Florida gubernatorial election, 1970

The Florida gubernatorial election of 1970 took place on November 3.

Overview

Incumbent Governor of Florida Claude Roy Kirk, Jr. was the first Republican who held Florida's governorship since Reconstruction. He was elected in 1966, when Republicans has made some gains in traditionally Democratic Deep South.

Republican nomination

Kirk defeated Jack Eckerd in a runoff election for the Republican nomination.

Democratic nomination

Candidates

• President pro tempore of the Florida Senate Reubin O'Donovan Askew
• Earl Faircloth
• Chuck Hall
• John E. Mathews

In primaries, held on September 3, none of these candidates was able to win majority, which resulted runoff.^[1]

• Faircloth – 227,413 (29.96%)
• Askew – 206,333 (27.18%)
• Mathews – 186,053 (24.51%)
• Hall – 139,384 (18.36%)

Runoff (October 3):^[2]

• Askew – 447,025 (57.68%)
• Faircloth – 328,038 (42.32%)

Thomas Burton Adams, Jr, Secretary of State, became Askew running mate.

General election

Askew and Adams defeated incumbents Governor Kirk and Lieutenant Governor Ray C. Osborn with respectable margin.^[3]

• Reubin Askew/Thomas Burton Adams, Jr. (D) – 984,305 (56.88%)
• Claude Roy Kirk, Jr./Ray C. Osborn (R, Inc.) – 746,243 (43.12%)

On the very same day Florida elected to the United States Senate Democrat Lawton Chiles, who later was elected Governor in 1990.

References

1. Our Campaigns - FL Governor - D Primary Race - Sep 03, 1970
2. Our Campaigns - FL Governor - D Runoff Race - Oct 03, 1970
3. Our Campaigns - FL Governor Race - Nov 03, 1970