1962 Georgia gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1962 Georgia Democratic gubernatorial primary
Country:Georgia (U.S. state)
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1958 Georgia gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1958
Next Election:1966 Georgia gubernatorial election
Next Year:1966
Election Date:September 12, 1962
Flag Year:1956
Image1:File:Carl Sanders.jpg
Nominee1:Carl Sanders
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:494,978
Percentage1:58.07%
Nominee2:Marvin Griffin
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:332,746
Percentage2:39.04%
Map Size:240px
Governor
Before Election:Ernest Vandiver
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Carl Sanders
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1962 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1962.

Carl Sanders won the Democratic primary on September 12 with 58.07% of the vote, defeating former governor Marvin Griffin. At this time, Georgia was a one-party state, and the Democratic nomination was tantamount to victory. Sanders won the November general election without an opponent.

This election was notable for a number of reasons. First, it was the last Georgia gubernatorial election to date where the Republican Party did not field a candidate. Second, the primary election was the first that took place under a winner-take-all system, as the previously used County Unit System had been struck down by the US Supreme Court in Gray v. Sanders.[1] Finally, upon election, Carl Sanders became the youngest governor of a state at the time (aged 37) and the first governor from an urban area since the 1920s.[2] He beat former governor Marvin Griffin in the Democratic primary.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Georgia Encyclopedia: County Unit System . 2013-01-07 . 2012-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121218123722/http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1381 . dead .
  2. Web site: New Georgia Encyclopedia: Carl Sanders (B. 1925) . 2013-01-07 . 2012-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120925190026/http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-673 . dead .
  3. Web site: Top Orlando News, Weather, Sports, Entertainment. 5 February 1987 .