Georgia gubernatorial election, 1970

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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.

Contents 1 Democratic nomination 1.1 Lieutenant Governor 2 Republican nomination 3 General election result 4 References

[edit] Democratic nomination

Under the Georgia 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 United States Federal Government. He left office at the peak of his popularity.

His main opponent was former State Senator and candidate for gubernatorial nomination in 1966 Jimmy Carter. Four years later Carter unexpected finished third and gain enough votes to force runoff.

Carter ran on 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^[1]. However he, according to some opinions, in order to win told segregationist voters things he wanted to hear^[2]. Also, Carter's campaign aides handed out a photograph of his opponent celebrating with black basketball player^[3].

Carter finished first, but failed to win majority in primary (on September 9)^[4].

• Jimmy Carter - 388,280 (48.62%)
• Carl Sanders - 301,659 (37.77%)
• Chevene B. "C. B." King - 70,424 (8.82%)
• Ku-Klux-Klan 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%)

Runoff (September 23)^[5].

• Carter - 506,462 (59.42%)
• Sanders - 345,906 (40.58%)

Despite Sanders' initial front-runner status and popularity, Carter won by nearly 20 points.

[edit] Lieutenant Governor

Governor Maddox ran for Lieutenant Governor and won 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.

[edit] Republican nomination

At this time Georgia was still regarded as a part of the Democratic Party's Solid South. However in 1966 the Republican candidate win a plurality in the gubernatorial race, because of Democratic breakup, but the Democratic-dominated legislature elected Maddox (in case of lack of majority in election, Georgia legislature had at this time the right to choose the Governor).

However the Democratic position in 1970 was again regarded safe.

Candidates and results^[6]:

• Harold Columbus "Hal" Suit (1922-1994) - 62,868 (60.97%)
• James L. Bentley - 40,251 (39.03%)

[edit] General election result

Carter won governorship easily^[7].

Despite his electoral platform, Carter soon announced: "time of racial segregation is over"^[8]and became one of those more progressive southern governors -- alongside Reubin O'Donovan Askewof Florida, Dale Bumpersof Arkansas, and John C. Westof South Carolina-- who pushed desegregation and integration.

[edit] References

Georgia gubernatorial Election 1970
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jimmy Carter	620,419	59.28%
	Republican	Hal Suit	424,983	40.60%