Paul A. Dever Democratic Christian Herter Republican The 1952 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1952.

[1][2] The Republican primary was largely over before it began; the establishment cleared the field in favor of U.S. Representative Christian Herter.

In February, Laurence Curtis announced his candidacy, calling for a "wholesale cleanup of conditions at the State House that have destroyed the hope of a square deal for Massachusetts citizens."

Another potential candidate, Sumner Whittier, also immediately endorsed Herter and announced his campaign for Lieutenant Governor instead.

[4] He framed his candidacy as merely a "protest against the scandalous and unconscionable measures employed by the hierarchy of my party in undertaking to foist upon us a candidate they must know cannot possibly be elected in November.