United States gubernatorial elections were held on 5 November 1968, in 21 states and one territory, concurrent with the House, Senate elections and presidential election. These were the last gubernatorial elections for Arizona, New Mexico, and Wisconsin to take place in a presidential election year, as all would extend their governors' terms from two to four years.
Closest races
States where the margin of victory was under 5%:
- New Mexico, 0.92%
- Delaware, 1.02%
- West Virginia, 1.08%
- Rhode Island, 2.04%
- Illinois, 2.84%
- Kansas, 4.24%
- Arkansas, 4.86%
States where the margin of victory was under 10%:
- New Hampshire, 5.09%
- North Carolina, 5.40%
- Indiana, 5.59%
- Wisconsin, 6.06%
- Iowa, 8.20%
Red denotes states won by Republicans. Blue denotes states won by Democrats.
Arizona
Jack Richard Williams won re-election against Samuel Pearson Goddard Jr., in a "rematch" election, in which Goddard was trying to get his old job back. This was basically a repeat of the 1966 Arizona governor's race, with Williams winning.
Arkansas
Winthrop Rockefeller had already made his mark in 1966, when he was elected as the first Republican governor since 1872 and having the black vote to boot, not to mention challenging the Faubus empire two years before in 1964. Getting re-elected in 1968 was good, but things for Rockefeller went downhill from there.
Delaware
Terry not wanting to take the National Guard out of the black communities in Wilmington played a factor in his defeat, not to mention that Peterson had made it. Peterson would go on to be a legend in Delaware politics in a short time, mainly for his "green" politics.
Illinois
Samuel H. Shapiro was governor temporarily after Otto Kerner Jr. resigned in order to accept appointment to the federal appellate court. Shapiro lost the race to get his own full term. Kerner would become famous for two things: being the head of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, a.k.a. the Kerner Commission, and going to jail over various charges stemming from being a stockholder in a racetrack business.
Indiana
Indiana changed its laws so that governors could have two back-to-back four-year terms beginning in November 1972. Thus, Branigin
was not eligible for a second term.
Iowa
Harold Hughes resigned on January 1, 1969, to run for United States Senate. Robert D. Fulton would serve as governor from January 1 to January 16, 1969, when the new Governor, Robert D. Ray took office. Ray would go on to a political career, while Hughes, inspired by his own battles with alcoholism, made drug/alcohol abuse his focus in the Senate, and later left politics to open an alcoholism treatment center and to do religious work.
Kansas
George Docking won re-election. Ultimately, he would set a record by winning four two-year terms. Kansas governors served two-year terms until 1974, when a constitutional amendment was added, creating a four-year term system.
Missouri
In Missouri, during Warren Hearnes' term, the laws were changed so that governors were allowed two back-to-back four-year terms. Thus, by 1968, Hearnes was eligible for another term.
Montana
Tim Babcock became governor in January 1962 after his predecessor, Governor Donald Nutter, was killed in a plane crash. Babcock won a full term in the 1964 gubernatorial election.
New Hampshire
King might have run for another term had the 1968 presidential election not gotten in his way. He was an
avid President Lyndon B. Johnson supporter, and a "hawk" on Vietnam. So, when Senator Eugene McCarthy dropped into New Hampshire, King didn't hold back, but his attacks didn't work. President Johnson dropped out of the presidential race, and Vice President Hubert Humphrey joined the race as a result and asked King to run for the Senate. King did, but lost to Republican Norris Cotton.
New Mexico
David Cargo was re-elected in 1968. Being term-limited in 1970 (see 1970 United States gubernatorial elections), he tried running for other offices, but "Lonesome Dave" never won again.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, governors were not allowed two consecutive terms until 1977.
North Dakota
Governors served two-year terms until 1964, when a constitutional amendment changed it to a four-year term.
West Virginia
In 1970, during Arch Moore’s term, an amendment to the West Virginia constitution allowed governors to serve two consecutive terms. Thus, Hulett Smith was not eligible for a second term.