1954 Florida gubernatorial special election
The 1954 Florida gubernatorial special election was held on November 2, 1954. Democratic nominee LeRoy Collins defeated Republican nominee J. Thomas Watson with 80.43% of the vote.
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| Elections in Florida |
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 Government |
Background
On September 28, 1953, Governor Daniel T. McCarty, who was elected in the 1952 gubernatorial election, died in office of pneumonia. McCarty's death elevated Florida Senate President Charley E. Johns to acting governor and a special election for November 1954 was called to fill the position for the final two years of McCarty's term. The state constitution was revised in 1968 to establish a position of Lieutenant Governor who is first in line to succeed the governor.[1]
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on May 4, 1954, with the Democratic runoff held on May 25, 1954.
Candidates
- LeRoy Collins, State Senator
- Charley E. Johns, incumbent acting Governor
- J. Brailey Odham, former State Representative
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charley E. Johns | 255,787 | 38.39 | |
| Democratic | LeRoy Collins | 222,791 | 33.43 | |
| Democratic | J. Brailey Odham | 187,782 | 28.18 | |
| Total votes | 666,360 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | LeRoy Collins | 380,323 | 54.76 | |
| Democratic | Charley E. Johns | 314,198 | 45.24 | |
| Total votes | 694,521 | 100.00 | ||
Candidates
- J. Thomas Watson, former Florida Attorney General
- Charles E. Compton
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J. Thomas Watson | 24,429 | 67.89 | |
| Republican | Charles E. Compton | 11,552 | 32.11 | |
| Total votes | 35,981 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Candidates
- LeRoy Collins, Democratic
- J. Thomas Watson, Republican
Campaign
Watson, the Republican nominee, died on 24 October. His name remained on the ballot.[10][11]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | LeRoy Collins | 287,769 | 80.43% | ||
| Republican | J. Thomas Watson | 69,852 | 19.52% | ||
| Write-ins | 162 | 0.05% | |||
| Majority | 217,917 | 60.91% | |||
| Turnout | 357,783 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
References
- "Constitution of the State of Florida". Online Sunshine: Official Internet Site of the Florida Legislature. Florida Legislature. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- "FL Governor, 1954 - Special D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 364.
- Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 304-305.
- "FL Governor, 1954 - Special D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 320-321.
- "FL Governor, 1954 - Special R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 366.
- Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 317-318.
- "Watson, J. Tom". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- Glashan, p. 59.
- Cook, Rhodes, ed. (2015). America Votes 31: 2013-2014, Election Returns by State. CQ Press. p. 81. ISBN 9781483383026. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- "FL Governor, 1954 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 372.
- Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 324-325.
Bibliography
- Morris, Allen (1965). The Florida Handbook, 1965-66. Tallahassee, FL: The Peninsular Publishing Company.
- Gray, R. A. (1955). Report of the Secretary of State of Florida, 1953-54.
- Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
