Florida gubernatorial election, 1974

In the Florida gubernatorial election of 1974, the sitting Governor of Florida] was re-elected. 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. (In 1956, T. LeRoy Collins, who was elected for the rest of deceased Governor Tom McCarty's term, won his own full term.)

Democratic nomination

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 in primary on September 5 [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=135936 Our Campaigns - FL Governor - D Primary Race - Sep 05, 1974 ] ] :

* Gov. Reubin O'Donovan Askew - 579,137 (68.83%)
* Citrus magnate Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. - 137,008 (16.28%)
* Lt. Gov. Thomas Burton Adams, Jr. - 85,557 (10.17%)
* Norman Bie - 39,758 (4.73%)

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

Republican nomination

Jerry Thomas won the Republican Party nomination without an opposition.

General election results

Election day was November 5 [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=96892 Our Campaigns - FL Governor Race - Nov 05, 1974 ] ]

* (I) Reubin O'Donovan Askew (D) - 1,118,954 (61.20%)
* Jerry Thomas (R) - 709,438 (38.80%)

Williams, as he ran on the joint ticket, replaced Burton as 2nd Florida Lt. Gov.

References