
Nutter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Cannon:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

J. Hugo Aronson
Republican

Elected Governor

Donald Grant Nutter
Republican

The 1960 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1960. Incumbent governor of Montana J. Hugo Aronson, who was first elected governor in 1952 and was re-elected in 1956, declined to run for re-election. Donald Grant Nutter, a former state senator, narrowly won the Republican primary, and advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Paul Cannon, the Lieutenant Governor of Montana and the Democratic nominee. Nutter defeated Cannon by a fairly wide margin, winning his only term as governor, as he would die just a year into his term.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic Party primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul Cannon 44,690 34.89
Democratic Jack Toole 40,537 31.65
Democratic Mike Kuchera 33,216 25.93
Democratic Willard E. Fraser 6,505 5.08
Democratic John M. Nickey 1,806 1.41
Democratic Merrill K. Riddick 1,344 1.05
Total votes 128,098 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican Primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donald Grant Nutter 33,099 50.43
Republican Wesley A. D'Ewart 32,538 49.57
Total votes 65,637 100.00

General election

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Results

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Montana gubernatorial election, 1960[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Grant Nutter 154,230 55.11% +3.74%
Democratic Paul Cannon 125,651 44.89% −3.74%
Majority 28,579 10.21% +7.48%
Turnout 279,881
Republican hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 7, 1960". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  3. ^ "Official Montana General Election Returns, November 8, 1960". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.