1964 Arizona gubernatorial election

The 1964 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1964. Incumbent Governor Paul Fannin decided not to run for reelection to a fourth term as governor, instead deciding to successfully run for the United States Senate when incumbent U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater decided to run for President of the United States.

1964 Arizona gubernatorial election

November 3, 1964

Nominee Samuel Goddard Richard Kleindienst Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 252,098 221,404 Percentage 53.2% 46.8%

County results Goddard:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Kleindienst:      50–60%

Governor before election Paul J. Fannin Republican Elected Governor Samuel P. Goddard Democratic

Despite Goldwater being at the top of the ticket as the Republican nominee for President against Lyndon Johnson, Samuel Pearson Goddard, who lost to Fannin in 1962, won the Democratic nomination and subsequently the general election, defeating Arizona Republican Party Chairman Richard Kleindienst (who would later serve as US Attorney General in the administration of Richard Nixon). Goddard was sworn into his first and only term as governor on January 4, 1965.

Republican primary

The Republican primary took place on September 8, 1964. Incumbent Governor Paul Fannin decided not to run for a fourth consecutive term, instead opting to run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater, who had instead decided to run for President of the United States. Arizona Republican Party Chairman Richard Kleindienst, as well as state senator and 1962 Republican U.S. Senate nominee Evan Mecham sought the Republican nomination to succeed Paul Fannin, with Kleindienst winning by a wide margin.

Candidates

• Richard Kleindienst, Arizona Republican Party Chairman, former state representative
• Evan Mecham, former state senator, U.S. Senate nominee in 1962

Results

Republican primary results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard Kleindienst	64,310	62.78%
	Republican	Evan Mecham	38,131	37.22%
Total votes			102,441	100.00

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Samuel P. Goddard, 1962 Democratic nominee for governor
• Art Brock
• J. Michael Morris
• David C. Cox

Results

Democratic primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Samuel Pearson Goddard	114,377	60.04%
	Democratic	Art Brock	57,067	29.96%
	Democratic	J. Michael Morris	11,303	5.93%
	Democratic	David C. Cox	7,749	4.07%
Total votes			190,496	100.00

General election

Results

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1964[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Samuel Pearson Goddard	252,098	53.24%
	Republican	Richard Kleinsdienst	221,404	46.76%
Majority			30,694	6.48%
Turnout			473,502
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=242078
2. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=349765
3. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=110190