1974 Florida gubernatorial election

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1974 Florida gubernatorial election
Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg
  1970 November 5, 1974 1978  
  Governor Reubin Askew.jpg Portrait of Florida legislative senator Jerry Thomas.jpg
Nominee Reubin Askew Jerry Thomas
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate J. H. Williams Mike Thompson
Popular vote1,118,954709,438
Percentage61.2%38.8%

1974 Florida gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results

Askew:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Thomas:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

Reubin Askew
Democratic

Elected Governor

Reubin Askew
Democratic

The 1974 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Democratic Governor Reubin Askew won re-election to a second term.

Contents

This was just the second time after 1956, and the first that the Governor of Florida was re-elected for the second four-year term. This was also the first time a candidate got over one million votes in a Florida governor election.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 10, 1974.

Democratic primary

Incumbent Reubin O'Donovan Askew faced little opposition in the Democratic Party primary. Despite a challenge from his own Lieutenant Governor Thomas Burton Adams, Jr., Askew, a popular member of the "New Southerner" political generation, was renominated easily.

13.4% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary. [1]

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [3] [4] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Reubin Askew (incumbent) 579,137 68.83
Democratic Ben Hill Griffin Jr. 137,00816.28
Democratic Thomas Burton Adams Jr. 85,55710.17
Democratic Norman Bie39,7584.72
Total votes841,460

J. H. Williams became Askew's running mate for second term.

Republican primary

Candidate

Results

Republican primary results [3] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jerry Thomas unopposed

General election

Results

1974 Florida gubernatorial election results [7] [8] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Reubin Askew (incumbent) 1,118,954 61.20
Republican Jerry Thomas 709,43838.80
Majority409,51622.40
Turnout 1,828,392
Democratic hold

Williams, as he ran on the joint ticket, replaced Adams as Lieutenant Governor.

References

  1. Steed, Moreland & Baker 1980, p. 26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Waldron, Martin (September 11, 1974). "Gov. Askew Sweeps Primary in Florida; Millionaire Wins in G.O.P. Senate Race". New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. 34. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 106.
  4. "FL Governor, 1974 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  5. Florida Handbook 2013-2014 2014, p. 344.
  6. Florida Handbook 2013-2014 2014, p. 346.
  7. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 47.
  8. "FL Governor, 1974". OurCampaigns. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  9. Florida Handbook 2013-2014 2014, p. 340.

Works cited