South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1918

The 1918 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1918 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Robert Archer Cooper emerged from the crowded Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election to become the 93rd governor of South Carolina.

[edit] Democratic Primary

The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor on August 27 and progressive reformer Robert Archer Cooper emerged as the winner in a crowded field. He garnered more than 50% of the vote in the primary election and was able to avoid a runoff election.

The general election was held on November 5, 1918 and Robert Archer Cooper was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition. Being a non-presidential election and few contested races, turnout was much less than the previous gubernatorial election.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1918
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert Archer Cooper	25,267	100.0	+2.1
Majority			25,267	100.0	+3.9
Turnout			25,267
	Democratic hold

1918 South Carolina gubernatorial election map, by percentile by county. 65+% won by Cooper

"Primary Election Results Declared", The News and Courier, 4 September 1918, p. 2.
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962, pp. 33-34.
"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 II. Columbia, SC: 1919, p. 34.