1960 North Carolina gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1960 United States gubernatorial elections.

1960 North Carolina gubernatorial election

November 8, 1960

Nominee Terry Sanford Robert L. Gavin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 735,248 613,975 Percentage 54.45% 45.47%

County results Sanford:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Gavin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Luther H. Hodges Democratic Elected Governor Terry Sanford Democratic

The 1960 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1960. Democratic nominee Terry Sanford defeated Republican nominee Robert L. Gavin with 54.45% of the vote.

Background

By 1960, many of the North Carolina's leading Democratic politicians from the previous two decades were dead. The incumbent governor, Luther H. Hodges did not have a strong political organization and was retiring from politics.^[1]

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 28, 1960.^[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Terry Sanford, former State Senator
• I. Beverly Lake Sr., attorney
• Malcolm B. Seawell, North Carolina Attorney General
• John Davis Larkins Jr., former State Senator

John Davis Larkins Jr. was the first Democrat to declare his candidacy, announcing his bid on January 20, 1960.^[3] 25.8% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.^[4]

Results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Terry Sanford	269,463	41.26
	Democratic	I. Beverly Lake Sr.	181,692	27.82
	Democratic	Malcolm B. Seawell	101,148	15.49
	Democratic	John Davis Larkins Jr.	100,757	15.43
Total votes			653,060	100.00

Democratic primary runoff results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Terry Sanford	352,133	56.07
	Democratic	I. Beverly Lake Sr.	275,905	43.93
Total votes			628,038	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Terry Sanford, Democratic
• Robert L. Gavin, Republican

Results

1960 North Carolina gubernatorial election^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Terry Sanford	735,248	54.45%
	Republican	Robert L. Gavin	613,975	45.47%
Majority			121,273
Turnout			1,350,360
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. Drescher 2000, p. 59.
2. "North Carolina Manual". 1991. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
3. Drescher 2000, p. 63.
4. Steed, Moreland & Baker 1980, p. 28.
5. Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015-2016, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781506368993. Retrieved May 28, 2019.

Works cited

• Drescher, John (2000). Triumph of Good Will: How Terry Sanford Beat a Champion of Segregation in and Reshaped the South. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 1-57806-310-8. - Read online, registration required

Works cited

• Steed, Robert; Moreland, Laurence; Baker, Tod, eds. (1980). Party Politics in the South. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0030565863.