1930 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

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The 1930 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1930. Incumbent Republican governor Frank G. Allen was defeated by Democrat Joseph B. Ely, who won 606,902 votes (49.54%) to Allen’s 590,238 votes (48.18%).

Ely’s victory marked the start of a new era for Massachusetts Democrats, beginning eight consecutive years of Democratic governors (a streak later surpassed from 1974 to 1986).

In the Democratic primary, Ely faced a rematch with John Fitzgerald from the 1922 race. Ely won the primary with about 54.7% of the vote. Fitzgerald withdrew late in the race due to illness, though his name remained on the ballot, and James Michael Curley urged voters to cast their ballots for Fitzgerald against Ely.

Ely had previously sought the lieutenant governor nomination in 1926 but lost to Harry Dooley, who later withdrew from the race.