1958 South Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1958 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1958 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Ernest Hollings won the Democratic primary against rival Donald S. Russell and ran unopposed in the general election becoming the 106th governor.

1958 South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff

1958

Nominee Fritz Hollings Donald S. Russell Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 190,691 145,162 Percentage 56.8% 43.2%

County results Hollings:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Russell:      50-60%

Governor before election George Timmerman Democratic Elected Governor Fritz Hollings Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Fritz Hollings, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina and former State Representative from Charleston
• William C. Johnston
• Donald S. Russell, former President of the University of South Carolina and Assistant United States Secretary of State for Administration

The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor in the summer of 1958 and it became a heated contest between Lieutenant Governor Ernest Hollings and the former president of the University of South Carolina, Donald S. Russell. Hollings emerged victorious from the runoff and effectively became the next governor of South Carolina because there was no opposition in the general election.

Democratic Primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Ernest Hollings	158,159	41.9
Donald S. Russell	132,099	35.0
William C. Johnston	86,981	23.1

Results

Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Ernest Hollings	190,691	56.8	+14.9
Donald S. Russell	145,162	43.2	+8.2

General election

The general election was held on November 4, 1958 and Ernest Hollings was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition. Being a non-presidential election and few contested races, turnout was much lower than the Democratic primary election.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1958

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ernest Hollings	77,714	100.0	0.0
	No party	Write-Ins	26	0.0	0.0
Majority			77,688	100.0	0.0
Turnout			77,740	14.5
	Democratic hold

See also

• Governor of South Carolina
• List of governors of South Carolina
• South Carolina gubernatorial elections

References

• Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876–1962. pp. 48–49.
• "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, South Carolina: 1959, p. 8.

External links

• SCIway Biography of Governor Ernest Frederick Hollings

Preceded by 1954

South Carolina gubernatorial elections

Succeeded by 1962