1970 Georgia gubernatorial election
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The 1970 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. 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 famous because Carter, who was often regarded as one of the New South Governors, later ran for president in 1976 on his gubernatorial record and won. As of 2025, this is the last time Fulton County voted for the Republican candidate.
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 (1963–67) 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 the United States Federal Government. He left office at the peak of his popularity.
His main opponent was former state senator and candidate for the gubernatorial nomination in 1966 Jimmy Carter.
Carter ran on a populist platform. While he refused to join the segregationist White Citizens' Council, he ran a campaign specifically designed to win over the segregationist vote that had made Maddox governor four years earlier.
In winning the governorship back in 1970, he courted the right wing, particularly the large constituency of Lester Maddox, the fiery segregationist Governor ... At one point, he called Mr. Maddox “the essence of the Democratic Party” and added that he was “proud” to be on the ticket with him.[1].
Carter's true feelings about race might be better indicated by the fact that his had been one of only two families which voted to admit blacks to the Plains Baptist Church,[2] but that was not something advertised in the 1970 race for governor.
Democratic primary election results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jimmy Carter | 388,280 | 48.62 | |
| Democratic | Carl Sanders | 301,659 | 37.77 | |
| Democratic | Chevene Bowers King | 70,424 | 8.82 | |
| Democratic | J. B. Stoner | 17,663 | 2.21 | |
| Democratic | McKee Hargett | 9,440 | 1.18 | |
| Democratic | Thomas J. Irwin | 4,184 | 0.52 | |
| Democratic | Adam B. Matthews | 3,332 | 0.42 | |
A runoff was held on September 23. Despite Sanders's initial front-runner status and popularity, Carter won by nearly 20 points.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jimmy Carter | 506,462 | 59.42 | |
| Democratic | Carl Sanders | 345,906 | 40.58 | |
Lieutenant governor
Governor Maddox ran for lieutenant governor and won the 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.
Republican nomination
At this time, Georgia was still regarded as a part of the Democratic Party's Solid South, despite the Republican candidate having won a plurality in the 1966 gubernatorial race because of Democratic division.
However, under Georgia law at the time, if no candidate gained a majority of the popular vote, the Georgia General Assembly would hold a contingent election to choose the Governor: the Democratic-dominated Assembly elected Maddox on the first ballot, despite the fact Maddox lost the popular vote by 0.31%.
Depsite this, the Democratic position in 1970 was again regarded as safe. TV newsman Hal Suit faced former Democratic state official James L. Bentley.
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Hal Suit | 62,868 | 60.97 | |
| Republican | James L. Bentley | 40,251 | 39.03 | |
General election results
Carter won the governorship easily.[6]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jimmy Carter | 620,419 | 59.28% | ||
| Republican | Hal Suit | 424,983 | 40.60% | ||
Despite having run on a platform designed to attract the votes of segregationists,[7] Carter, during his inaugural address, announced that the "time of racial segregation is over"[8] and became one of the more progressive southern governors (alongside Reubin Askew of Florida, Dale Bumpers of Arkansas, and John C. West of South Carolina) who pushed desegregation and integration.
References
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/26/archives/1976-surprise-carter-is-running-well-carter-is-running-well-for.html
- ^ The Claremont Institute - Malaise Forever Archived 2007-11-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "GA Governor D Primary Race - September 9, 1970". Our Campaigns.
- ^ "GA Governor D Primary Race - September 23, 1970". Our Campaigns.
- ^ "GA Governor R Primary Race - September 9, 1970". Our Campaigns.
- ^ Our Campaigns - GA Governor Race - Nov 03, 1970
- ^ http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jimmy-carters-racist-campaign-of-1970/article/1070336
- ^ Longin Pastusiak, Prezydenci, volume III
