South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1946

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The 1946 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Strom Thurmond won the contested Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election becoming the 103rd governor of South Carolina.

1 Democratic Primary
2 General Election
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Democratic Primary

The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor in the summer of 1946 and ten candidates entered the contest. The race featured Governor Ransome Judson Williams, who became governor in 1945 upon the resignation of Olin D. Johnston, but it mainly became a contest between Strom Thurmond and James McLeod. Strom Thurmond was a World War II veteran and advocated a progressive platform whereas, James McLeod, a physician from Florence County, had the support of the "Barnwell Ring" and sought to maintain the status quo. Race was not an issue in the campaign and Strom Thurmond emerged victorious with the support of the returning veterans of World War II who wanted to reform South Carolina.

Democratic Primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Strom Thurmond	96,691	33.4
James C. McLeod	83,464	28.9
Ransome Judson Williams	35,813	12.4
John C. Taylor	22,447	7.8
Dell O'Neal	16,574	5.7
John D. Long	16,503	5.7
Carl B. Epps	5,189	1.8
Marcus A. Stone	4,353	1.5
A.L. Wood	3,040	1.0
Archie J. Beattie	2,889	1.0
Roger W. Scott	2,251	0.8

Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Strom Thurmond	144,420	57.0	+23.6
James C. McLeod	109,169	43.0	+14.1

[edit] General Election

The general election was held on November 5, 1946 and Strom Thurmond was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition. Being a non-presidential election and with few contested races, turnout was much lower than in the Democratic primary election.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1946
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Strom Thurmond	26,520	100.0	0.0
Majority			26,520	100.0	0.0
Turnout			26,520
	Democratic hold

1946 South Carolina gubernatorial election map, by percentile by county. 65+% won by Thurmond

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Edgar, Walter (1998). South Carolina A History. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 1-57003-255-6.
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962, pp. 44-46.
"Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of South Carolina to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1947, p. 10.