Incumbent Democratic Governor Joseph Brennan defeated Republican challenger Charles R. Cragin.

Brennan defeated Cragin, winning his re-election by the highest percent margin in more than thirty years.

Brennan would be challenged in the Democratic primary by Lewiston state representative Georgette Berube, but would easily dispatch her.

Brennan's coattails allowed Democrats to win the first trifecta in the state since 1913.

This was the first time a gubernatorial candidate won a majority of the vote since 1970, this would not occur again until 1998.