California gubernatorial election, 1962

Infobox Election
election_name = California gubernatorial election, 1962
country = California
type = presidential
ongoing = no
previous_election = California gubernatorial election, 1958
previous_year = 1958
next_election = California gubernatorial election, 1966
next_year = 1966
election_date = November 6 1962


nominee1 = Pat Brown
party1 = California Democratic Party
popular_vote1 = 3,037,109
percentage1 = 51.94


nominee2 = Richard Nixon
party2 = California Republican Party
popular_vote2 = 2,740,351
percentage2 = 46.87
map_

map_size = 300px
map_caption = Election results by county
title = Governor
before_election = Pat Brown
before_party = California Democratic Party
after_election = Pat Brown
after_party = California Democratic PartyThe California gubernatorial election, 1962 was held on November 6 1962. The Democratic incumbent, Pat Brown, ran for re-election against former Vice President Richard Nixon. In his concession speech, Nixon accused the media of favoring his opponent Brown and stated that it was his "last press conference" and that "You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around any more." Six years later, Nixon would go on to be elected President of the United States.

Election background

Edmund G. (Pat) Brown Sr. was a relatively popular Democratic governor in California who was first elected in 1958. At the time, California was generally considered a Republican stronghold, with Republican governors and senators from the end of World War II until Brown's election in 1958. The state voted for Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, and Nixon carried the state over Kennedy in the 1960 Presidential election. With two incumbent Republican senators, the Republican Party felt it could gain a governorship and win the state back from the Democrats. They turned to former California Senator and Vice President Richard Nixon, the biggest name at the time in the California Republican Party. Having been elected Senator and carrying the state against Kennedy in 1960, they also felt a convincing win would be a springboard for Nixon to challenge Kennedy again in 1964, since he narrowly lost to him in 1960.

In a bitter and expensive campaign, Brown and Nixon campaigned with great zeal and effort. Nixon had a big lead in the polls early on, but Brown chipped away at his lead. Still, come election day, Nixon was favored to win a relatively close election. But Brown not only won, but by a surprising 5%. A stunned and frustrated Nixon announced he was retiring from politics.

General election results

Election box winning candidate with party link no change
party = California Democratic Party
candidate = Pat Brown
votes = 3,037,109
percentage = 51.94Election box candidate with party link no change
party = California Republican Party
candidate = Richard Nixon
votes = 2,740,351
percentage = 46.87Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Prohibition Party
candidate = Robert L. Wyckoff
votes = 69,700
percentage = 1.19Election box invalid no change
votes = 82,442
percentage = 1.39Election box total no change
votes = 5,929,602
percentage = 100.00Election box turnout no change
percentage = 57.50Election box hold with party link without swing
winner = California Democratic Party

Results by county

References

* [http://www.joincalifornia.com/election/1962-11-06 California Elections Page]
* [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=36417 Our Campaigns]