1926 South Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1926 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1926, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. The South Carolina constitution was amended in 1926 to change the term of governor from two years to four years, but also prohibiting governors from consecutive terms. John Gardiner Richards, Jr. won the contested Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election becoming the 96th governor of South Carolina.

1926 South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff

← 1924 September 14, 1926 (1926-09-14) 1930 →
 
Candidate John G. Richards Ibra Blackwood
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 95,007 68,224
Percentage 58.20% 41.80%

Governor of South Carolina before election

Thomas Gordon McLeod
Democratic

Elected Governor of South Carolina

John Gardiner Richards Jr.
Democratic

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor in the summer of 1926 and it attracted many politicians because of the recent change to the South Carolina constitution providing for a four-year term. Richards emerged victorious from the runoff and effectively became the next governor of South Carolina because there was no opposition in the general election.

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
John Gardiner Richards, Jr. 44,906 25.8
Ibra Charles Blackwood 34,870 20.1
Edmund B. Jackson 33,804 19.5
Carroll D. Nance 16,970 9.8
George K. Laney 13,386 7.7
Thomas H. Peeples 10,636 6.1
D.A.G. Ouzts 10,570 6.1
John T. Duncan 6,297 3.6
John J. McMahan 2,300 1.3
Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
John Gardiner Richards, Jr. 95,007 58.2 +32.4
Ibra Charles Blackwood 68,224 41.8 +21.7

General election

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The general election was held on November 2, 1926, and John Richards was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition thanks to the state's suppression of parties other than the ruling Democrats. Being a non-presidential election and few contested races, turnout was the lowest ever for a gubernatorial election in South Carolina.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1926
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Gardiner Richards, Jr. 16,589 100.0 0.0
Majority 16,589 100.0 0.0
Turnout 16,589
Democratic hold
  65+% won by Richards

See also

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References

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  • "Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina. Part II." Reports of State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, South Carolina: 1927, p. 57.
  • Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876–1962. pp. 36–38.
  • Glashan, Roy R. American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. pp. 284–285.
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Preceded by
1924
South Carolina gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
1930