1962 South Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1962 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1962 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Donald S. Russell won the Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election becoming the 107th governor of South Carolina. It is the last uncontested South Carolina gubernatorial election.

1962 South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary

June 12, 1962

Nominee Donald S. Russell Burnet Maybank Jr. Alfred W. Bethea Party Democratic Democratic Democratic Popular vote 199,619 103,015 17,251 Percentage 60.8% 31.4% 5.3%

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

Governor before election Ernest Hollings Democratic Elected Governor Donald S. Russell Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• A.W. Bethea
• Dero Cook
• Milton Dukes
• Donald S. Russell, former president of the University of South Carolina and candidate for governor in 1958
• Burnet R. Maybank Jr., lieutenant governor

The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor in the summer of 1962 and Donald S. Russell succeeded on his second attempt by easily defeating the current Lieutenant Governor and son of former governor Burnet R. Maybank. He garnered more than 50% of the vote and avoided a runoff, effectively becoming the next governor of South Carolina due to lack of opposition in the general election.

1962 South Carolina Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Donald S. Russell	199,619	60.8%
	Democratic	Burnet R. Maybank Jr.	103,015	31.4%
	Democratic	A.W. Bethea	17,251	5.3%
	Democratic	Dero Cook	6,321	1.9%
	Democratic	Milton Dukes	2,085	0.6%

General election

The general election was held on November 6, 1962 and Donald S. Russell was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition. Turnout was much higher than the previous gubernatorial election because of a competitive senate race between Olin D. Johnston and W. D. Workman, Jr.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1962

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Donald S. Russell	253,704	100.0	0.0
	No party	Write-Ins	17	0.0	0.0
Majority			253,687	100.0	0.0
Turnout			253,721	38.1	+23.6
	Democratic hold

See also

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

References

• "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 II. Columbia, South Carolina: 1963, p. 7.

External links

• SCIway Biography of Governor Donald Stuart Russell

Preceded by 1958

South Carolina gubernatorial elections

Succeeded by 1966