1908 South Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1908 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1908, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Governor Martin Frederick Ansel faced state senator Coleman Livingston Blease in the Democratic primary and emerged victorious to win a second two-year term as governor.

1908 South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary

← 1906 August 25, 1908 (1908-08-25) 1910 →
 
Candidate Martin Frederick Ansel Cole Blease
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 62,867 42,100
Percentage 59.9% 40.1%

Governor before election

Martin Frederick Ansel
Democratic

Elected Governor

Martin Frederick Ansel
Democratic

Democratic primary

edit

Coleman Livingston Blease entered the state Democratic primary for governor as the only opposition to incumbent Governor Martin Frederick Ansel. The voters saw no reason to not give Ansel another term for governor and Blease was defeated rather decisively on August 25.

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
Martin Frederick Ansel 62,867 59.9
Coleman Livingston Blease 42,100 40.1

General election

edit

The general election was held on November 3, 1908, and Martin Frederick Ansel was reelected governor of South Carolina without opposition. Turnout increased over the previous gubernatorial election because there was also a presidential election on the ballot.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1908
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Martin Frederick Ansel (incumbent) 61,060 100.0 0.0
Majority 61,060 100.0 0.0
Turnout 61,060
Democratic hold
  65+% won by Ansel

See also

edit

References

edit
  • "Primary Results Declared". The News and Courier. August 30, 1908. p. 1.
  • Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. p. 26.
  • "Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina. Part II." Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume III. Columbia, SC: 1909, pp. 154–155.
edit
Preceded by
1906
South Carolina gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
1910