1956 Washington gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1956 United States gubernatorial elections.

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

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 54.6% 45.0%

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

Governor before election Arthur B. Langlie Republican Elected Governor Albert Rosellini Democratic

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.

Primary election

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

Democratic Party

• 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

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

Primary election results

Governor of Washington primary election, September 11, 1956^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Albert D. Rosellini	236,291	31.62
	Republican	Emmett T. Anderson	192,500	25.76
	Democratic	Earl Coe	140,882	18.86
	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	1.07
	Republican	John E. Lydon	3,933	0.53
	Republican	Ralph E. Bohnke	3,514	0.47

General election

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.^[12]

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.^[13]

On November 6, Rosellini won the governorship and promised to promote bipartisanship and select state employees on merit rather than political qualifications.^[14] Anderson formally conceded to Rosellini the following morning, congratulating him on his victory and thanking his supporters.^[15]

General election results

Governor of Washington general election, November 6, 1956^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Albert D. Rosellini	616,773	54.63
	Republican	Emmett T. Anderson	508,041	45.00
	Socialist Labor	Henry Killman	4,163	0.37
Total votes			1,128,977	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

References

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. "Elections Search Results: November 1956 General and September 1956 Primary". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
12. "Socialist Labor Ticket O. K'd". The Seattle Times. October 5, 1956. p. 33.
13. Cunningham, Ross (October 25, 1956). "Either Could Win as Anderson, Rosellini Race Nears Finish". The Seattle Times. p. 8.
14. "Rosellini Makes Bipartisan Plans". The Seattle Times. November 6, 1956. p. 2.
15. "Anderson Concedes to Rosellini". The Seattle Times. November 7, 1956. p. A.

External links

• Washington voters elect Albert Rosellini governor and re-elect Warren Magnuson to the United States Senate on November 6, 1956. at HistoryLink