Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held on September 10, 1964.
This was the final election before theterm of office for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of the commonwealth, treasurer, and auditor was extended from two to four years.
RepublicanJohn A. Volpe was elected over DemocratFrancis X. Bellotti, Socialist Labor candidate Francis A. Votano, and Prohibition candidate Guy S. Williams. Incumbent governorEndicott Peabody lost in the Democratic primary to Bellotti, his lieutenant governor.
On the first ballot,Governor's CouncillorJohn W. Costello led with 428 votes to Worcester attorney and Industrial Accident Board memberJoseph E. McGuire's 404, state senatorMario Umana's 250, and state representative Joseph G. Bradley's 112. The other seven candidates received less than the 100 votes required to remain on the ballot and Bradley chose to drop out, which left Costello, McGuire, and Umana as the only remaining candidates. Costello led again on the second ballot, with 641 votes to McGuire's 600 and Umana's 343, but did not receive enough votes to win the nomination. The same happened on the third (687 votes for Costello to McGuire's 656 and Umana's 172). On the fourth ballot, Umana fell to 99 votes, which eliminated him from the contest. On the fifth and final ballot Costello won the party's endorsement by defeating McGuire 724 votes to 691.[1]
IncumbentAuditorThomas J. Buckley died on September 9, 1964, the night before the Democratic primary. Because nosticker campaign received enough votes to win the nomination, the Democratic State Committee choseThaddeus M. Buczko to succeed Buckley for the Democratic nomination.
In the general election, Buczko defeated Republican Elwynn Miller.