Ever since 1954, Democrats have been tenants in a solid majority of the nation's statehouses. Last week, with 27 U.S. governorships—14 held by Democrats—at stake, the Democratic trend continued. With some races still in doubt. Democratic challengers replaced Republicans in six states, lost only three of their own Statehouses (Massachusetts, Iowa, Kansas) to the G.O.P.
Bitterest of the Republican defeats was Michigan, where articulate Michigan State Professor Paul Bagwell (TIME cover, Oct. 24) made his second try at ending twelve years of labor-dominated Democratic rule. Across his state. Bagwell did better than Dick Nixon—but not well enough to overcome the Wayne County (Detroit) lead of U.A.W.-backed Lieutenant Governor John Swainson, a personable and legless war veteran, who ardently defended the record of outgoing Governor G. Mennen Williams.
Among the other winners:
¶ Cook County Judge Otto Kerner, handpicked to run for Governor by Mayor Richard Daley's Democratic machine, won a smashing Illinois-wide victory. Many normally Republican newspapers endorsed him instead of plodding, scandal-splattered G.O.P. Incumbent William Stratton, trying for a third term against his own party's wishes.
¶ In his campaign, persistent, oratorical Democrat William Guy, 41, an agricultural economist and sugar-beet grower, argued that after 16 years of Republican Governors, North Dakota was due for a change. The voters agreed. Crew-cut Billy Guy, who wants a state income tax to finance needed school expansion, was an easy winner over Lieutenant Governor Clarence P. Dahl, 68, a spry, folksy campaigner with an undistinguished record.
¶ The Kennedy sweep in Rhode Island pulled along in its wake lackluster Democrat John Anthony Notte Jr., 51, lieutenant governor in the regime of his predecessor and campaign opponent. Republican Governor Christopher Del Sesto. Said Del Sesto: "You can't fight a tidal wave."
¶ West Virginia Republicans tried hard to prove that homespun Democratic Attorney General Wallace Barron had bribed a rival to withdraw from this year's primary. They also ripped into Barren's record as liquor commissioner in the scandal-strewn regime (1953-57) of Democratic Governor William Marland. It was wasted effort; in a Democratic landslide. Barron easily whipped game G.O.P. Challenger Harold Neely, who had been in politics less than three years.
¶ Getting plenty of campaign help from the idol of Arizona conservatives, Senator Barry Goldwater, the state's cautious Republican Governor Paul Fannin overwhelmed energetic Phoenix Real Estate Millionaire Lee Ackerman to win his second term.
¶ Mild-mannered Republican Attorney General John Anderson Jr. campaigned through all but two of Kansas' 105 counties this year to blast away at the tight budgets and free-and-easy prison paroles of ailing (bronchial condition) Democratic Governor George Docking, trying for his third term. Anderson's round-the-clock plugging paid off: he ran behind Richard Nixon, but well enough to toss Docking, a conservative banker from Lawrence, out of office.