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1956 Washington gubernatorial election

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1956 Washington gubernatorial election

← 1952 November 6, 1956 1960 →
 
Nominee Albert Rosellini Emmett T. Anderson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 616,773 508,041
Percentage 54.63% 45.00%

County results
Rosellini:      50–60%      60–70%
Anderson:      50–60%

Governor before election

Arthur B. Langlie
Republican

Elected Governor

Albert Rosellini
Democratic

The 1956 Washington gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1956, between Democratic state senator Albert Rosellini and Republican lieutenant governor Emmett T. Anderson.

Rosellini defeated Anderson during the general election, becoming the first Italian American to lead a U.S. state west of the Mississippi River. Incumbent Republican governor Arthur B. Langlie declined to run for a fourth term, instead challenging Warren Magnuson for a U.S. Senate seat. This election was the first open-seat gubernatorial election in Washington since 1924. This is the most recent gubernatorial election in Washington in which Yakima County has voted for a Democrat.

Primary election

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Incumbent governor Arthur B. Langlie, a Republican who had served three terms, announced on May 2 that he would not run for a fourth term and instead challenge Warren Magnuson for one of the state's U.S. Senate seats.[1] Langlie made no public endorsement for a Republican candidate, but privately supported congressman Thor C. Tollefson prior to the announcement.[2] Tollefson would later drop out of the gubernatorial race by the end of the month and pursue another congressional term, leaving Lieutenant Governor Emmett T. Anderson and Attorney General Don Eastvold as the remaining Republican frontrunners.[3]

Albert D. Rosellini, a Democratic state senator from South Seattle, announced his candidacy on May 24, proposing a state department of commerce, industrial regulations, diversification of jobs and industries, a second Lake Washington bridge, and toll-free superhighways.[4] Rosellini, a New Deal liberal Democrat who had been named leader of the state's Democratic Senate Caucus, publicly opposed Langlie during his three terms as governors and often butted heads with the former Seattle mayor. After missteps during his 1952 bid for governor, Rosellini was left to run in the 1956 race using his own funds.[5]

State Secretary of State Earl Coe, another Democrat, joined the race in early July and became Rosellini's biggest challenger for the Democratic nomination.[6] By the filing deadline in July, the field of candidates grew to nine, with Democratic state senator Roderick A. Lindsay of Spokane joining the race.[7] Prior to the primary, Anderson emerged as a Republican favorite among former Langlie supporters, while Democrats Coe and Rosellini were expected to split a contentious vote.[8]

During the September 11 blanket primary, Rosellini and Anderson won the right to advance to the general election, with comfortable margins in early returns.[9] Coe formally endorsed Rosellini on September 26, citing a preference to avoid "past stalemates" and encouraging voters to give majority control of the legislature to the Democrats.[10]

Candidates

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Democratic Party

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  • Earl Coe, secretary of state
  • John C. Edwards
  • Roderick Lindsay, state senator from Spokane
  • Albert D. Rosellini, state senator from South Seattle and candidate for governor in 1952

Republican Party

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  • Emmett T. Anderson, lieutenant governor
  • Ralph E. Bohnke
  • Roy DeGrief
  • Don Eastvold
  • Thomas C. Hall
  • John E. Lydon

Results

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Blanket primary results[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Albert D. Rosellini 236,291 31.62%
Republican Emmett T. Anderson 192,500 25.76%
Democratic Earl Coe 140,882 18.85%
Republican Don Eastvold 99,020 13.25%
Democratic Roderick Lindsay 39,072 5.23%
Republican Thomas C. Hall 12,304 1.65%
Republican Roy DeGrief 11,592 1.55%
Democratic John C. Edwards 8,030 1.08%
Republican John E. Lydon 3,933 0.53%
Republican Ralph E. Bohnke 3,514 0.47%
Total votes 747,238 100.00%

General election

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Henry Killman was nominated by the Socialist Labor Party of America in September and approved by the Secretary of State as the only minor party in the governor's race.[13]

Rosellini spent much of his campaigning proposing improvements to the state's institutions, including prisons and schools, while attacking the Langlie administration. Anderson, by contrast, made few promises and touted his qualifications as lieutenant governor.[14]

On November 6, Rosellini won the governorship and promised to promote bipartisanship and select state employees on merit rather than political qualifications.[15] Anderson formally conceded to Rosellini the following morning, congratulating him on his victory and thanking his supporters.[16]

Results

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1956 Washington gubernatorial election[11][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Albert D. Rosellini 616,773 54.63 +7.28%
Republican Emmett T. Anderson 508,041 45.00 −7.65%
Socialist Labor Henry Killman 4,163 0.37
Majority 108,372 9.63%
Total votes 1,128,977 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing +14.93%

Results by county

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County[17] Albert D. Rosellini
Democratic
Emmett T. Anderson
Republican
Henry Killman
Socialist Labor
Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # %
Adams 1,848 48.35% 1,972 51.60% 2 0.05% -124 -3.24% 3,822
Asotin 3,043 59.88% 2,037 40.08% 2 0.04% 1,006 19.80% 5,082
Benton 15,696 62.12% 9,567 37.86% 4 0.02% 6,129 24.26% 25,267
Chelan 8,474 47.44% 9,291 52.02% 96 0.54% -817 -4.57% 17,861
Clallam 7,143 58.22% 5,115 41.69% 10 0.08% 2,028 16.53% 12,268
Clark 22,162 58.55% 15,643 41.33% 48 0.13% 6,519 17.22% 37,853
Columbia 926 43.76% 1,190 56.24% 0 0.00% -264 -12.48% 2,116
Cowlitz 14,079 58.98% 9,746 40.83% 45 0.19% 4,333 18.15% 23,870
Douglas 3,152 54.86% 2,589 45.06% 5 0.09% 563 9.80% 5,746
Ferry 903 61.68% 561 38.32% 0 0.00% 342 23.36% 1,464
Franklin 5,361 67.26% 2,606 32.69% 4 0.05% 2,755 34.56% 7,971
Garfield 703 44.66% 871 55.34% 0 0.00% -168 -12.67% 1,574
Grant 8,098 60.74% 5,229 39.22% 6 0.05% 2,869 21.52% 13,333
Grays Harbor 14,914 61.95% 9,112 37.85% 48 0.20% 5,802 24.10% 24,074
Island 2,458 47.97% 2,660 51.91% 6 0.12% -202 -3.94% 5,124
Jefferson 2,206 55.11% 1,795 44.84% 2 0.05% 411 10.27% 4,003
King 198,604 52.55% 176,645 46.74% 2,715 0.72% 21,959 5.81% 377,964
Kitsap 22,709 60.90% 14,543 39.00% 34 0.09% 8,166 21.90% 37,286
Kittitas 4,659 53.95% 3,969 45.96% 7 0.08% 690 7.99% 8,635
Klickitat 2,517 49.20% 2,593 50.68% 6 0.12% -76 -1.49% 5,116
Lewis 9,543 49.63% 9,673 50.31% 12 0.06% -130 -0.68% 19,228
Lincoln 2,457 46.57% 2,818 53.41% 1 0.02% -361 -6.84% 5,276
Mason 4,282 55.13% 3,476 44.75% 9 0.12% 806 10.38% 7,767
Okanogan 5,904 55.95% 4,645 44.02% 4 0.04% 1,259 11.93% 10,553
Pacific 4,293 57.63% 3,150 42.29% 6 0.08% 1,143 15.34% 7,449
Pend Oreille 1,763 59.48% 1,201 40.52% 0 0.00% 562 18.96% 2,964
Pierce 65,509 57.63% 47,740 42.00% 413 0.36% 17,769 15.63% 113,662
San Juan 744 44.74% 915 55.02% 4 0.24% -171 -10.28% 1,663
Skagit 10,927 52.21% 9,974 47.66% 26 0.12% 953 4.55% 20,927
Skamania 1,156 54.94% 948 45.06% 0 0.00% 208 9.89% 2,104
Snohomish 37,168 60.61% 23,973 39.10% 178 0.29% 13,195 21.52% 61,319
Spokane 57,796 53.68% 49,775 46.23% 104 0.10% 8,021 7.45% 107,675
Stevens 4,381 54.16% 3,699 45.73% 9 0.11% 682 8.43% 8,089
Thurston 12,128 51.11% 11,582 48.81% 17 0.07% 546 2.30% 23,727
Wahkiakum 982 57.83% 712 41.93% 4 0.24% 270 15.90% 1,698
Walla Walla 7,960 45.50% 9,534 54.49% 2 0.01% -1,574 -9.00% 17,496
Whatcom 17,105 53.98% 14,426 45.52% 158 0.50% 2,679 8.45% 31,689
Whitman 5,564 42.70% 7,462 57.26% 5 0.04% -1,898 -14.57% 13,031
Yakima 27,456 52.57% 24,604 47.11% 171 0.33% 2,852 5.46% 52,231
Totals 616,773 54.63% 508,041 45.00% 4,163 0.37% 108,732 9.63% 1,128,977

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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References

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  1. ^ Cunningham, Ross (May 2, 1956). "Langlie to run for U.S. Senate". The Seattle Times. p. 1.
  2. ^ "Langlie Makes No Choice For Governor". The Seattle Times. May 2, 1956. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Tollefson Out Of Governor Race; to Seek Re-election". The Seattle Times. May 26, 1956. p. 1.
  4. ^ Cunningham, Ross (May 24, 1956). "State Should Attract More Diversified Industry, Rosellini Tells Demo Rally". The Seattle Times. p. 15.
  5. ^ Crowley, Walt (January 30, 2003). "Rosellini, Albert Dean (1910-2011)". HistoryLink. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  6. ^ "4 Candidates For Governor File Early". The Seattle Times. July 2, 1956. p. 12.
  7. ^ "9 Candidates Now in Race For Governor". The Seattle Times. July 20, 1956. p. 5.
  8. ^ Cunningham, Ross (September 10, 1956). "Great Barrage Of Appeals Hits Voters On Eve of Primary". The Seattle Times. p. 6.
  9. ^ Cunningham, Ross (September 12, 1956). "Demos Make Heavy Gains in State Vote". The Seattle Times. p. 1.
  10. ^ "Coe Backs Rosellini For Governor". The Seattle Times. September 26, 1956. p. 11.
  11. ^ a b "Elections Search Results: November 1956 General and September 1956 Primary". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  12. ^ Washington Secretary of State. "Governor". Official Abstract of Votes State Primary September 11, 1956. Olympia, Washington. pp. 6–7.
  13. ^ "Socialist Labor Ticket O. K'd". The Seattle Times. October 5, 1956. p. 33.
  14. ^ Cunningham, Ross (October 25, 1956). "Either Could Win as Anderson, Rosellini Race Nears Finish". The Seattle Times. p. 8.
  15. ^ "Rosellini Makes Bipartisan Plans". The Seattle Times. November 6, 1956. p. 2.
  16. ^ "Anderson Concedes to Rosellini". The Seattle Times. November 7, 1956. p. A.
  17. ^ a b Washington Secretary of State. "Governor". Official Abstract of Votes State General Election November 6, 1956. Olympia, Washington. p. 21.
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