1954 South Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1954 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1954, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. George Bell Timmerman won the Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election becoming the 105th governor of South Carolina.

1954 South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary

Summer 1954

Nominee George Timmerman Lester L. Bates Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 185,541 116,942 Percentage 61.3% 38.7%

County results Timmerman:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Bates:      50-60%      80-90%

Governor before election James F. Byrnes Democratic Elected Governor George Timmerman Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Lester L. Bates, Columbia insurance executive and candidate for Governor in 1950
• George Timmerman, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina

The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor in the summer of 1954. George Bell Timmerman was the current Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina and only faced nominal opposition in the Democratic primary.

Democratic Primary
Candidate	Votes	%
George Bell Timmerman	185,541	61.3
Lester L. Bates	116,942	38.7

General election

The general election was held on November 2, 1954, and George Bell Timmerman was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition. Turnout was much higher than the previous gubernatorial election because there was an extremely competitive Senate race on the ballot, featuring former governor Strom Thurmond.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	George Bell Timmerman	214,204	100.0	0.0
	No party	Write-Ins	8	0.0	0.0
Majority			214,196	100.0	0.0
Turnout			214,212
	Democratic hold

  65+% won by Timmerman

See also

• Governor of South Carolina
• List of governors of South Carolina
• South Carolina gubernatorial elections
• South Carolina United States Senate election, 1954

References

• Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876–1962. pp. 47–48.
• "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of South Carolina to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, South Carolina: 1955, p. 9.

External links

• SCIway Biography of Governor George Bell Timmerman

Preceded by 1950

South Carolina gubernatorial elections

Succeeded by 1958