| Election Name: | 1942 South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary |
| Country: | South Carolina |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1938 South Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1938 |
| Next Election: | 1946 South Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1946 |
| Election Date: | August 25, 1942 |
| Image1: | File:Johnston Olin.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Olin Johnston |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 121,465 |
| Percentage1: | 51.8% |
| Nominee2: | Wyndham Manning |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 113,014 |
| Percentage2: | 48.2% |
| Map Size: | 220px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Burnet R. Maybank |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Olin D. Johnston |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1942 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1942, during World War II, to select the Governor of South Carolina. Olin D. Johnston won the Democratic primary and ran without opposition in the general election on account of South Carolina's effective status as a one-party state, winning a second non-consecutive term as Governor of South Carolina.
The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor in the summer of 1942. The race was between former Governor Olin D. Johnston and Wyndham Meredith Manning, the third attempt for both candidates. Olin Johnston emerged victorious in a tight race and effectively became the next governor of South Carolina because there was no opposition in the general election.
| Democratic Primary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Olin D. Johnston | 121,465 | 51.8 |
| 113,014 | 48.2 | |
The general election was held on November 3, 1942 and Olin D. Johnston 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.
|-| | colspan=5 |Democratic hold|-