Maryland special gubernatorial election, 1970

The Maryland special gubernatorial election, 1970 was not a direct election, but a vote in the Maryland General Assembly to determine a person, who would assume the governorship of Maryland after Spiro Agnew's resignation to became 39th Vice President of the United States.

At this time Maryland didn't have a position of Lieutenant Governor and state's law does not determine a person who would assume office of Governor in case of vacancy (like the others states, when there is always a designated person such as Lt. Governor, Senate President or Secretary of State).

In case of vacancy General Assembly votes on nomination of the new Governor.

In 1970 Assembly has a Democratic majority, so it was clear that Republican Agnew successor would be a Democrat.

The election was held on January 7, 1970.

Candidates:
* State Senator William S. James (D)
* State Representative Francis X. Gallagher (D)
* State Representative Marvin Mandel (D)
* U.S. Representative Rogers Morton (R)

Vote:
* Mandel (D) - 126 (70.00%)
* Morton (R) - 26 (14.44%)
* Gallagher (D) - 15 (8.33%)
* James (D) - 13 (7.22%)

So although there were three democratic candidates and only one republican, Mandel was elected easily. He was elected in regular direct election in later the same year (and this time Maryland established office of Lieutenant Governor), and re-elected in 1974.

References

* [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=7019 Article on special election]