1930 South Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1930 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1930, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Ibra Charles Blackwood won the contested Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election becoming the 97th governor of South Carolina.

1930 South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff

← 1926 September 8, 1930 (1930-09-08) 1934 →
 
Candidate Ibra Blackwood Olin Johnston
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 118,721 117,752
Percentage 50.21% 49.80%

County results
Blackwood:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90%
Johnston:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Governor of South Carolina before election

John Gardiner Richards Jr.
Democratic

Elected Governor of South Carolina

Ibra Blackwood
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 1930 and it attracted many politicians because of the change in 1926 to the South Carolina constitution providing for a four-year term. Blackwood emerged victorious from the closely contested runoff against Olin D. Johnston and effectively became the next governor of South Carolina because there was no opposition in the general election.

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
Olin D. Johnston 58,653 24.9
Ibra Charles Blackwood 43,859 18.6
Asbury Francis Lever 39,477 16.7
Ashton H. Williams 36,488 15.5
William H. Keith 28,780 12.2
R. Beverly Herbert 17,102 7.3
W.W. Smoak 10,193 4.3
John J. McMahan 1,113 0.5
Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
Ibra Charles Blackwood 118,721 50.2 +31.6
Olin D. Johnston 117,752 49.8 +24.9

General election

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The general election was held on November 4, 1930, and Ibra Charles Blackwood was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition on account of South Carolina's effective status as a one-party state. Being a non-presidential election and few contested races, turnout was the second lowest ever for a gubernatorial election in South Carolina.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1930
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ibra Charles Blackwood 17,790 100.0 0.0
Majority 17,790 100.0 0.0
Turnout 17,790
Democratic hold
  65+% won by Blackwood

See also

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References

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  • Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876–1962. pp. 38–40.
  • "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports of State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, South Carolina: 1931, p. 10.
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Preceded by
1926
South Carolina gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
1934