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1962 Quebec general election
← outgoing members elected members →
95 seats in the 27th Legislative Assembly of Quebec ; 48 seats were needed for a majority
Premier before election; Jean Lesage; Liberal	Premier after election ; Jean Lesage; Liberal

The 1962 Quebec general election was held on November 14, 1962, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage, was re-elected, defeating the Union Nationale (UN) led by Daniel Johnson, Sr.

In an unusual move, the election was called just two years after the previous 1960 general election. Lesage sought a mandate for the Nationalization of the electricity industry, with the slogan Maîtres chez nous (Masters in Our Own Home), declaring it a single issue important enough to stake his political career on it.

A few days before the election, the Union Nationale's chief organizer André Lagarde was arrested for fraud. The Liberals claimed this was proof of lingering corruption dating from the Maurice Duplessis era, but the UN cried foul and was vindicated after the election. However, the incident may well have contributed to the UN's defeat.

The Liberal Party won an increased number of seats and a higher percentage of the popular vote, and the nationalization program was carried out. Future Parti Québécois founder René Lévesque served as a cabinet minister in the Lesage government and spearheaded the nationalization of power utilities for a great expansion of Hydro-Québec.

Action provinciale, a new group founded by Hertel Larocque (a former secretary of Camillien Houde),^[1] fielded 11 candidates in the election but failed to gather a significant number of votes. Johnson opted not to have the UN join forces with it, keeping in mind the failure the Liberals had had in attempting the same manoeuvre with the Créditistes in 1956.^[1] However, Social Credit was still a force to reckon with even while not campaigning on the provincial scene,^[1] and Johnson did not hesitate to use its vocabulary in his speeches while on the campaign trail.^[2]

Riding contests, by number of candidates (1960)^[3]
Candidates	Lib	UN	Ind	I-Lib	I-UN	AP	Con	Comm	Total
2	67	67							134
3	24	24	6	7	1	8	1	1	72
4	2	2		2		2			8
5	2	2	3	1	1	1			10
Total	95	95	9	10	2	11	1	1	224

Results

Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (1962)^[3]
Political party		Party leader	MPPs				Votes
Political party		Party leader	Candidates	1960	1962	±	#	±	%	± (pp)
	Liberal	Jean Lesage	95	52	63	11	1,205,253	128,118	56.40%	5.02
	Union Nationale	Daniel Johnson, Sr.	95	42	31	11	900,817	76,490	42.15%	4.46
	Independent		9	1	1		13,581	8,606	0.64%	0.42
	Other candidates
	█ Independent-Liberal		10				11,209	3,001	0.52%	0.13
	█ Conservative		1				4,255	4,255	0.20%	New
	█ Action provinciale		11				1,445	1,445	0.07%	New
	█ Independent-Unionist		2				336	10,195	0.02%	0.48
	█ Communist		1				71	465	0.00%	0.03
Total			224	95	95		2,136,967		100%
Rejected ballots							29,509	4,012
Voter turnout							2,166,476	36,369	79.59	2.07
Registered electors							2,721,933	113,494

Seats and popular vote by party
Party	Seats	Votes	Change (pp)
█ Liberal	63 / 95	56.40%	5.02	5.02
█ Union Nationale	31 / 95	42.15%	-4.46
█ Independent	1 / 95	0.64%	-0.42
█ Other	0 / 95	0.81%	-0.14

Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1962 Quebec general election^[3]^[4]
Riding	Winning party								Turnout ^{[a 1]}	Votes
Name	1960		Party		Votes	Share	Margin #	Margin %		Lib	UN	Ind	I-Lib	AP	Other	Total
Name	1960		Party		Votes	Share	Margin #	Margin %								Total

Abitibi-Est		Lib		Lib	14,892	51.93%	1,109	3.87%	85.24%	14,892	13,783	–	–	–	–	28,675
Abitibi-Ouest		Lib		Lib	6,732	56.97%	1,648	13.95%	88.52%	6,732	5,084	–	–	–	–	11,816
Argenteuil		UN		UN	7,922	54.57%	2,610	17.98%	86.22%	5,312	7,922	–	1,284	–	–	14,518
Arthabaska		Lib		Lib	10,988	53.54%	1,453	7.08%	91.70%	10,988	9,535	–	–	–	–	20,523
Bagot		UN		UN	5,336	55.11%	989	10.21%	92.36%	4,347	5,336	–	–	–	–	9,683
Beauce		Lib		UN	12,583	51.96%	947	3.91%	87.25%	11,636	12,583	–	–	–	–	24,219
Beauharnois		UN		Lib	11,884	51.72%	791	3.44%	90.19%	11,884	11,093	–	–	–	–	22,977
Bellechasse		Lib		UN	5,176	51.35%	273	2.71%	80.81%	4,903	5,176	–	–	–	–	10,079
Berthier		UN		Lib	5,938	50.05%	110	0.93%	85.57%	5,938	5,828	–	–	98	–	11,864
Bonaventure		Lib		Lib	9,525	57.28%	2,421	14.56%	85.26%	9,525	7,104	–	–	–	–	16,629
Bourget		Lib		Lib	42,906	58.74%	17,728	24.27%	73.21%	42,906	25,178	4,807	–	153	–	73,044
Brome		Lib		Lib	3,417	55.82%	713	11.65%	81.43%	3,417	2,704	–	–	–	–	6,121
Chambly		Lib		Lib	36,290	63.83%	17,094	30.07%	76.89%	36,290	19,196	778	353	–	235	56,852
Champlain		UN		UN	12,346	52.74%	1,282	5.48%	90.97%	11,064	12,346	–	–	–	–	23,410
Charlevoix		UN		Lib	6,942	52.23%	594	4.47%	87.21%	6,942	6,348	–	–	–	–	13,290
Châteauguay		UN		Lib	8,727	54.83%	1,538	9.66%	84.04%	8,727	7,189	–	–	–	–	15,916
Chicoutimi		UN		UN	16,910	50.29%	192	0.57%	88.05%	16,718	16,910	–	–	–	–	33,628
Compton		UN		UN	5,568	54.45%	1,014	9.92%	87.30%	4,554	5,568	–	–	104	–	10,226
Deux-Montagnes		Lib		Lib	8,518	57.31%	2,174	14.63%	86.94%	8,518	6,344	–	–	–	–	14,862
Dorchester		UN		UN	7,818	53.64%	1,060	7.27%	83.78%	6,758	7,818	–	–	–	–	14,576
Drummond		Lib		Lib	14,621	57.17%	3,668	14.34%	90.97%	14,621	10,953	–	–	–	–	25,574
Duplessis		Lib		Lib	7,345	59.84%	2,416	19.68%	79.19%	7,345	4,929	–	–	–	–	12,274
Frontenac		UN		UN	6,217	52.46%	582	4.91%	87.92%	5,635	6,217	–	–	–	–	11,852
Gaspé-Nord		Lib		UN	5,183	51.75%	444	4.43%	88.07%	4,739	5,183	93	–	–	–	10,015
Gaspé-Sud		UN		Lib	7,197	50.40%	113	0.79%	89.09%	7,197	7,084	–	–	–	–	14,281
Gatineau		UN		Lib	10,289	54.57%	1,725	9.15%	77.83%	10,289	8,564	–	–	–	–	18,853
Hull		Lib		Lib	14,854	63.36%	6,266	26.73%	78.05%	14,854	8,588	–	–	–	–	23,442
Huntingdon		UN		UN	3,449	54.14%	528	8.29%	85.15%	2,921	3,449	–	–	–	–	6,370
Iberville		Lib		Lib	4,452	55.87%	936	11.75%	91.07%	4,452	3,516	–	–	–	–	7,968
Îles-de-la-Madeleine		UN		Lib	2,674	51.86%	192	3.72%	92.10%	2,674	2,482	–	–	–	–	5,156
Jacques-Cartier		Lib		Lib	69,199	77.74%	49,388	55.49%	72.46%	69,199	19,811	–	–	–	–	89,010
Joliette		UN		UN	10,236	52.96%	5,037	26.06%	85.90%	5,199	10,236	–	3,891	–	–	19,326
Jonquière-Kénogami		Lib		Lib	16,100	60.38%	5,536	20.76%	86.48%	16,100	10,564	–	–	–	–	26,664
Kamouraska		UN		Lib	5,453	50.19%	41	0.38%	82.02%	5,453	5,412	–	–	–	–	10,865
L'Assomption		Lib		Lib	9,680	55.06%	1,984	11.29%	84.49%	9,680	7,696	–	70	134	–	17,580
L'Islet		Lib		UN	5,239	53.25%	639	6.49%	83.90%	4,600	5,239	–	–	–	–	9,839
Labelle		UN		UN	6,005	57.11%	1,695	16.12%	84.51%	4,310	6,005	199	–	–	–	10,514
Lac-Saint-Jean		Lib		Lib	9,171	52.63%	915	5.25%	89.25%	9,171	8,256	–	–	–	–	17,427
Laval		Lib		Lib	67,316	66.31%	33,807	33.30%	76.57%	67,316	33,509	–	461	237	–	101,523
Laviolette		UN		UN	11,315	53.63%	1,533	7.27%	85.24%	9,782	11,315	–	–	–	–	21,097
Lévis		Lib		Lib	13,434	54.43%	2,346	9.51%	88.47%	13,434	11,088	158	–	–	–	24,680
Lotbinière		UN		UN	6,393	53.56%	849	7.11%	88.62%	5,544	6,393	–	–	–	–	11,937
Maisonneuve		UN		Lib	28,814	58.89%	8,702	17.79%	71.75%	28,814	20,112	–	–	–	–	48,926
Maskinongé		UN		UN	5,312	53.71%	734	7.42%	91.18%	4,578	5,312	–	–	–	–	9,890
Matane		Lib		Lib	8,204	50.40%	130	0.80%	83.20%	8,204	8,074	–	–	–	–	16,278
Matapédia		Lib		Lib	6,111	51.05%	252	2.11%	84.29%	6,111	5,859	–	–	–	–	11,970
Mégantic		Lib		Lib	13,182	55.05%	2,420	10.11%	88.95%	13,182	10,762	–	–	–	–	23,944
Missisquoi		UN		UN	7,630	57.38%	1,962	14.75%	84.84%	5,668	7,630	–	–	–	–	13,298
Montcalm		UN		Lib	4,662	55.41%	911	10.83%	88.54%	4,662	3,751	–	–	–	–	8,413
Montmagny		Lib		UN	5,747	50.49%	111	0.98%	86.57%	5,636	5,747	–	–	–	–	11,383
Montmorency		UN		UN	5,717	50.67%	398	3.53%	88.32%	5,319	5,717	–	–	247	–	11,283
Montréal–Jeanne-Mance		UN		Lib	40,899	59.64%	13,740	20.04%	68.18%	40,899	27,159	519	–	–	–	68,577
Montréal-Laurier		Lib		Lib	15,837	58.16%	4,563	16.76%	76.41%	15,837	11,274	–	–	117	–	27,228
Montréal-Mercier		UN		Lib	16,992	54.07%	3,322	10.57%	75.56%	16,992	13,670	–	764	–	–	31,426
Montréal–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce		Lib		Lib	37,100	78.55%	29,357	62.15%	59.89%	37,100	7,743	–	2,389	–	–	47,232
Montréal-Outremont		Lib		Lib	36,076	77.63%	26,647	57.34%	60.34%	36,076	9,429	969	–	–	–	46,474
Montréal–Saint-Henri		Lib		Lib	17,548	53.04%	2,540	7.68%	70.28%	17,548	15,008	–	531	–	–	33,087
Montréal–Saint-Jacques		UN		UN	7,854	52.10%	705	4.68%	65.65%	7,149	7,854	–	–	–	71	15,074
Montréal–Saint-Louis		Lib		Lib	14,082	58.15%	3,949	16.31%	60.95%	14,082	10,133	–	–	–	–	24,215
Montréal–Sainte-Anne		Ind		Ind	6,058	45.84%	746	5.65%	57.89%	5,312	1,845	6,058	–	–	–	13,215
Montréal–Sainte-Marie		UN		UN	12,977	52.47%	1,321	5.34%	67.43%	11,656	12,977	–	–	–	101	24,734
Montréal-Verdun		Lib		Lib	21,208	65.98%	10,274	31.96%	72.80%	21,208	10,934	–	–	–	–	32,142
Napierville-Laprairie		UN		Lib	9,865	56.53%	2,278	13.05%	86.33%	9,865	7,587	–	–	–	–	17,452
Nicolet		UN		Lib	7,209	51.74%	484	3.47%	85.96%	7,209	6,725	–	–	–	–	13,934
Papineau		UN		UN	12,304	55.28%	2,351	10.56%	85.66%	9,953	12,304	–	–	–	–	22,257
Pontiac		UN		UN	5,108	59.81%	1,675	19.61%	75.86%	3,433	5,108	–	–	–	–	8,541
Portneuf		Lib		Lib	11,059	51.34%	702	3.26%	85.36%	11,059	10,357	–	–	124	–	21,540
Québec-Centre		UN		Lib	9,750	55.13%	1,813	10.25%	84.08%	9,750	7,937	–	–	–	–	17,687
Québec-Comté		Lib		Lib	34,090	57.80%	9,196	15.59%	87.07%	34,090	24,894	–	–	–	–	58,984
Québec-Est		UN		Lib	21,001	52.20%	1,767	4.39%	88.59%	21,001	19,234	–	–	–	–	40,235
Québec-Ouest		Lib		Lib	14,582	67.91%	7,692	35.82%	88.24%	14,582	6,890	–	–	–	–	21,472
Richelieu		Lib		Lib	10,598	55.61%	2,137	11.21%	90.11%	10,598	8,461	–	–	–	–	19,059
Richmond		Lib		Lib	9,932	57.88%	2,703	15.75%	85.16%	9,932	7,229	–	–	–	–	17,161
Rimouski		Lib		Lib	10,720	52.22%	911	4.44%	82.70%	10,720	9,809	–	–	–	–	20,529
Rivière-du-Loup		Lib		Lib	8,493	51.22%	403	2.43%	85.70%	8,493	8,090	–	–	–	–	16,583
Roberval		Lib		UN	11,172	51.23%	537	2.46%	85.07%	10,635	11,172	–	–	–	–	21,807
Rouville		UN		Lib	6,575	56.08%	1,426	12.16%	86.80%	6,575	5,149	–	–	–	–	11,724
Rouyn-Noranda		Lib		Lib	9,386	60.06%	3,144	20.12%	85.50%	9,386	6,242	–	–	–	–	15,628
Saguenay		Lib		Lib	12,116	57.35%	3,106	14.70%	78.97%	12,116	9,010	–	–	–	–	21,126
Saint-Hyacinthe		Lib		Lib	12,070	56.30%	2,701	12.60%	84.85%	12,070	9,369	–	–	–	–	21,439
Saint-Jean		Lib		Lib	8,869	50.55%	866	4.94%	89.57%	8,869	8,003	–	672	–	–	17,544
Saint-Maurice		Lib		Lib	15,684	55.73%	3,224	11.46%	88.19%	15,684	12,460	–	–	–	–	28,144
Saint-Sauveur		UN		UN	12,641	51.43%	702	2.86%	89.13%	11,939	12,641	–	–	–	–	24,580
Shefford		UN		UN	12,026	50.01%	800	3.33%	85.22%	11,226	12,026	–	794	–	–	24,046
Sherbrooke		Lib		Lib	18,539	52.46%	1,825	5.16%	81.29%	18,539	16,714	–	–	86	–	35,339
Stanstead		Lib		Lib	8,918	56.32%	2,101	13.27%	84.29%	8,918	6,817	–	–	99	–	15,834
Témiscamingue		UN		Lib	4,102	52.98%	462	5.97%	87.18%	4,102	3,640	–	–	–	–	7,742
Témiscouata		UN		UN	5,931	60.69%	2,089	21.38%	82.38%	3,842	5,931	–	–	–	–	9,773
Terrebonne		Lib		Lib	26,901	58.98%	8,188	17.95%	85.00%	26,901	18,713	–	–	–	–	45,614
Trois-Rivières		UN		UN	15,323	51.75%	1,036	3.50%	89.96%	14,287	15,323	–	–	–	–	29,610
Vaudreuil-Soulanges		Lib		Lib	10,780	57.49%	2,809	14.98%	90.45%	10,780	7,971	–	–	–	–	18,751
Verchères		Lib		Lib	6,827	58.51%	1,985	17.01%	87.62%	6,827	4,842	–	–	–	–	11,669
Westmount–Saint-Georges		Lib		Lib	13,114	69.03%	11,486	60.46%	59.04%	13,114	1,628	–	–	–	4,255	18,997
Wolfe		Lib		UN	3,939	52.92%	481	6.46%	90.26%	3,458	3,939	–	–	46	–	7,443
Yamaska		UN		UN	4,078	60.16%	1,377	20.31%	84.60%	2,701	4,078	–	–	–	–	6,779

^ including spoilt ballots

= open seat

= turnout is above provincial average

= winning candidate was in previous Legislature

= incumbent had switched allegiance

= not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature

= incumbency arose from byelection gain

= other incumbents renominated

= multiple candidates

Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place^[3]
Party in 1st place		Party in 2nd place			Total
Party in 1st place		Lib	UN	Con	Total
	Liberal		62	1	63
	Union Nationale	31			31
	Independent	1			1
Total		32	62	1	95

Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party^[3]
Parties	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
█ Liberal	63	62	2
█ Union Nationale	31	52	1
█ Independent	1		7	1
█ Conservative		1
█ Action provinciale			9	1	1
█ Independent Liberal			8	2
█ Independent UN			1		1
█ Communist			1

Resulting composition of the 28th Quebec Legislative Assembly^[4]
Source		Party
Source		Lib	UN	Ind	Total
Seats retained	Incumbents returned	43	21	1	65
	Open seats held	2	2		4
	Byelection loss reversed		1		1
Seats changing hands	Incumbents defeated	17	5		22
	Incumbents defeated - previous incumbents returned		1		1
	Open seats gained		1		1
	Byelection gain held	1			1
Total		63	31	1	95

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Lemieux 1969, p. 18.
^ Lemieux 1969, p. 19.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Drouilly, Pierre (November 7, 2017). "Élections québécoises de 1962". donneesquebec.ca. Atlas des élections au Québec.
^ ^a ^b "Les membres de l'Assemblée nationale par circonscription" [National Assembly members by riding] (in French). National Assembly of Quebec. Retrieved September 13, 2023.

Works cited

Lemieux, Vincent, ed. (1969). Quatre élections provinciales au Québec [Four provincial elections in Quebec] (in French). Montreal: Les presses de l'Université Laval.

External links

CBC TV video clip

[5] uding spoilt ballots

[FOOTNOTELemieux196918-1] Lemieux 1969, p. 18.

[FOOTNOTELemieux196919-2] Lemieux 1969, p. 19.

[EQdata-3] Drouilly, Pierre (November 7, 2017). "Élections québécoises de 1962". donneesquebec.ca. Atlas des élections au Québec.

[MNAdata-4] "Les membres de l'Assemblée nationale par circonscription" [National Assembly members by riding] (in French). National Assembly of Quebec. Retrieved September 13, 2023.

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