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1956 Colorado gubernatorial election

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1956 Colorado gubernatorial election

← 1954 November 6, 1956 1958 →
 
Nominee Stephen McNichols Donald Brotzman
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 331,283 313,950
Percentage 51.34% 48.66%

County results
McNichols:      50–60%      60–70%
Brotz:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Edwin C. Johnson
Democratic

Elected Governor

Stephen McNichols
Democratic

The 1956 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1956. Democratic nominee Stephen McNichols defeated Republican nominee Donald G. Brotzman with 51.34% of the vote.

Primary elections

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Primary elections were held on September 11, 1956.[1]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Stephen McNichols 104,196 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donald G. Brotzman 79,638 100.00

General election

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Candidates

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  • Stephen McNichols, Democratic
  • Donald G. Brotzman, Republican

Results

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1956 Colorado gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stephen McNichols 331,283 51.34% −2.22%
Republican Donald G. Brotzman 313,950 48.66% +2.22%
Majority 17,333 2.68%
Turnout 645,233
Democratic hold Swing

Analysis

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McNichols narrowly won the election by being able to capture majority of the vote in Colorado's then two largest cities and counties: Denver and Pueblo. He also won Adams, Denver and Pueblo counties along with several rural farming counties and the coal counties of southern Colorado.[2] Meanwhile, Brotzman performed best in large farming areas as well as in several cities like Fort Collins, Boulder, and Golden. Factors like Democrats being better organized along with McNichols being a popular lieutenant governor to also popular governor Edwin Johnson helped propel him to victory.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast 1956" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. 1956. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Martin, Curtis (1957). "The 1956 Election in Colorado". The Western Political Quarterly. 10 (1): 117–121. doi:10.2307/444247. JSTOR 444247.