1954 Florida gubernatorial special election

Last updated

1954 Florida gubernatorial special election
Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg
←  1952 November 2, 1954 1956  →
  LeRoy Collins.jpg J. Thomas Watson.jpg
Nominee LeRoy Collins J. Thomas Watson †
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote287,76969,852
Percentage80.43%19.52%
1954 Florida gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Collins:      60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Governor before election

Charley E. Johns (acting)
Democratic

Elected Governor

LeRoy Collins
Democratic

The 1954 Florida gubernatorial special election was held on November 2, 1954 to elect a successor to Daniel T. McCarty, who died in office on September 28, 1953.

Contents

State Senator LeRoy Collins won the Democratic nomination in a three-way race against acting Governor Charley E. Johns and J. Brailey Odham. He defeated Johns in a run-off election with 54.8% of the vote. In the general election, Collins faced J. Thomas Watson, the former Attorney General who had switched his party affiliation to run as a Republican in the special election. However, Watson died two weeks before the election, and Collins won a landslide with 80.43% of the vote.

Background

On September 28, 1953, Governor Daniel T. McCarty, who was elected in the 1952 gubernatorial election, died in office of pneumonia. McCarty's death elevated Florida Senate President Charley E. Johns to acting governor and a special election for November 1954 was called to fill the position for the final two years of McCarty's term. The state constitution was revised in 1968 to establish a position of Lieutenant Governor who is first in line to succeed the governor. [1]

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 4, 1954, with the Democratic runoff held on May 25, 1954.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Primary Runoff by county .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Collins 50-60% 60-70% Johns 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% >90% 1956 Florida Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Runoff by county.svg
Democratic Primary Runoff by county
  Collins
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Johns
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   >90%
Democratic primary results [2] [3] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Charley E. Johns (incumbent) 255,787 38.39
Democratic LeRoy Collins 222,791 33.43
Democratic J. Brailey Odham187,78228.18
Total votes666,360 100.00
Democratic primary runoff results [5] [3] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic LeRoy Collins 380,323 54.76
Democratic Charley E. Johns (incumbent)314,19845.24
Total votes694,521 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [7] [8] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican J. Thomas Watson 24,429 67.89
Republican Charles E. Compton11,55232.11
Total votes35,981 100.00

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Watson, the Republican nominee, died on 24 October. His name remained on the ballot. [10] [11]

Results

1954 Florida gubernatorial election [12] [13] [14] [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic LeRoy Collins 287,769 80.43%
Republican J. Thomas Watson 69,85219.52%
Write-ins 1620.05%
Majority217,91760.91%
Turnout 357,783100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LeRoy Collins</span> American politician (1909–1991)

Thomas LeRoy Collins was an American politician who served as the 33rd governor of Florida from 1955 to 1961. Collins began his governorship after winning a special election in 1954, and was elected to a four-year term in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Thomas Watson</span> American politician

John Thomas Watson was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 27th Attorney General of Florida from 1941 to 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1966 Florida gubernatorial election</span> Florida election result

The 1966 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1966. During the primary election, the results from the Democratic Party were close among three of the four candidates. Thus, the top two Democrat candidates – incumbent Governor of Florida William "Haydon" Burns and Mayor of Miami Robert King High – competed in a runoff election on May 24, 1966. In an upset outcome, Robert King High was chosen over W. Haydon Burns as the Democratic Gubernatorial nominee. In contrast, the Republican primary was rather uneventful, with businessman Claude Roy Kirk Jr. easily securing the Republican nomination against Richard Muldrew. This was the first time a Republican was elected governor since Reconstruction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1918 Wisconsin gubernatorial election</span> Election

The 1918 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1918.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1954 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 2, 1954, in 34 states, concurrent with the House and Senate elections. Elections also took place on September 13 in Maine. The special election in Florida was due to the death of incumbent governor Daniel T. McCarty on September 28, 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 1952 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1952. Democratic nominee Daniel T. McCarty defeated Republican nominee Harry S. Swan with 74.83% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 1964 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1964. Incumbent Democratic Governor C. Farris Bryant was ineligible for a second consecutive full term under the 1885 State Constitution. Democratic nominee W. Haydon Burns defeated Republican nominee Charles R. Holley with 56.12% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1944 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 1944 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1944. Democratic nominee Millard Caldwell defeated Republican nominee Bert L. Acker with 78.94% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1940 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 1940 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Governor Fred P. Cone was term-limited. Democratic nominee Spessard Holland was elected unopposed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 Arkansas gubernatorial election</span>

The 1976 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday November 2, Incumbent Democratic Governor David Pryor defeated Republican candidate Leon Griffith with 83.24% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 1912 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1912. Incumbent Governor Albert W. Gilchrist was term-limited. Democratic nominee Park Trammell was elected with 80.42% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1908 Florida gubernatorial election</span> Gubernatorial election in United States

The 1908 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1908. Incumbent Governor Napoleon B. Broward was term-limited. Democratic nominee Albert W. Gilchrist was elected with 78.82% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1801 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held in 1801, in 13 states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1804 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held in 1804, in 13 states, concurrent with the House, Senate elections and presidential election.

United States gubernatorial elections were held in 1810, in 13 states, concurrent with the House and Senate elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1922 New Mexico gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of New Mexico

The 1922 New Mexico gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1922. Democratic candidate James F. Hinkle defeated Republican nominee Charles Lee Hill with 54.57% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1892 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held in 1892, in 32 states, concurrent with the House, Senate elections and presidential election, on November 8, 1892.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1798 New Hampshire gubernatorial election</span>

The 1798 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on March 13, 1798. Incumbent Federalist Governor John Taylor Gilman won re-election to a fifth term, easily defeating various minor candidates.

United States gubernatorial elections were held on Tuesday November 6, in 26 states, concurrent with the House, Senate elections and presidential election, on November 6, 1888.

References

  1. ↑ "Constitution of the State of Florida". Online Sunshine: Official Internet Site of the Florida Legislature. Florida Legislature. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  2. ↑ "FL Governor, 1954 - Special D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 364.
  4. ↑ Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 304-305.
  5. ↑ "FL Governor, 1954 - Special D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  6. ↑ Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 320-321.
  7. ↑ "FL Governor, 1954 - Special R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  8. ↑ Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 366.
  9. ↑ Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 317-318.
  10. ↑ "Watson, J. Tom". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  11. ↑ Glashan, p. 59.
  12. ↑ Cook, Rhodes, ed. (2015). America Votes 31: 2013-2014, Election Returns by State. CQ Press. p. 81. ISBN   9781483383026 . Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  13. ↑ "FL Governor, 1954 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  14. ↑ Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 372.
  15. ↑ Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 324-325.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.