The 1974 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Governor Jack Williams decided not to run for a fourth term as governor. Former United States Ambassador to Bolivia Raúl Héctor Castro, who was the Democratic nominee in 1970, won the Democratic nomination again in 1974, and narrowly won the general election, defeating Republican nominee Russell Williams by 0.85%. Castro was sworn into his first and only term as governor on January 6, 1975.

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1974 Arizona gubernatorial election

← 1970 November 5, 1974 1978 →

Nominee Raúl Héctor Castro Russell Williams Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 278,375 273,674 Percentage 50.4% 49.6%

County results Castro:      50–60%      60–70% Williams:      50–60%

Governor before election Jack Williams Republican Elected Governor Raúl Héctor Castro Democratic

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Prior to the election, there was a recall effort led by Cesar Chavez against incumbent Governor Jack Williams, with 180,000 signatures submitted. Many of the signatures were invalidated by the Attorney General Gary Nelson, but this was eventually overturned. By the time this occurred, however, it was meaningless due to the close proximity of the 1974 gubernatorial election, and thus a recall election did not occur.^[1]

Approximately two years into his term as governor, Castro would resign to become United States Ambassador to Argentina.