Election
The 1986 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina . Carroll A. Campbell Jr. , a Republican representative of the 4th congressional district , narrowly defeated Democrat Michael R. Daniel to become the 112th governor of South Carolina and only the second Republican governor since Reconstruction .
Democratic primary The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor on June 10. Michael R. Daniel was declared the official candidate for the Democrats despite not obtaining 50% of the vote because second-place finisher, Winthrop University president Philip Lader , declined a runoff election.[1]
Republican primary Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. faced no opposition from South Carolina Republicans and avoided a primary election .
General election The general election was held on November 4, 1986, and Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. was elected as the next governor of South Carolina in the closest election percentage wise since the disputed election of 1876 . Turnout was higher than the previous gubernatorial election because of the increasingly competitive nature of the race between the two parties.
South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1986 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Republican Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. 384,565 51.0 +20.8 Democratic Michael R. Daniel 361,328 47.9 -21.9 Libertarian William Griffin 4,211 0.6 +0.6 American Millard Smith 3,304 0.4 +0.4 No party Write-Ins 341 0.1 +0.1 Majority 23,237 3.1 -36.5 Turnout 753,749 57.8 +3.2 Republican gain from Democratic
1986 South Carolina gubernatorial election map, by percentile by county. 65+% won by Campbell
60%-64% won by Campbell
55%-59% won by Campbell
50%-54% won by Campbell
50%-54% won by Daniel
55%-59% won by Daniel
60%-64% won by Daniel
65+% won by Daniel
See also References ^ "Runoff Rules It's Time To Change Them". The Charlotte Observer . June 22, 1986. p. ED. External links SCIway Biography of Governor Carroll Ashmore Campbell, Jr.