The 1962 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1962. Former Executive Councilor Endicott Peabody defeated incumbent Governor John A. Volpe in the general election.

The election is notable as a demonstration of the political individualism of Italian Americans and historic lack of ethnic bloc voting among Americans of Italian descent, instead preferring to vote based on individual candidates and issues. John Volpe, just the second Massachusetts governor of Italian ancestry, lost his 1962 re-election campaign by a razor-thin 0.21%—a final margin that could be more than sufficiently explained by Volpe polling only 51% among the state's significant population of Italian Americans, roughly half of whom voted for the old-line Anglo-Saxon Protestant Endicott Peabody over a fellow ethnic.

Republican primary Candidates John Volpe, incumbent governor

Results Governor Volpe was unopposed for renomination.

Democratic primary Candidates Endicott Peabody, member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council Clement A. Riley, auto registrar

Results

General election Results Peabody defeated Volpe by 4,431 votes. Peabody's slim margin of victory prompted a recount. On December 20, Volpe conceded the election to Peabody.

Results by county County John VolpeRepublican Endicott PeabodyDemocratic All others Margin Total votes # % # % # % # % Barnstable 20,075 69.6% 8,740 30.3% 46 0.2% -11,335 -39.3% 28,861 Berkshire 29,048 50.7% 27,984 48.8% 294 0.5% -1,064 -1.9% 57,236 Bristol 66,188 40.0% 98,737 59.6% 616 0.3% 32,549 19.6% 165,541 Dukes 1,798 64.0% 1,001 35.6% 12 0.4% -797 -28.4% 2,811 Essex 129,896 50.3% 127,767 49.5% 695 0.3% -2,129 -0.8% 258,358 Franklin 14,002 61.2% 8,800 38.5% 62 0.2% -5,202 -22.7% 22,864 Hampden 75,041 48.4% 78,990 50.9% 1,171 0.8% 3,949 2.5% 155,202 Hampshire 19,269 50.8% 18,563 48.9% 128 0.3% -706 -1.9% 37,960 Middlesex 276,833 52.8% 245,779 46.9% 1,448 0.3% -31,054 -5.9% 524,060 Nantucket 1,210 74.6% 409 25.2% 3 0.2% -801 -49.4% 1,622 Norfolk 127,674 55.9% 100,073 43.8% 594 0.3% -27,601 -12.1% 228,341 Plymouth 59,107 57.1% 44,148 42.7% 204 0.2% -14,959 -14.4% 103,459 Suffolk 107,228 38.8% 167,253 60.5% 1,990 0.7% 60,025 21.7% 276,471 Worcester 120,522 49.0% 125,078 50.8% 608 0.2% 4,556 1.8% 246,208Totals1,053,32249.9%1,047,89149.7%7,8760.4%5,4310.2%2,109,089

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Hampden

See also 1961–1962 Massachusetts legislature

References