The 1962 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1962, and was a race for Governor of Oklahoma. Republican Henry Bellmon defeated Democrat W. P. Bill Atkinson and Independent L. Richard Zavitz to become the first Republican governor of Oklahoma. Former governor Raymond D. Gary, lieutenant governor George Nigh, state senator Fred R. Harris, and State Treasurer William A. Burkhart unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination.
Primary election
Democratic party
W. P. "Bill" Atkinson narrowly defeated former governor Raymond Gary in a runoff after both advanced from a crowded primary field.
Candidates
- W. P. "Bill" Atkinson, newspaper publisher
- William A. Burkhart, Oklahoma State Treasurer
- Thomas Dee Frasier
- Raymond Gary, former governor of Oklahoma (1955-1959)
- Fred R. Harris, member of Oklahoma Senate
- Max B. Martin
- George Miskovsky, former member of Oklahoma Senate
- Preston J. Moore
- Harry R. Moss
- Ben Elmo Newcomer
- George Nigh, Lieutenant governor of Oklahoma
- Paul J. Summers
Republican party
Candidates
- Henry Bellmon, former member of Oklahoma House of Representatives
- Leslie C. Skoien
General election
Results by county
Bellmon was the first Republican to win Marshall County, McClain County, and Roger Mills County in a gubernatorial election. McClain County would not vote Republican again until 1994 nor would Marshall County until 1998. Additionally, Cimarron County and Pottawatomie County voted Republican for the first time since 1922 and 1914, respectively. Craig County also voted Republican for the first time since 1914 and would not do so again until 2010.
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Adair
- Alfalfa
- Beaver
- Beckham
- Blaine
- Caddo
- Canadian
- Cimarron
- Cleveland
- Craig
- Creek
- Custer
- Dewey
- Ellis
- Garfield
- Grant
- Harper
- Kay
- Kingfisher
- Lincoln
- Logan
- Major
- Marshall
- Mayes
- McClain
- Noble
- Nowata
- Oklahoma
- Osage
- Pawnee
- Payne
- Pottawatomie
- Roger Mills
- Rogers
- Texas
- Tulsa
- Wagoner
- Washington
- Washita
- Woods
- Woodward