William Scranton Jr., a former Pennsylvania governor, presidential candidate and ambassador to the United Nations, has died. He was 96.
Mike DeVanney, a family spokesman, says Scranton died Sunday night of a cerebral hemorrhage at a retirement community in Montecito, Calif.
Scranton was Pennsylvania's 38th governor, serving one term from 1963 to 1967.
The moderately liberal Republican challenged conservative Barry Goldwater in 1964 during a brief, reluctant foray into presidential politics. Scranton committed to the campaign just a month before the national convention and lost the nomination to Goldwater by a 4-to-1 margin.
He was appointed ambassador to the United Nations by President Gerald Ford in 1976 and served roughly 10 months in the post.
He had a home in Waverly, Pa., just outside the city named for his family.
© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.