1934 South Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1934 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1934, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Olin D. Johnston won the contested Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election becoming the 98th governor of South Carolina.

1934 South Carolina gubernatorial primary runoff

← 1930 September 11, 1934 1938 →
 
Nominee Olin Johnston Cole Blease
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 157,673 122,876
Percentage 56.20% 43.80%

County results
Johnston:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Blease:      50-60%      60-70%

Governor before election

Ibra Charles Blackwood
Democratic

Elected Governor

Olin D. Johnston
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 1934 and it attracted many politicians because of the change in 1926 to the South Carolina constitution providing for a four-year term. Johnston emerged victorious from the runoff against former Governor Cole Blease and ran without opposition on account of South Carolina's effective status as a one-party state.

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
Olin D. Johnston 104,799 36.5
Coleman Livingston Blease 85,795 29.8
Wyndham Meredith Manning 55,767 19.4
Thomas B. Pearce 26,328 9.2
Kemper Cooke 7,390 2.6
L.B. Owens 4,186 1.4
James O. Sheppard 2,482 0.9
C.E. Sloan 683 0.2
Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
Olin D. Johnston 157,673 56.2 +19.7
Coleman Livingston Blease 122,876 43.8 +14.0

General election

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The general election was held on November 6, 1934, and Olin D. Johnston was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition. Being a non-presidential election and few contested races, turnout was much lower than the Democratic primary election.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Olin D. Johnston 22,873 100.0 0.0
Majority 22,873 100.0 0.0
Turnout 22,873
Democratic hold
  65+% won by Johnston

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. 40–41.
  • "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: 1935, p. 3.
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Preceded by
1930
South Carolina gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
1938