1970 Georgia gubernatorial election

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 2020, this is the last time Fulton County voted for the Republican candidate.

1970 Georgia gubernatorial election
November 3, 1970
 
Nominee Jimmy Carter Hal Suit
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 620,419 424,983
Percentage 59.3% 40.6%
County results
Carter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Suit:      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

Lester Maddox
Democratic

 Elected Governor

Jimmy Carter
Democratic

Elections in Georgia

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
Democratic primary results[3]
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.

Democratic runoff results[4]
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. However, in 1966, the Republican candidate won a plurality in the gubernatorial race, because of Democratic division, but the Democratic-dominated legislature elected Maddox (if no candidate gained a majority of the popular vote, the Georgia legislature at this time had the right to choose the Governor).

However, the Democratic position in 1970 was again regarded as safe. TV newsman Hal Suit faced former Democratic state official James L. Bentley.

Republican primary
Republican primary results[5]
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]

General election results
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
  1. https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/26/archives/1976-surprise-carter-is-running-well-carter-is-running-well-for.html
  2. The Claremont Institute - Malaise Forever Archived 2007-11-11 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "GA Governor D Primary Race - September 9, 1970". Our Campaigns.
  4. "GA Governor D Primary Race - September 23, 1970". Our Campaigns.
  5. "GA Governor R Primary Race - September 9, 1970". Our Campaigns.
  6. Our Campaigns - GA Governor Race - Nov 03, 1970
  7. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jimmy-carters-racist-campaign-of-1970/article/1070336
  8. Longin Pastusiak, Prezydenci, volume III
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