From time to time we will post the results of past city and state election. These will be added to our “Elections and Results” page for ease of retrieval. Today, the 1970 State Election.

1970 STATE ELECTION

U.S. Senate – Edward M. Kennedy. In the general election, Democratic incumbent Edward M. Kennedy (1,202,856 with 25,624 in Lowell) defeated Republican Josiah A. Spaulding (715,978 with 7,699 in Lowell). Kennedy was unopposed in the Democratic Primary. In the Republican Primary, Spaulding (109,306) defeated John J. McCarthy (81,356).

U.S. House of Representatives – F. Bradford Morse. In the general election, Republican incumbent F. Bradford Morse (116,666) defeated Democrat Richard Williams (67,646). Neither was opposed in their respective primaries.

Governor – Francis W. Sargent Jr. In the general election, Republican incumbent Francis W. Sargent Jr. (1,058,623 with 12,774 in Lowell) defeated Democrat Kevin H. White (799,269 with 17,470 in Lowell). Sargent was unopposed in the Republican Primary. In the Democratic Primary, White defeated three other candidates:

1. Kevin H. White – 231,605
2. Maurice A. Donahue – 218,665
3. Francis X. Bellotti – 164,313
4. Kenneth P. O’Donnell – 59,970

[Lieutenant Governor Francis W. Sargent Jr. became Governor on January 22, 1969, when John A. Volpe resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Transportation.]

Lieutenant Governor – Donald R. Dwight. In the general election, Donald R. Dwight was elected as part of the Republican gubernatorial ticket. Dwight was unopposed in the Republican Primary. In the Democratic Primary, Michael S. Dukakis defeated four other candidates:

1. Micheal S. Dukakis – 283,849
2. James S. McCormack – 150,901
3. Rocco J. Antonelli – 79,348
4. Kathleen Ryan Dacey – 54,205
5. John J. Craven Jr. – 48,300

[The office of Lieutenant Governor was vacant from January 22, 1969, until January 1, 1971, when Donald R. Dwight took office. Under Massachusetts law, if a vacancy occurs in the office of Lieutenant Governor, the office remains vacant until a successor is elected in the next state election. In the general election, party candidates for Lieutenant Governor run on a ticket with that party’s candidate for Governor.]

Attorney General – Robert H. Quinn. In the general election, Democratic incumbent Robert H. Quinn (1,174,512) defeated Republican Donald L. Conn Jr. (697,010). Neither faced opposition in their respective primaries.

[On January 23, 1969, Attorney General Elliot Richardson resigned to become U.S. Under Secretary of State. Massachusetts law provided that a vacancy in the office of Attorney General would be filled by the General Court sitting in Joint Convention. The General Court selected Robert H. Quinn, the Speaker of the House. Quinn completed Richardson’s term and then was elected in his own right in the 1970 state election.]

Secretary of State – John X. F. Davoren. In the general election, Democratic incumbent John X. F. Davoren (1,001,528) defeated Republican Mary B. Newman (831,150). Neither had opposition in their respective primaries.

Treasurer – Robert Q. Crane. In the general election, Democratic incumbent Robert Q. Crane (1,188,633) defeated Republican Frederick D. Hannon (592,934). Neither had opposition in their respective primaries.

Auditor – Thaddeus M. Buczko. In the general election, Democratic incumbent Thaddeus M. Buczko (1,222,783) defeated Republican Frank P. Bucci (574,1178). Neither had opposition in their respective primaries.

Governor’s Council – Herbert L. Connolly. Democratic incumbent Herbert L. Connolly was unopposed in the general election and in the primary.

State Senate – 1st Middlesex – B. Joseph Tully. In the general election, Democrat B. Joseph Tully (36,577) defeated Republican George P. Macheras (15,471). Macheras was unopposed in the Republican Primary. Tully defeated four other candidates in the Democratic Primary including the incumbent, John E. Harrington:

1. B. Joseph Tully – 7,491
2. James L. O’Dea III – 6.062
3. John E. Harrington – 5,267
4. Gerard F. Brockelsby – 3,434
5. Frederick J. Doyle – 664

State Representative – 29th Middlesex – Nickolas Lambros. Democratic incumbent Nickolas Lambros was unopposed in the general election and in the primary.

State Representative – 30th Middlesex – Raymond F. Rourke and John J. Desmond. In the general election, Democrats Raymond F. Rourke (11,062) and John J. Desmond (10,989) were elected. There were no candidates in the Republican Primary. In the Democratic Primary, Rourke (5,623) and Desmond (5.015) defeated George F. Pilato (1,913).

State Representative – 31st Middlesex – Paul J. Sheehy and Cornelius F. Kiernan. Democrats Paul J. Sheehy (12,557) and Cornelius F. Kiernan (12,259) were elected. There were no Republican candidates. In the Democratic Primary, Sheehy (5,534) and Kiernan (4,799) defeated John Michael Leo Murphy (2,583).

District Attorney – John J. Droney. Democratic incumbent John J. Droney was unopposed in the primary and in the general election.

Clerk of Courts – Edward J. Sullivan. In the general election, Democratic incumbent Edward J. Sullivan was unopposed. In the Democratic Primary, Sullivan (100,138) defeated Charles L. Buckley (53,617).

Register of Deeds – Frederick J. Finnegan. Democratic incumbent Frederick J. Finnegan was unopposed in the primary and in the general election.

Sheriff – John J. Buckley III. In the general election, Republican incumbent John J. Buckley III (264,980) defeated Democrat John F. Dever Jr. (204,823). Buckley was unopposed in the Republican Primary. In the Democratic Primary, Dever defeated three other candidates:

1. John F. Dever Jr. – 63,759
2. Walter J. Sullivan – 55,645
3. Leonard M. Firsoli – 32,530
4. Arthur R. Fitzpartick – 15,852

[Howard W. Fitzpatrick, who had served as Sheriff since 1948, died in February 1970. Governor Francis W. Sargent Jr. appointed John J. Buckley III to serve as Sheriff until the next state election. Fitzpatrick had been reelected in 1968, so this 1970 election was for the balance of the six year term.]