South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1982
Encyclopedia
The 1982 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982 to select the governor
of the state of South Carolina
. The state constitution was amended by the voters on November 4, 1980 to allow for the governor to serve a second consecutive four year term. Governor Richard Riley
, the popular Democratic
incumbent, easily defeated Republican
W. D. Workman, Jr.
and became the first governor since Thomas Gordon McLeod
in 1924
to be elected to a second consecutive term.
Richard Riley
faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats
and avoided a primary election
.
held their primary
for governor in the summer of 1982. The lack of a Democratic primary for Governor gave the Republicans an opportunity to increase interest in their party, but the popularity of Governor Richard Riley prevented many additional voters from participating in the primary. W. D. Workman, Jr.
decisively defeated Roddy T. Martin and earned the right to face Riley in the general election.
. Turnout
decreased from the previous gubernatorial election because of the uncompetitive nature of the race.
| colspan=5 |Democratic
hold
|-
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
of the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. The state constitution was amended by the voters on November 4, 1980 to allow for the governor to serve a second consecutive four year term. Governor Richard Riley
Richard Riley
Richard Wilson Riley , American politician, was United States Secretary of Education under President Bill Clinton and the 111th Governor of South Carolina. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, the popular Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent, easily defeated Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
W. D. Workman, Jr.
W. D. Workman, Jr.
William Douglas Workman, Jr. , was a conservative journalist and a pioneer in the development of the modern South Carolina Republican Party. He carried his party's banner as an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1962 and for the governorship in 1982.Workman was born in Greenwood to Mr....
and became the first governor since Thomas Gordon McLeod
Thomas Gordon McLeod
Thomas Gordon McLeod was the 95th Governor of South Carolina from 1923 to 1927.Born in Lynchburg, South Carolina to William J...
in 1924
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1924
The 1924 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1924 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Governor Thomas Gordon McLeod won the Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election being reelected for a second two-year term.-Democratic primary:The...
to be elected to a second consecutive term.
Democratic primary
GovernorGovernor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
Richard Riley
Richard Riley
Richard Wilson Riley , American politician, was United States Secretary of Education under President Bill Clinton and the 111th Governor of South Carolina. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats
South Carolina Democratic Party
The South Carolina Democratic Party is the South Carolina affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. The Democratic party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 and the mid-1850s and was one of the causes of the collapse of the Whig Party....
and avoided a primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
.
Republican primary
The South Carolina Republican PartySouth Carolina Republican Party
The South Carolina Republican Party and the South Carolina Democratic Party are the two major political parties within the U.S. state of South Carolina...
held their primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for governor in the summer of 1982. The lack of a Democratic primary for Governor gave the Republicans an opportunity to increase interest in their party, but the popularity of Governor Richard Riley prevented many additional voters from participating in the primary. W. D. Workman, Jr.
W. D. Workman, Jr.
William Douglas Workman, Jr. , was a conservative journalist and a pioneer in the development of the modern South Carolina Republican Party. He carried his party's banner as an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1962 and for the governorship in 1982.Workman was born in Greenwood to Mr....
decisively defeated Roddy T. Martin and earned the right to face Riley in the general election.
| Republican Primary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % |
General election
The general election was held on November 2, 1982 and Richard Riley was elected as the next governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
. Turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
decreased from the previous gubernatorial election because of the uncompetitive nature of the race.
| colspan=5 |Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
hold
|-
See also
- Governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South CarolinaThe Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
- List of Governors of South Carolina
- South Carolina gubernatorial elections