The Governors

Their ranks gravely broken at the national level, Republicans fared better at the state line, but not enough for any consolation prizes. In the 32 states that elected Governors, Republicans picked up four seats, lost seven for sure, with two more still in doubt. Key results:

Arizona: Riding in Senator Barry Goldwater's wake. Republicans turned a predicted loss into an unexpected gain, elected Republican Paul Fannin, 51, over State Attorney General Robert Morrison, whose youthful jail term (for bad checks) got plenty of campaign publicity.

Colorado: By a 2-to-1 majority, Democratic Incumbent Stephen L. R. McNichols won reelection, dragged all but one of the state party slate along with him.

Connecticut: In a record-busting burst of bipartisanship, voters handed Incumbent Abraham Ribicoff, 48, the biggest plurality for a Democrat in state history --and his second term.

Iowa: Democratic Incumbent Herschel Loveless' corn-belt syntax and his rumpled common-man appeal, plus rural discontent with Ezra Taft Benson, all combined to give Loveless the nod over Republican William G. Murray, whose polished professorial phrases were largely wasted on Iowa ears.

Kansas: For the first time since it became a state, Kansas handed a second term to a Democratic Governor. The winner, Banker George Docking, shrewdly spent his first two years building a smooth-running donkey engine in this G.O.P. stronghold, won friends in thrifty Kansas by vetoing a state sales tax increase, relied on bounteous crops and rural content, neatly knocked down promising Republican Contender Clyde Reed Jr.

Maryland: In a no-personality contest between longtime (17 years) State Comptroller J. Millard Tawes and Republican Congressman James P. S. Devereux, ex-Marine war hero, Democratic Workhorse Tawes coasted all the way in to recapture the Governor's chair for Democrats.

Massachusetts: Running on his generally undistinguished two years in office, Democrat Foster Furcolo piled up an early 2-to-1 victory margin.

Michigan: Democrat "Soapy" Williams, who has the habit, was tidily re-elected to his sixth term.

Minnesota: Relaxed behind a tradition of Democrat-Farm-Labor Party strength, Incumbent Democrat Orville L. Freeman, 40, seized an early and commanding lead over Republican George MacKinnon, held it.

Nevada: Swept under in the Democratic wave: Republican Governor Charles H. Russell, beaten by Democrat Grant Sawyer.

New Hampshire: Normally Republican, the state stayed that way, elected Republican Wesley Powell to fill the shoes of retiring Governor Lane Dwinell.

New Mexico: An outside hope to hang on to his seat, three-time Republican Governor Edwin L. Mechem, 46, fell before Democrat John Burroughs, 51, a peanut processor from Portales.

Ohio: If Republican Incumbent C. (for nothing) William O'Neill, 42, ever had a chance for reelection, he muffed it when he came out in favor of Ohio's right-to-work referendum. For patient, politically magic Mike Di Salle, 50, onetime chief of Harry Truman's Office of Price Stabilization, who challenged O'Neill unsuccessfully two years ago, that cinched it. Counting on a heavy labor vote in highly industrial Ohio, as well as widespread dissatisfaction with Governor O'Neill, Di Salle was not disappointed. His winning margin: 3 to 2. Right-to-work's losing margin: 3 to 2.

Oklahoma: Democratic Nominee J. Howard Edmondson won with no contest, became the youngest (33) Governor in state history.

Oregon: In campaign's last minute, U.S. Senator Wayne Morse stuck his new (since 1955) Democratic nose in the governorship race to gig Republican Mark Hatfield by dredging up an ancient traffic charge and making Hatfield the villain. Until then, the Democratic candidate, Robert D. Holmes, was the predicted winner of a close election. In what was rated as a vote of outrage against Busybody Morse, Republican Hatfield took the statehouse.

Pennsylvania: Despite an unexpectedly sturdy showing by Republican Arthur T. McGonigle, 52, Reading pretzel manufacturer, the Democrats manufactured a winning edge for four-time Pittsburgh Mayor David Leo Lawrence, 69.

Rhode Island: Ravaged by internecine disputes. Rhode Island's once-muscular Democratic machine wavered in the primary, provided a real flank opening for popular Republican Christopher Del Sesto, 51. whose knife-edged victory over Democrat Dennis J. Roberts, 55. two years ago was reversed on a technicality. This time Republican Del Sesto turned the trick against Roberts, won by better than a knife's edge.

South Dakota: Incomplete returns gave a sizable lead to Democratic Ralph Herseth over Republican Phil Saunders.

Texas: On a solid tide of restored party fealty, Democrat Price Daniel was an easy winner.

Vermont: Predicted easy-winner Republican Robert T. Stafford bucked such a strong Democratic trend that his opponent, Bernard J. Leddy, may contest Stafford's winning margin (an unofficial 1,200 votes).

Wisconsin: The indefatigably confident campaign of Democratic State Senator Gaylord A. Nelson, 42, caught fire in a state whose Republicans have despaired since losing Joe McCarthy's U.S. Senate seat last year to Democrat Bill Proxmire. Probably helped by Proxmire's thumping re-election victory, Nelson unseated once-popular Republican Incumbent Vernon W. Thompson.

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