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1918 South Carolina gubernatorial election

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1918 South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary

← 1916 August 27, 1918 (1918-08-27) 1920 →
 
Candidate Robert A. Cooper John Gardiner Richards Jr. Andrew Bethea
Party Democratic Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 61,900 31,230 10,362
Percentage 57.9% 29.2% 9.7%

Governor of South Carolina before election

Richard Manning III
Democratic

Elected Governor of South Carolina

Robert Archer Cooper
Democratic

The 1918 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1918, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Robert Archer Cooper emerged from the crowded Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the one-party state's general election to become the 93rd governor of South Carolina.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Campaign

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The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor on August 27 and progressive reformer Robert Archer Cooper emerged as the winner in a crowded field. He garnered more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary election and was able to avoid a runoff election.

Results

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Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
Robert Archer Cooper 61,900 57.9
John Gardiner Richards, Jr. 31,230 29.2
Andrew J. Bethea 10,362 9.7
John L. McLaurin 1,584 1.5
John T. Duncan 1,256 1.2
John M. DesChamps 496 0.5

General election

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The general election was held on November 5, 1918, and Robert Archer Cooper was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition. Being a non-presidential election and few contested races, turnout was much less than the previous gubernatorial election.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1918
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Archer Cooper 25,267 100.0 +2.1
Majority 25,267 100.0 +3.9
Turnout 25,267
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  • "Primary Election Results Declared". The News and Courier. September 4, 1918. p. 2.
  • Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876–1962. pp. 33–34.
  • "Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina. Part II." Reports of State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume II. Columbia, South Carolina: 1919, p. 34.
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Preceded by
1916
South Carolina gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
1920