Georgia gubernatorial election, 1970

Georgia gubernatorial election of 1970

← 1966 November 3, 1970 1974 →
Nominee Jimmy Carter Hal Suit Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 620,419 424,983 Percentage 59.28% 40.6%
Governor before election Lester Maddox Democratic Elected Governor Jimmy Carter Democratic

Lester Maddox
Democratic

Jimmy Carter
Democratic

The Georgia gubernatorial election of 1970 was held on November 3. It was marked by the election as Governor of Georgia of the relatively little-known former state Senator Jimmy Carter after a hard battle in the Democratic primary. This election is notable because Carter, often regarded as one of the New South Governors, ran for President in 1976 on his gubernatorial record and won.

Under the Georgia constitution of 1945 incumbent Democratic Governor Lester Maddox was prohibited from seeking re-election.

Initially the strongest candidate was former Governor (1963–67) Carl E. Sanders. Sanders was a moderate, who worked to improve education, the environment and led the transition away from racial segregation with cooperation with the United States Federal Government. He left office at the peak of his popularity.

His main opponent was former State Senator and candidate for the gubernatorial nomination in 1966, Jimmy Carter.

Carter ran on a populist platform. He refused to join the segregationist White Citizens' Council, prompting a boycott of his peanut warehouse. He also had been one of only two families which voted to admit blacks to the Plains Baptist Church.

Carter finished first, but failed to win a majority in the Democratic primary on September 9:

A runoff was held on September 23:

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