Francis Sargent Republican Michael Dukakis Democratic The 1974 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974.

He defeated incumbent Governor of Massachusetts Francis W. Sargent in the general election.

As of 2025, this is the most recent year in which the incumbent governor of Massachusetts lost the general election.

In 2002, acting Governor Jane Swift ran for election but withdrew after polls showed her trailing Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination.)

Incumbent lieutenant governor Donald R. Dwight was unopposed in the Republican Primary.