1956 Colorado gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{for|related races|1956 United States gubernatorial elections}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1956 Colorado gubernatorial election
| country = Colorado
| flag_year = 1911
| type = Presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1954 Colorado gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1954
| next_election = 1958 Colorado gubernatorial election
| next_year = 1958
| election_date = November 6, 1956
| image1 = File:Stephen McNichols 1962.jpg
| image_size= 150x150px
| nominee1 = Stephen McNichols
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 331,283
| percentage1 = 51.34%
| image2 = File:Donald Glenn Brotz.jpg
| nominee2 = Donald Brotzman
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 313,950
| percentage2 = 48.66%
| map_image = 1956 Colorado gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = County results
McNichols: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Brotz: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Edwin C. Johnson
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = Stephen McNichols
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsCO}}
The 1956 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1956. Democratic nominee Stephen McNichols defeated Republican nominee Donald G. Brotzman with 51.34% of the vote.
Primary elections
=Democratic primary=
==Candidates==
- Stephen McNichols, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Stephen McNichols
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 104,196
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Republican primary=
==Candidates==
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Donald G. Brotzman
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 79,638
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
=Candidates=
- Stephen McNichols, Democratic
- Donald G. Brotzman, Republican
=Results=
{{Election box begin | title=1956 Colorado gubernatorial election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Stephen McNichols
| votes = 331,283
| percentage = 51.34%
| change = -2.22%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Donald G. Brotzman
| votes = 313,950
| percentage = 48.66%
| change = +2.22%
}}
{{Election box majority|
| votes = 17,333
| percentage = 2.68%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
| votes = 645,233
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Analysis
McNichols narrowly won the election by being able to capture majority of the vote in Colorado's then two largest cities and counties: Denver and Pueblo. He also won Adams, Denver and Pueblo counties along with several rural farming counties and the coal counties of southern Colorado.{{Cite journal |last=Martin |first=Curtis |date=1957 |title=The 1956 Election in Colorado |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/444247 |journal=The Western Political Quarterly |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=117–121 |doi=10.2307/444247|jstor=444247 |url-access=subscription }} Meanwhile, Brotzman performed best in large farming areas as well as in several cities like Fort Collins, Boulder, and Golden. Factors like Democrats being better organized along with McNichols being a popular lieutenant governor to also popular governor Edwin Johnson helped propel him to victory.