1954 Georgia gubernatorial election

The 1954 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1954.

1954 Georgia Democratic gubernatorial primary

September 8, 1954

Nominee Marvin Griffin Melvin Thompson Tom Linder Party Democratic Democratic Democratic Electoral vote 302 56 26 Popular vote 234,690 162,007 87,240 Percentage 36.32% 25.07% 13.50%   Nominee Fred Hand Charlie Gowen Party Democratic Democratic Electoral vote 22 4 Popular vote 78,125 73,809 Percentage 12.09% 11.42%

County results Griffin:      20-30%      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Thompson:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Linder:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60–70% Hand:      20-30%      30-40%      40-50% ...      80-90% Gowen:      80-90%

Governor before election Herman Talmadge Democratic Elected Governor Marvin Griffin Democratic

Lieutenant Governor Marvin Griffin won the Democratic primary on September 8 with 36.52% of the vote and 302 out of 410 county unit votes. At this time, Georgia was a one-party state, and the Democratic nomination was tantamount to victory. Griffin won the November general election without an opponent.

This was the final of Melvin Thompson's three failed bids for Governor.

Democratic primary

Declared

• Marvin Griffin, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
• Charlie Gowen, State Representative from Brunswick
• Fred Hand, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives
• Tom Linder, Commissioner of Agriculture
• Melvin Thompson, former Governor (1947–48)

Results

Georgia gubernatorial Democratic primary, 1954[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Marvin Griffin	234,690	36.32%
	Democratic	Melvin Thompson	162,007	25.07%
	Democratic	Tom Linder	87,240	13.50%
	Democratic	Fred Hand	78,125	12.09%
	Democratic	Charlie Gowen	73,809	11.42%
	Democratic	Grace Wilkey Thomas	6,285	0.97%
	Democratic	Ben Garland	2,847	0.44%
	Democratic	Edmond Barfield	747	0.12%
	Democratic	Arthur H. Neeson	485	0.08%
Turnout			646,235

General election

Results

Georgia gubernatorial election, 1954[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Marvin Griffin	331,899	99.98%
	N/A	write-ins	67	0.02%
Majority			331,832	99.96
Turnout			331,966
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=383045
2. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=171174