1928 North Carolina gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1928 United States gubernatorial elections.

1928 North Carolina gubernatorial election

November 6, 1928

Nominee O. Max Gardner Herbert F. Seawell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 362,009 289,415 Percentage 55.6% 44.4%

County results Gardner:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Seawell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Angus Wilton McLean Democratic Elected Governor Oliver Max Gardner Democratic

The 1928 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1928. Democratic nominee O. Max Gardner defeated Republican nominee Herbert F. Seawell, with just over 55% of the vote. This was, relatively, a close election for the time in North Carolina, with Gardner receiving the smallest percentage of the vote that any Democratic gubernatorial nominee won between 1900 and 1956. The result came against the backdrop of divisions in the state Democratic Party over the controversial nomination of Alfred E. Smith for president. Gardner supported Smith, who lost the state to Herbert Hoover.

Primary elections

Democratic primary

• O. Max Gardner, the former Lieutenant Governor, was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

General election

Candidates

• O. Max Gardner, Democratic
• Herbert F. Seawell, Republican, attorney and former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Results

1928 North Carolina gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	O. Max Gardner	362,009	55.6%
	Republican	Herbert F. Seawell	289,415	44.4%
Majority			72,594
Turnout
	Democratic hold		Swing