The 1918 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1918, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Robert Archer Cooper emerged from the crowded Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the one-party state's general election to become the 93rd governor of South Carolina.
The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor on August 27 and progressive reformer Robert Archer Cooper emerged as the winner in a crowded field. He garnered more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary election and was able to avoid a runoff election.
Democratic Primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Robert Archer Cooper
61,900
57.9
John Gardiner Richards, Jr.
31,230
29.2
Andrew J. Bethea
10,362
9.7
John L. McLaurin
1,584
1.5
John T. Duncan
1,256
1.2
John M. DesChamps
496
0.5
General election[]
The general election was held on November 5, 1918, and Robert Archer Cooper was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition. Being a non-presidential election and few contested races, turnout was much less than the previous gubernatorial election.
"Primary Election Results Declared". The News and Courier. 4 September 1918. p. 2.
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876–1962. pp. 33–34.
"Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina. Part II." Reports of State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume II. Columbia, South Carolina: 1919, p. 34.