South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1916

The 1916 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1916 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Governor Richard Irvine Manning III faced a strong challenge from former governor Coleman Livingston Blease in the Democratic primary, but Manning managed to win a second two-year term as governor.

[edit] Democratic Primary

The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor on August 29 and Senator Coleman Livingston Blease entered the race because he was upset with the reforms initiated by Governor Richard Irvine Manning III. Although Blease topped the field in the primary, Manning won the runoff election held on September 12 and was essentially elected to a second two-year term because there was no opposition in the general election.

The general election was held on November 7, 1916 and Richard Irvine Manning III was reelected governor of South Carolina without opposition. Turnout increased over the previous gubernatorial election because there was also a presidential election on the ballot.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1916
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Richard Irvine Manning III	60,396	100.0	0.0
Majority			60,396	100.0	0.0
Turnout			60,396
	Democratic hold

"Results of First Primary Declared", The News and Courier, 6 September 1916, p. 2.
"Governor Manning Declared Nominee", The News and Courier, 20 September 1916, p. 2.

Preceded by 1914	South Carolina gubernatorial elections	Succeeded by 1918

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