1962 South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary

← 1958 Summer 1962 1966 →

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%

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

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v t e

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.

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.

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.