The 1974 Nevada gubernatorial election occurred on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Democrat Mike O'Callaghan successfully ran for re-election to a second term as Governor of Nevada, defeating Republican nominee Shirley Crumpler and Independent American nominee James Hay Houston.
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 County results O'Callaghan: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Campaign
editDemocratic primary
editThere was no Democratic primary as the Nevada Democratic Party fully committed fully behind incumbent governor Mike O'Callaghan and expected an easy re-election due to O'Callaghan being young, just 45 at the time, and running a scandal-less first term, as well as being generally charismatic and likeable.[1]
Republican primary
editFour Republicans sought their party's nod for nomination with two front runners; Bill Bickerstaff from Sparks and Shirley Crumpler a 39-year-old Las Vegas based real estate developer and tax consultant.[2] Crumpler would win and was the first woman ever nominated for Governor of Nevada and was also the first Republican woman ever nominated for Governor in the nation.[1][3][4]
Other
editThe Independent American Party of Nevada nominated James R. Houston, a wealthy 38‐year‐old silver speculator, for governor.[1]
General election
editThe central issue of the general election was the fact Crumpler was a woman, with Crumpler stating in an interview with The New York Times that convincing voters that a woman can handle the burden of holding political office just as much as a man to be "the hard part" of her campaign.[1] Crumpler centered her campaign on accusing O'Callaghan of neglecting his constituents during his election campaign, and that he only implements policy for popularity boosts for re-election.[5] O'Callaghan would defeat Crumpler by nearly 40% of the vote.[6]
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike O'Callaghan (inc.) | 114,114 | 67.38% | +19.28% | |
| Republican | Shirley Crumpler | 28,959 | 17.10% | −26.71% | |
| Independent American | James Ray Houston | 26,285 | 15.52% | +11.84% | |
| Majority | 85,155 | 50.28% | |||
| Total votes | 169,358 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic hold | Swing | +45.62% | |||
County results
edit| County | Mike O'Callaghan Democratic |
Shirley Crumpler Republican |
James Ray Houston Independent American |
Margin | Total votes cast[7] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Carson City | 5,099 | 59.50% | 1,723 | 20.11% | 1,748 | 20.40% | 3,351[a] | 39.10% | 8,570 |
| Churchill | 2,806 | 65.01% | 603 | 13.97% | 907 | 21.01% | 1,899[a] | 44.00% | 4,316 |
| Clark | 56,614 | 69.28% | 12,509 | 15.31% | 12,589 | 15.41% | 44,025[a] | 53.88% | 81,712 |
| Douglas | 2,470 | 55.37% | 1,270 | 28.47% | 721 | 16.16% | 1,200 | 26.90% | 4,461 |
| Elko | 3,696 | 71.66% | 873 | 16.93% | 589 | 11.42% | 2,823 | 54.73% | 5,158 |
| Esmeralda | 237 | 59.10% | 40 | 9.98% | 124 | 30.92% | 113[a] | 28.18% | 401 |
| Eureka | 296 | 60.16% | 126 | 25.61% | 70 | 14.23% | 170 | 34.55% | 492 |
| Humboldt | 1,515 | 65.50% | 487 | 21.05% | 311 | 13.45% | 1,028 | 44.44% | 2,313 |
| Lander | 787 | 62.36% | 201 | 15.93% | 274 | 21.71% | 513[a] | 40.65% | 1,262 |
| Lincoln | 1,010 | 80.16% | 149 | 11.83% | 101 | 8.02% | 861 | 68.33% | 1,260 |
| Lyon | 2,696 | 67.70% | 612 | 15.37% | 674 | 16.93% | 2,022[a] | 50.78% | 3,982 |
| Mineral | 1,913 | 69.82% | 314 | 11.46% | 513 | 18.72% | 1,400[a] | 51.09% | 2,740 |
| Nye | 1,478 | 66.82% | 342 | 15.46% | 392 | 17.72% | 1,086[a] | 49.10% | 2,212 |
| Pershing | 816 | 65.49% | 225 | 18.06% | 205 | 16.45% | 591 | 47.43% | 1,246 |
| Storey | 419 | 68.46% | 90 | 14.71% | 103 | 16.83% | 316[a] | 51.63% | 612 |
| Washoe | 29,440 | 65.89% | 8,815 | 19.73% | 6,425 | 14.38% | 20,625 | 46.16% | 44,680 |
| White Pine | 2,822 | 71.61% | 580 | 14.72% | 539 | 13.68% | 2,242 | 56.89% | 3,941 |
| Totals | 114,114 | 67.38% | 28,959 | 17.10% | 26,285 | 15.52% | 85,155 | 50.28% | 169,358 |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Malcolm, Andrew H. "Laxalt Hopes for Comeback in Nevada In Attempt to Succeed Bible in Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "front page Sept 4, 1974". Reno Gazette-Journal. Newspapers.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "LIEUT. GOV. REID WINS IN NEVADA". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "Woman, 39, Wins the Republican Primary for Governor in Nevada". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 42". Reno Gazette-Journal. Newspapers.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Turner, Wallace. "West: California and Colorado Pace the Democrats". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "1974 Primary and General Election Returns". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved July 10, 2024.