On June 6, 1968, U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. On September 10, Governor Rockefeller appointed Congressman Charles E. Goodell to serve for the remainder of Kennedy's term.
The Liberal State Committee met on April 4, and designated Party Chairman Rev. Donald S. Harrington for Governor; and Deputy Mayor of New York Timothy W. Costello for the U.S. Senate. They also endorsed the Democratic designees Paterson and Levitt, and the Republican designee Lefkowitz. Harrington and Costello withdrew on May 7, and on May 11 the State Committee endorsed Democrat Arthur J. Goldberg for Governor; and the incumbent Republican U.S. senator Charles E. Goodell. The Republican State Committee met on April 7 at Rochester, New York, and designated the incumbents Rockefeller, Wilson, Lefkowitz and Goodell ; and completed the ticket with Edward Regan for Comptroller. The Conservative State Committee met on April 7, and designated again Prof. Paul L. Adams for Governor, and James L. Buckley for the U.S. Senate. Adams had polled more than half a million votes in 1966, and Buckley more than a million in 1968. They also designated Edward F. Leonard for Lieutenant Governor; Anthony R. Spinelli for Comptroller; and Leo Kesselring, lawyer, of Rochester, for Attorney General. The Republican, Liberal and Conservative tickets designated by the state committees were not challenged in the primaries.
Minor parties
Eight parties filed petitions to nominate candidates. The Socialist Workers Party nominated Clifton DeBerry for Governor; Jonathan Rothschild, a "30 years old Manhattan taxi driver," for Lieutenant Governor; Ms. Ruthann Miller, for Comptroller; Miguel Padilla, Jr., 30, for Attorney General; and Ms. Kipp Dawson for the U.S. Senate. The Communist Party nominated Clifton DeBerry for Governor; Mrs. Grace Mora Newman, of The Bronx, for Lieutenant Governor; and Arnold Johnson for the U.S. Senate. The "Civil Service Independents Party" nominated Gov. Rockefeller and Lt. Gov. Wilson for re-election. The "Independent Alliance Party" nominated James L. Buckley for the U.S. Senate. The "Courage Party," the New York state branch of the American Party, was ruled off the ballot on September 11 by Secretary of State John P. Lomenzo. The "Conservation Party" nominated Richard L Ottinger for the U.S. Senate, but was ruled off the ballot by the Appellate Division on October 1, reversing an earlier New York Supreme Court decision. At the same time, the "Independent Alliance" which nominated James L. Buckley, was upheld. The appellate decision was upheld by the New York Court of Appeals on October 7.
Result
At the height of the chaotic political situation during the Vietnam War, a Republican Governor and Lieutenant Governor, a Democratic/Liberal Comptroller, a Republican/Liberal Attorney General and a Conservative U.S. Senator were elected. The incumbents Rockefeller, Wilson, Levitt and Lefkowitz were re-elected. The incumbent Goodell was defeated. Obs.:
The number is total of votes on Democratic and Liberal tickets for Goldberg/Paterson.
The vote for Governor is used to define ballot access, for automatic access are necessary 50,000 votes.
The number for Rockefeller/Wilson includes 46,212 votes polled on the Civil Service Independent ticket.
Buckley polled 2,179,640 votes on the Conservative ticket and 108,550 on the Independent Alliance ticket.
