1902 South Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1902 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1902, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Duncan Clinch Heyward won the Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election to become the 88th governor of South Carolina.

1902 South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff

← 1900 September 9, 1902 (1902-09-09) 1904 →
 
Candidate Duncan Heyward W. Jasper Talbert
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 50,662 40,490
Percentage 55.6% 44.4%

Governor before election

Miles Benjamin McSweeney
Democratic

Elected Governor

Duncan Clinch Heyward
Democratic

Democratic primary

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The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor on August 26 and Duncan Clinch Heyward emerged as the frontrunner. His victory against W. Jasper Talbert, a congressman of the 2nd congressional district, in the runoff on September 9 came as a surprise because Heyward was relatively unknown outside of Colleton County. Heyward, an aristocratic planter, attributed his win due to running a "clean and sincere campaign."[1]

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
Duncan Clinch Heyward 36,551 38.3
W. Jasper Talbert 18,218 19.1
Martin Frederick Ansel 17,685 18.6
James H. Tillman 16,398 17.2
W.H. Timmerman 6,515 6.8
Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
Duncan Clinch Heyward 50,662 55.6 +17.3
W. Jasper Talbert 40,490 44.4 +25.3

General election

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The general election was held on November 4, 1902, and Duncan Clinch Heyward was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition. Being a non-presidential election and few contested races, turnout was much less than the previous gubernatorial election.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1902
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Duncan Clinch Heyward 31,817 100.0 0.0
Majority 31,817 100.0 0.0
Turnout 31,817
Democratic hold
  65+% won by Heyward

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Lander, Ernest: A History of South Carolina 1865-1960, page 47. University of South Carolina Press, 1970.

References

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  • Lander, Ernest McPherson Jr. (1970). A History of South Carolina, 1865–1960. University of South Carolina Press. p. 47. ISBN 0-87249-169-2.
  • Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876–1962. pp. 22–24.
  • "State Primary Election". The News and Courier. August 30, 1902. p. 1.
  • "Now We Know Who is Who!". The News and Courier. September 12, 1902. p. 1.
  • "Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume II. Columbia, South Carolina: 1903, pp. 1374–1375.
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Preceded by
1900
South Carolina gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
1904