1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
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 County results Shapp: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Lewis: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Pennsylvania |
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 Government |
The 1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 5. Incumbent
Drew Lewis. Under the state's 1968 constitution, Shapp was the first governor who was eligible to run for consecutive terms.[1][2]
Primary elections
Candidates
- Harvey Johnston
- Martin P. Mullen, State Representative from Philadelphia
- Milton Shapp, incumbent Governor
Incumbent Governor Shapp easily dispelled a spirited challenge from Martin Mullen, a state representative from Philadelphia who was well known as a firebrand conservative opponent of abortion and pornography.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Milton Shapp (incumbent) | 729,201 | 70.41% | |
| Democratic | Martin Mullen | 199,613 | 19.27% | |
| Democratic | Harvey Johnston | 106,474 | 10.28% | |
| Total votes | 1,035,288 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Alvin Jacobson
- Drew Lewis, staffing executive and Richard Schweikercampaign manager
- Leonard Strunk
With a short Republican bench, wealthy staffing executive
Drew Lewis
was the only serious contender in the race.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Drew Lewis
|
534,637 | 76.67% | |
| Republican | Alvin Jacobson | 97,072 | 13.91% | |
| Republican | Leonard Strunk | 63,868 | 9.15% | |
| Total votes | 695,577 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Stephen Depue (Constitutional)
- Running mate: Ellis Werft
- Drew Lewis, staffing executive (Republican)
- Running mate: Ken Lee, Speaker of the State House of Representatives
- Roberta Scherr (Socialist Workers)
- Running mate: Fred Stanton
- Milton Shapp, incumbent Governor (Democratic)
- Running mate: Ernie Kline, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
- Running mate:
Campaign
Shapp's popularity had waned somewhat since his comfortable victory in 1970; although he could claim to have saved the state from bankruptcy, he did so at the expense of large tax increases. Furthermore, Shapp, an unabashed liberal, had difficulty rekindling support from the state's rural, socially conservative regions. However, Shapp and Democrats as a whole received a significant boost from the
Scranton, Shapp preserved a moderate victory by winning the combined vote of suburban Philadelphia, an unexpected accomplishment for a Democrat at the time.[5]
Results
| Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1974[6][7] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Running mate | Votes | Percentage | |
| Democratic | Milton Shapp (Incumbent) | Ernie Kline (Incumbent)
|
1,878,252 | 53.66% | |
| Republican | Drew Lewis
|
Ken Lee | 1,578,917 | 45.11% | |
| Constitutional | Stephen Depue | Ellis Werft | 33,691 | 0.96% | |
| Socialist Workers | Roberta Scherr[a] | Fred Stanton | 8,980 | 0.26% | |
| Write-ins | Write-in | 374 | 0.01% | ||
| Totals | 3,500,214 | 100.00% | |||
| Voter turnout (Voting age population) | 63.31% | ||||
Notes
References
- ^ "Democrats Regain Control." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 6, 1974, p. 7 (subscription required).
- ^ Allan Jr., William. "Wait Until Next Time, County Republicans Sigh." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, November 6, 1974, p. 2 (subscription required).
- ^ "Our Campaigns - PA Governor- D Primary Race - May 21, 1974".
- ^ "Our Campaigns - PA Governor- R Primary Race - May 21, 1974".
- ISBN 9780761832799.
- ^ The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 626.
- ^ The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 625.
- The Daily Collegian. Pennsylvania State University.
Sources
- Roche, Kathleen M, ed. (1975). The Pennsylvania Manual. Vol. 102. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Department of General Services.