The 1970 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democrat Marvin Mandel defeated Republican nominee Charles Stanley Blair with 65.73% of the vote. This election was the first of eight consecutive Democratic gubernatorial victories in Maryland, a streak not broken until the election of Republican Bob Ehrlich in 2002.
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 County results Mandel: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Blair: 40–50% | |||||||||||||||||
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Primary elections
Primary elections were held on September 15, 1970.[1]
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Marvin Mandel, incumbent Governor
- William Edward Roberts Sr.
- Dan W. Salamone
- George Herman Wright
- Milton Rothstein
Declined
- Sargent Shriver, former U.S. Ambassador to France and Director of the Peace Corps[2]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Marvin Mandel (incumbent) | 414,160 | 89.05 | |
| Democratic | William Edward Roberts Sr. | 21,462 | 4.62 | |
| Democratic | Dan W. Salamone | 11,670 | 2.51 | |
| Democratic | George Herman Wright | 11,361 | 2.44 | |
| Democratic | Milton Rothstein | 6,417 | 1.38 | |
| Total votes | 465,070 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Charles Stanley Blair, former Secretary of State of Maryland
- Peter James
- John C. Webb Jr.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Charles Stanley Blair | 101,541 | 81.54 | |
| Republican | Peter James | 15,790 | 12.68 | |
| Republican | John C. Webb Jr. | 7,194 | 5.78 | |
| Total votes | 124,525 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Candidates
Major party candidates
- Marvin Mandel, Democratic
- Charles Stanley Blair, Republican
Other candidates
- Robert Woods Merkle Sr., American
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Marvin Mandel (incumbent) | 639,579 | 65.73% | ||
| Republican | Charles Stanley Blair | 314,336 | 32.30% | ||
| American | Robert Woods Merkle Sr. | 19,184 | 1.97% | ||
| Majority | 325,243 | ||||
| Turnout | 973,099 | ||||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||