1974 California lieutenant gubernatorial election

1974 California lieutenant gubernatorial election

November 5, 1974

Nominee Mervyn Dymally John L. Harmer Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,986,537 2,812,636 Percentage 49.19% 46.32%

County results Dymally:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Harmer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Lieutenant Governor before election John L. Harmer Republican Elected Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally Democratic

The 1974 California lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974. Democratic nominee Mervyn Dymally narrowly defeated Republican incumbent John L. Harmer with 49.19% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 4, 1974.^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Mervyn Dymally, State Senator
• Lawrence E. Walsh, State Senator
• Howard Miller
• Elizabeth Smith Weingand
• Robert Battin
• Fidel González Jr.
• A. John Merlo
• Cy King

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mervyn Dymally	777,522	29.94
	Democratic	Lawrence E. Walsh	632,216	24.34
	Democratic	Howard Miller	443,730	17.08
	Democratic	Elizabeth Smith Weingand	278,467	10.72
	Democratic	Robert Battin	160,542	6.18
	Democratic	Fidel González Jr.	137,381	5.29
	Democratic	A. John Merlo	113,606	4.37
	Democratic	Cy King	53,870	2.07
Total votes			2,597,334	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• John L. Harmer, State Senator
• John Veneman, State Assemblyman

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John L. Harmer (incumbent)	956,907	56.75
	Republican	John Veneman	729,385	43.25
Total votes			1,686,292	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Mervyn Dymally, Democratic
• John L. Harmer, Republican

Other candidates

• Marilyn Seals, Peace and Freedom
• Alberta M. Procell, American Independent

Results

1974 California lieutenant gubernatorial election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mervyn Dymally	2,986,537	49.19%	+6.88%
	Republican	John L. Harmer (incumbent)	2,812,636	46.32%	−8.47%
	Peace and Freedom	Marilyn Seals	154,332	2.54%	+0.93%
	American Independent	Alberta M. Procell	117,231	1.93%	+0.64%
Majority			173,901
Turnout
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. "Statement of Vote". Secretary of State of California. 1974. Retrieved May 4, 2021.