In
1964, he had challenged the sitting governor of his own party,
Endicott Peabody, and defeated Peabody in the Democratic
primary. However, he went on to lose the general election to
John A. Volpe, with Volpe regaining the seat that he had lost two years earlier. In 1966, Belloti was the Democratic nominee for
Massachusetts attorney general, but was defeated by Republican
Elliot Richardson.[6] Being subsequently elected to that position in 1974, from 1975 until 1987 Bellotti served three terms as attorney general. In that capacity, he instilled professionalism among his staff, was a leader for civil rights and served as President of the National Association of Attorneys General. He sought the nomination of the Democratic party for governor in
1970 and in
1990, but was defeated in the Democratic primary election in both elections losing to
Kevin White and
John Silber respectively.