1964 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
The 1964 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1964. Incumbent Governor Endicott Peabody ran for re-election, but was defeated by then-Lieutenant Governor Francis X. Bellotti in the Democratic Party primary. Bellotti went on to lose the general election to former Governor John Volpe.
The race between Volpe and Bellotti was the first time in Massachusetts history that the two major parties backed sons of Italian immigrants for governor.
This was the final election held before the governor's term of office was extended from two to four years.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Francis Bellotti, Lieutenant Governor
- Pasquale Caggiano, former state representative from Lynn and perennial candidate
- John J. Droney, Middlesex County District Attorney
- Endicott Peabody, incumbent Governor
Declined
- Robert F. Kennedy, U.S. attorney general and brother of John F. Kennedy
Republican primary
Candidates
- John Volpe, former Governor
Defeated at convention
- Philip A. Graham, state senator from Hamilton and Senate Minority Leader
- Francis W. Perry, state representative from Duxbury and nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1962
Withdrew
- Edward Brooke, attorney general of Massachusetts
Results
Volpe ran unopposed in the Republican primary.General election
Candidates
- Francis Bellotti, Lieutenant Governor
- John Volpe, former Governor
- Francis A. Votano
- Guy S. Williams