1968 Utah gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1968 United States gubernatorial elections.

1968 Utah gubernatorial election
November 5, 1968
 
Nominee Cal Rampton Carl W. Buehner
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 289,283 131,729
Percentage 68.71% 31.29%
County results
Rampton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Buehner:      50–60%
Governor before election

Cal Rampton
Democratic

Elected Governor

Cal Rampton
Democratic

The 1968 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1968. Democratic incumbent Cal Rampton defeated Republican nominee Carl W. Buehner with 68.71% of the vote. Rampton's victory was despite Republican candidate Richard Nixon winning the state with over 56% of the vote in the concurrent presidential election.[1]

Rampton's share of the vote was the highest by any gubernatorial candidate in Utah to that point; Rampton would subsequently break his own record in the following election.

Primary election

Primary elections were held on September 10, 1968.

Democratic primary

Incumbent governor Cal Rampton was renominated without opposition.[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Carl W. Buehner 93,635 70.12%
Republican LaMar A. Rawlings 39,907 29.88%
Total votes 133,542 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Cal Rampton, Democratic
  • Carl W. Buehner, Republican

Results

1968 Utah gubernatorial election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Cal Rampton (incumbent) 289,283 68.71% +11.72%
Republican Carl W. Buehner 131,729 31.29% −11.72%
Total votes 421,012 100.00%
Majority 157,554 37.42%
Democratic hold Swing +23.45%

Results by county

County[3] Cal Rampton
Demcoratic 		Carl W. Buehner
Republican 		Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # %
Beaver 1,180 60.98% 755 39.02% 425 21.96% 1,935
Box Elder 7,095 60.88% 4,559 39.12% 2,536 21.76% 11,654
Cache 9,291 53.71% 8,008 46.29% 1,283 7.42% 17,299
Carbon 5,866 82.55% 1,240 17.45% 4,626 65.10% 7,106
Daggett 197 69.61% 86 30.39% 111 39.22% 283
Davis 23,193 67.94% 10,943 32.06% 12,250 35.89% 34,136
Duchesne 1,632 58.12% 1,176 41.88% 456 16.24% 2,808
Emery 1,576 65.86% 817 34.14% 759 31.72% 2,393
Garfield 751 50.50% 736 49.50% 15 1.01% 1,487
Grand 1,646 69.89% 709 30.11% 937 39.79% 2,355
Iron 2,720 54.32% 2,287 45.68% 433 8.65% 5,007
Juab 1,360 60.99% 870 39.01% 490 21.97% 2,230
Kane 515 45.82% 609 54.18% -94 -8.36% 1,124
Millard 2,034 58.01% 1,472 41.99% 562 16.03% 3,506
Morgan 1,133 66.96% 559 33.04% 574 33.92% 1,692
Piute 363 57.62% 267 42.38% 96 15.24% 630
Rich 422 56.42% 326 43.58% 96 12.83% 748
Salt Lake 136,440 72.71% 51,209 27.29% 85,231 45.42% 187,649
San Juan 1,304 58.79% 914 41.21% 390 17.58% 2,218
Sanpete 2,979 56.11% 2,330 43.89% 649 12.22% 5,309
Sevier 2,632 55.72% 2,092 44.28% 540 11.43% 4,724
Summit 1,717 60.29% 1,131 39.71% 586 20.58% 2,848
Tooele 6,218 75.52% 2,016 24.48% 4,202 51.03% 8,234
Uintah 2,503 54.69% 2,074 45.31% 429 9.37% 4,577
Utah 31,906 64.55% 17,522 35.45% 14,384 29.10% 49,428
Wasatch 1,609 61.18% 1,021 38.82% 588 22.36% 2,630
Washington 2,697 54.17% 2,282 45.83% 415 8.34% 4,979
Wayne 524 64.37% 290 35.63% 234 28.75% 814
Weber 37,780 73.78% 13,429 26.22% 24,351 47.55% 51,209
Total 289,283 68.71% 131,729 31.29% 157,554 37.42% 421,012

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

References

  1. ^ "1968 Presidential General Election Results – Utah". Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1970). America Votes 8: A Handbook of Contemporary American Election Statistics. Washington D.C.: Congressional Quarterly. p. 384. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Abstract of the Returns of an Election held in the State of Utah, Tuesday, November 5, 1968" (PDF). Retrieved December 31, 2025.
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