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.

1954 Florida gubernatorial special election

November 2, 1954

Nominee LeRoy Collins J. Thomas Watson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 287,769 69,852 Percentage 80.43% 19.52%

County Results Collins:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Governor before election Charley E. Johns (acting) Democratic Elected Governor LeRoy Collins Democratic

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• LeRoy Collins, State Senator
• Charley E. Johns, incumbent acting Governor
• J. Brailey Odham, former State Representative

Results

Democratic primary results[2][3][4]

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

Democratic primary runoff results[5][3][6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	LeRoy Collins	380,323	54.76
	Democratic	Charley E. Johns	314,198	45.24
Total votes			694,521	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• J. Thomas Watson, former Florida Attorney General
• Charles E. Compton

Results

Republican primary results[7][8][9]

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

1954 Florida gubernatorial election[12][13][14][15]

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

1. "Constitution of the State of Florida". Online Sunshine: Official Internet Site of the Florida Legislature. Florida Legislature. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
2. "FL Governor, 1954 - Special D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
3. Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 364.
4. Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 304-305.
5. "FL Governor, 1954 - Special D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
6. Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 320-321.
7. "FL Governor, 1954 - Special R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
8. Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 366.
9. Florida Secretary of State 1953-54, p. 317-318.
10. "Watson, J. Tom". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
11. Glashan, p. 59.
12. Cook, Rhodes, ed. (2015). "America Votes 31: 2013-2014, Election Returns by State". CQ Press. p. 81. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
13. "FL Governor, 1954 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
14. Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 372.
15. 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.