The 1908 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1908, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Governor Martin Frederick Ansel faced state senatorColeman Livingston Blease in the Democratic primary and emerged victorious to win a second two-year term as governor.
Coleman Livingston Blease entered the state Democraticprimary for governor as the only opposition to incumbent Governor Martin Frederick Ansel. The voters saw no reason to not give Ansel another term for governor and Blease was defeated rather decisively on August 25.
Democratic Primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Martin Frederick Ansel
62,867
59.9
Coleman Livingston Blease
42,100
40.1
General election[]
The general election was held on November 3, 1908, and Martin Frederick Ansel 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.
"Primary Results Declared". The News and Courier. 30 August 1908. p. 1.
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. p. 26.
"Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina. Part II." Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume III. Columbia, SC: 1909, pp. 154–155.