Georgia gubernatorial election, 1970
Encyclopedia
The Georgia gubernatorial election of 1970 was held on November 3. It was marked by the election as Governor of Georgia of the relatively little-known former state Senator
Jimmy Carter
after a hard battle in the Democratic primary. This election is notable because Carter, often regarded as one of the New South Governors, ran for President in 1976 on his gubernatorial record and won.
constitution of 1945 incumbent
Democratic Governor Lester Maddox
was prohibited from seeking re-election.
Initially the strongest candidate was former Governor (1963–1967) Carl E. Sanders. Sanders was a moderate, who worked to improve education, the environment and led the transition away from racial segregation with cooperation with the United States Federal Government. He left office at the peak of his popularity.
His main opponent was former State Senator and candidate for the gubernatorial nomination in 1966
, Jimmy Carter.
Carter ran on a populist
platform. He refused to join the segregationist White Citizens' Council
, prompting a boycott of his peanut warehouse. He also had been one of only two families which voted to admit blacks to the Plains Baptist Church.
A runoff
was held on September 23:
Despite Sanders's initial front-runner status and popularity, Carter won by nearly 20 points.
and won the nomination. Although Maddox was elected as a Democratic candidate at the same time as Jimmy Carter's election as Governor as a Democratic candidate, the two were not running mates; in Georgia, particularly in that era of Democratic dominance, the winners of the primary elections went on to easy victories in the general elections without campaigning together as an official ticket or as running mates.
. However, in 1966, the Republican
candidate won a plurality in the gubernatorial race, because of Democratic division, but the Democratic-dominated legislature elected Maddox (if no candidate gained a majority of the popular vote, the Georgia legislature at this time had the right to choose the Governor).
However, the Democratic position in 1970 was again regarded as safe. TV newsman Hal Suit
faced former Democratic state official James L. Bentley
.
Despite his electoral platform, Carter soon announced that the "time of racial segregation is over" and became one of the more progressive southern governors (alongside Reubin O'Donovan Askew
of Florida
, Dale Bumpers
of Arkansas
, and John C. West
of South Carolina
) who pushed desegregation and integration.
Georgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
after a hard battle in the Democratic primary. This election is notable because Carter, often regarded as one of the New South Governors, ran for President in 1976 on his gubernatorial record and won.
Democratic nomination
Under the GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
constitution of 1945 incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Democratic Governor Lester Maddox
Lester Maddox
Lester Garfield Maddox was an American politician who was the 75th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1967 to 1971....
was prohibited from seeking re-election.
Initially the strongest candidate was former Governor (1963–1967) Carl E. Sanders. Sanders was a moderate, who worked to improve education, the environment and led the transition away from racial segregation with cooperation with the United States Federal Government. He left office at the peak of his popularity.
His main opponent was former State Senator and candidate for the gubernatorial nomination in 1966
Georgia gubernatorial election, 1966
The Georgia gubernatorial election of 1966 was held on November 8. After an election that exposed divisions within the Georgia Democratic Party , segregationist Democrat Lester Maddox was elected Governor of Georgia by the Georgia General Assembly...
, Jimmy Carter.
Carter ran on a populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
platform. He refused to join the segregationist White Citizens' Council
White Citizens' Council
The White Citizens' Council was an American white supremacist organization formed on July 11, 1954. After 1956, it was known as the Citizens' Councils of America...
, prompting a boycott of his peanut warehouse. He also had been one of only two families which voted to admit blacks to the Plains Baptist Church.
Democratic Primary election results
Carter finished first, but failed to win a majority in the Democratic primary on September 9:- Jimmy Carter - 388,280 (48.62%)
- Carl Sanders - 301,659 (37.77%)
- Chevene B. "C. B." King - 70,424 (8.82%)
- Ku Klux KlanKu Klux KlanKu Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
leader Jesse Stoner - 17,663 (2.21%) - McKee Hargett - 9,440 (1.18%)
- Thomas J. Irwin - 4,184 (0.52%)
- Adam B. Matthews - 3,332 (0.42%)
A runoff
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
was held on September 23:
- Carter - 506,462 (59.42%)
- Sanders - 345,906 (40.58%)
Despite Sanders's initial front-runner status and popularity, Carter won by nearly 20 points.
Lieutenant Governor
Governor Maddox ran for Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
and won the nomination. Although Maddox was elected as a Democratic candidate at the same time as Jimmy Carter's election as Governor as a Democratic candidate, the two were not running mates; in Georgia, particularly in that era of Democratic dominance, the winners of the primary elections went on to easy victories in the general elections without campaigning together as an official ticket or as running mates.
Republican nomination
At this time, Georgia was still regarded as a part of the Democratic Party's Solid SouthSolid South
Solid South is the electoral support of the Southern United States for the Democratic Party candidates for nearly a century from 1877, the end of Reconstruction, to 1964, during the middle of the Civil Rights era....
. However, in 1966, the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate won a plurality in the gubernatorial race, because of Democratic division, but the Democratic-dominated legislature elected Maddox (if no candidate gained a majority of the popular vote, the Georgia legislature at this time had the right to choose the Governor).
However, the Democratic position in 1970 was again regarded as safe. TV newsman Hal Suit
Hal Suit
Hal Suit was an American local television news personality and political figure who won the 1970 Republican nomination for Governor of Georgia, but lost the November general election to future president Jimmy Carter....
faced former Democratic state official James L. Bentley
James L. Bentley
James Lynwood Bentley was a former Comptroller General of Georgia. He served in that capacity from 1963-71. Originally a Democrat, Bentley switched to the Republican Party in 1968 and unsuccessfully sought the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1970...
.
Republican Primary election results
- Harold Columbus "Hal" SuitHal SuitHal Suit was an American local television news personality and political figure who won the 1970 Republican nomination for Governor of Georgia, but lost the November general election to future president Jimmy Carter....
(1922–1994) - 62,868 (60.97%) - James L. BentleyJames L. BentleyJames Lynwood Bentley was a former Comptroller General of Georgia. He served in that capacity from 1963-71. Originally a Democrat, Bentley switched to the Republican Party in 1968 and unsuccessfully sought the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1970...
- 40,251 (39.03%)
General election results
Carter won the governorship easily.Despite his electoral platform, Carter soon announced that the "time of racial segregation is over" and became one of the more progressive southern governors (alongside Reubin O'Donovan Askew
Reubin O'Donovan Askew
Reubin O'Donovan Askew is an American politician, who served as the 37th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida from 1971 to 1979.-Early life and career:...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Dale Bumpers
Dale Bumpers
Dale Leon Bumpers is an American politician who served as the 38th Governor of Arkansas from 1971 to 1975; and then in the United States Senate from 1975 until his retirement in January 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Senator Bumpers is currently counsel at the Washington, D.C...
of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, and John C. West
John C. West
John Carl West was a U.S. Democratic Party politician who served as the 109th Governor of South Carolina from 1971 to 1975. He served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1977 to 1981.-Early life:...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
) who pushed desegregation and integration.