States: First Hurrahs
Entering election year '76, there were 36 Democratic Governors to only 13 Republicans and one independent, Maine's James Longley. In the 14 contests decided Tuesday, the Democrats triumphed in nine and the Republicans in fiveĀa pickup of one statehouse for the Democrats. A prostatehood candidate won office in Puerto Rico. A generally youthful group of G.O.P. hopefuls scored impressive wins in Delaware, Illinois and Vermont. The Republicans also re-elected their popular chief executive in Indiana, and returned to office for the third straight two-year stint Archconservative Meldrim Thomson of New...