1971 Mississippi gubernatorial election
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![]() County results Waller:
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60-70%
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Elections in Mississippi |
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The 1971 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on 2 November 1971 for the post of Governor of Mississippi. The incumbent governor, Democrat John Bell Williams, was ineligible due to term limits, a rule that was changed to two back-to-back terms in the 1980s.[1]
Democrat Bill Waller, the former District Attorney of Hinds County, was chosen as his party's nominee in a contested primary. Running as an independent, Mayor of Fayette Charles Evers became the first African-American candidate for Governor of Mississippi.[2]
Democratic primary[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Charles L. Sullivan | 288,219 | 37.78 | |
Democratic | William L. Waller | 227,424 | 29.81 | |
Democratic | James E. "Jimmy" Swan | 128,946 | 16.90 | |
Democratic | Roy C. Adams | 45,445 | 5.96 | |
Democratic | Ed Pittman | 38,170 | 5.00 | |
Democratic | Marshall Perry | 18,021 | 2.36 | |
Democratic | Andrew W. Sullivan | 16,762 | 2.20 |
Democratic primary runoff[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | William L. Waller | 389,952 | 54.22 | |
Democratic | Charles L. Sullivan | 329,236 | 45.78 |
Republican primary[]
No Republican primary was held.[4]
General election[]
Evers' campaign was supported by civil rights leader Coretta Scott King, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Mayor of New York John Lindsay.[5]
According to The New York Times, Waller ran a relatively moderate campaign. However, one report noted that Waller's campaign featured "racially ragged edges", such as airing radio commercials that played the song "Dixie" and receiving support from segregationist politicians like James Eastland.[6]
Following Waller's victory, Evers drove across town to a local TV station to congratulate him. A reporter later wrote that
Waller's aides learned Evers was in the building and tried to hustle the governor-elect out of the studio as soon as the interview ended. They were not quite quick enough. Surrounded by photographers, reporters, and television crews, Evers approached Waller's car just as it was about to pull out. Waller and his wife were in the back seat. "I just wanted to congratulate you," said Evers. "Whaddya say, Charlie?" boomed Waller. His wife leaned across with a stiff smile and shook the loser's hand. During the campaign Evers told reporters that his main purpose in running was to encourage registration of black voters.[7]
Results[]
Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | William L. Waller | 601,222 | 77.02 | |
Independent | Charles Evers | 172,762 | 22.13 | |
Independent | Charles L. Sullivan | 6,653 | 0.85 |
References[]
- ^ "Gov.-elect Bryant's 8 appointments could impact college board". 22 November 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ McFadden, Robert D. (2020-07-22). "Charles Evers, Businessman and Civil Rights Leader, Dies at 97". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
- ^ "MS Governor – D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ a b c "MS Governor - D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ McFadden, Robert D. (2020-07-22). "Charles Evers, Businessman and Civil Rights Leader, Dies at 97". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
- ^ Reed, Roy (1971-11-03). "Evers Is Defeated In Large Turnout In Mississippi Vote". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
- ^ Powers, Thomas. "Letter from a Lost Campaign". Harper's Magazine (March 1972).
- 1971 Mississippi elections
- Mississippi gubernatorial elections
- 1971 United States gubernatorial elections
- November 1971 events in the United States