# 1950 Massachusetts elections

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Boston
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Massachusetts portal :
vte :
The 1950 Massachusetts general election was held on November 7, 1950, throughout Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 19.
At the federal level, Republicans maintained their majority in the state by holding eight of fourteen seats in the United States House of Representatives. Incumbents were re-elected in each House seat.
In the race for Governor, Democratic incumbent Paul Dever was re-elected over former Lieutenant Governor Arthur W. Coolidge.
Democratic incumbents swept the six elections for statewide offices.

## Governor

Democratic incumbent Paul A. Dever was reelected over Republican Arthur W. Coolidge, Socialist Labor candidate Horace Hillis, and Prohibition candidate Mark R. Shaw.

## Lieutenant governor

Democratic incumbent Charles F. Sullivan was reelected over Republican Laurence Curtis and Socialist Labor candidate Lawrence Gilfedder.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* William N. Bergan, Hull selectman
* G. Edward Bradley, Mayor of Somerville
* John Francis Cahill, former Democratic State Committee Chair
* J. Frank Murphy
* Charles F. Sullivan, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

#### Results

1950 Democratic Lt. gubernatorial primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles F. Sullivan (incumbent) | 196,638 | 52.68% |
| | Democratic | G. Edward Bradley | 55,176 | 14.78% |
| | Democratic | J. Frank Murphy | 49,095 | 13.15% |
| | Democratic | John Francis Cahill | 47,635 | 12.76% |
| | Democratic | William N. Bergan | 24,718 | 6.62% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 373,262 | 100.00% |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Laurence Curtis, former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
* Warren G. Harris, former Governor's Councilor
* Daniel E. McLean, former Mayor of Beverly
* Harris S. Richardson, State Senator
* Robert W. Welch, Jr., businessman and founder of the John Birch Society

#### Results

1950 Republican Lt. gubernatorial primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Laurence Curtis | 162,506 | 46.73% |
| | Republican | Robert W. Welch, Jr. | 59,073 | 16.99% |
| | Republican | Harris S. Richardson | 52,994 | 15.24% |
| | Republican | Daniel E. McLean | 40,492 | 11.64% |
| | Republican | Warren G. Harris | 32,677 | 9.40% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 347,742 | 100.00% |

### General election

Massachusetts Lt. gubernatorial election, 1950 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles F. Sullivan (incumbent) | 982,014 | 52.64% |
| | Republican | Laurence Curtis | 870,542 | 46.66% |
| | Socialist Labor | Lawrence Gilfedder | 13,009 | 0.70% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,865,565 | 100.00% |

## Attorney general

Incumbent Francis E. Kelly attorney general defeated Benjamin F. Chesky, Eli Y. Krovitsky, Isadore H. Y. Muchnick in the Democratic primary and Republican Frederick Ayer Jr., Socialist Workers candidate Anthony Martin, and Prohibition candidate Howard B. Rand in the general election.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Benjamin F. Chesky
* Francis E. Kelly, incumbent Attorney General
* Eli Y. Krovitsky
* Isadore H. Y. Muchnick, member of the Boston School Committee

#### Results

1950 Massachusetts Attorney General Democratic Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Francis E. Kelly (incumbent) | 292,450 | 76.74% |
| | Democratic | Isadore H. Y. Muchnick | 60,708 | 15.94% |
| | Democratic | Benjamin F. Chesky | 15,416 | 4.04% |
| | Democratic | Eli Y. Krovitsky | 12,471 | 3.27% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 381,045 | 100.00% |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Frederick Ayer Jr., Republican Party fundraiser and nephew of George S. Patton
* Edward Butterworth, former State Representative
* George Fingold, member of the Malden City Council
* Edwin W. Hadley, professor at Northeastern University School of Law
* Frank F. Walters

#### Results

1950 Massachusetts Attorney General Republican Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frederick Ayer Jr. | 117,256 | 34.94% |
| | Republican | George Fingold | 101,037 | 30.11% |
| | Republican | Edward Butterworth | 60,738 | 18.10% |
| | Republican | Edwin W. Hadley | 36,534 | 10.88% |
| | Republican | Frank F. Walters | 19,971 | 5.95% |
| | Write-in | All others | 2 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 335,538 | 100.00% |

### General election

1950 Massachusetts Attorney General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Francis E. Kelly (incumbent) | 957,262 | 51.87% |
| | Republican | Frederick Ayer Jr. | 868,871 | 47.08% |
| | Socialist Labor | Anthony Martin | 13,237 | 0.71% |
| | Prohibition | Howard B. Rand | 5,888 | 0.31% |
| | Write-in | All others | 8 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,845,266 | 100.00% |

## Secretary of the Commonwealth
### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Anthony L. Bruno
* Stephen J. Carr
* Edward J. Cronin, incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth
* Martin Graham
* Paul V. Shaughnessy, member of the Waltham School Committee
* Alfred L. Smith
* Alfred R. Vitale
* John F. Welch

#### Results

1950 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Democratic Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edward J. Cronin (incumbent) | 190,380 | 52.97% |
| | Democratic | Stephen J. Carr | 38,418 | 10.69% |
| | Democratic | Paul V. Shaughnessy | 36,085 | 10.04% |
| | Democratic | Anthony L. Bruno | 31,277 | 8.70% |
| | Democratic | John F. Welch | 22,063 | 6.13% |
| | Democratic | Alfred R. Vitale | 18,796 | 5.23% |
| | Democratic | Alfred L. Smith | 12,369 | 3.43% |
| | Democratic | Martin Graham | 10,053 | 2.79% |
| | Write-in | All others | 1 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 359,442 | 100.00% |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* John Adams
* William B. Bailey, former State Representative
* Henry Clay
* Douglas Lawson
* Ranny Weeks, bandleader
* Russell A. Wood, former Massachusetts Auditor and State Representative
* Ada F. York

#### Results

1950 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Republican Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Russell A. Wood | 84,052 | 25.77% |
| | Republican | Randall W. "Ranny" Weeks | 61,931 | 18.99% |
| | Republican | John Adams | 55,637 | 17.06% |
| | Republican | William B. Bailey | 49,589 | 15.20% |
| | Republican | Douglas Lawson | 35,696 | 10.94% |
| | Republican | Henry Clay | 23,931 | 7.33% |
| | Republican | Ada F. York | 15,238 | 4.67% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 326,074 | 100.00% |

### General election

1950 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edward J. Cronin (incumbent) | 1,004,632 | 54.89% |
| | Republican | Russell A. Wood | 801,162 | 43.78% |
| | Socialist Labor | Fred M. Ingersoll | 13,398 | 0.73% |
| | Prohibition | Ellsworth J. M. Dickson | 10,743 | 0.58% |
| | Write-in | All others | 2 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,829,937 | 100.00% |

## Treasurer and Receiver-General
### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Fred J. Burrell, former Treasurer and Receiver-General
* Roy C. Papalia, Watertown selectman

#### Results

1950 Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Republican Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Fred J. Burrell | 194,784 | 59.00% |
| | Republican | Roy C. Papalia | 135,321 | 40.99% |
| | Write-in | All others | 1 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 330,106 | 100.00% |

### General election

1950 Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | John E. Hurley (incumbent) | 1,101,367 | 60.27% |
| Republican | Fred J. Burrell | 702,604 | 38.45% |
| Socialist Labor | Henning A. Blomen | 11,968 | 0.65% |
| Prohibition | Harold J. Ireland | 11,289 | 0.61% |
| Write-in | All others | 17 | 0.00% |

## Auditor
### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* William G. Andrew, former interim district attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts
* Warren A. Rood

#### Results

1950 Massachusetts State Auditor Republican Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | William G. Andrew | 238,762 | 86.02% |
| | Republican | Warren A. Rood | 38,797 | 13.97% |
| | Write-in | All others | 1 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 277,560 | 100.00% |

### General election

1950 Massachusetts Auditor General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Thomas J. Buckley (incumbent) | 1,082,350 | 59.21% |
| | Republican | William G. Andrew | 724,058 | 39.61% |
| | Socialist Labor | Francis A. Votano | 13,498 | 0.73% |
| | Prohibition | Robert A. Simmons | 7,844 | 0.42% |
| | Write-in | | 2 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,827,752 | 100.00% |