1960 Republican Party presidential primaries

Incumbent vice president Richard Nixon faced no formidable opposition for the nomination. There were significant efforts by liberals to draft New York governor Nelson Rockefeller as a candidate. Although Rockefeller embarked on a national speaking tour and received some write-in votes in primary elections, he did not declare a campaign for the presidency, and Nixon swept the primaries without difficulty. Rockefeller endorsed Nixon after struggling in the polls and extracting compromises on the party platform.

The 1960 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois from July 25 to 28. Nixon was nominated for president and United Nations ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge was nominated for vice president. Nixon and Lodge were defeated in the general election by the Democratic Party ticket of Massachusetts senator John F. Kennedy and Texas senator Lyndon B. Johnson.

Candidates

The following political leaders were candidates for the 1960 Republican presidential nomination:

Nominee

Other major candidates

These candidates participated in multiple state primaries or were included in multiple major national polls.

Favorite sons

The following candidates ran only in their home state's primary or caucus for the purpose of controlling its delegate slate at the convention and did not appear to be considered national candidates by the media.

• Former U.S. senator George H. Bender of Ohio
• State senator James M. Lloyd of South Dakota
• Governor Cecil H. Underwood of West Virginia

Declined to run

The following persons were listed in two or more major national polls or were the subject of media speculation surrounding their potential candidacy, but declined to actively seek the nomination.

• Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona
• Secretary Oveta Culp Hobby of Texas
• Ambassador to the United Nations Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. of Massachusetts
• Former President Herbert Hoover of California