1971 Mississippi gubernatorial election

Summary

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]

1971 Mississippi gubernatorial election

← 1967 November 2, 1971 1975 →
 
Nominee Bill Waller Charles Evers
Party Democratic Independent
Popular vote 601,222 172,762
Percentage 77.0% 22.1%

County results

Waller:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90%

Evers:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

Governor before election

John Bell Williams
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bill Waller
Democratic

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]

As of 2023, this is the most recent time that Rankin County voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election.

Democratic primary edit

Mississippi Democratic Party primary, 1971[3]
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 edit

Mississippi Democratic Party Primary Runoff, August 24, 1971[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William L. Waller 389,952 54.22
Democratic Charles L. Sullivan 329,236 45.78

Republican primary edit

No Republican primary was held.

General election edit

Evers' campaign was supported by civil rights leader Coretta Scott King, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Mayor of New York John Lindsay.[2]

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.[4]

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.[5]

Results edit

Mississippi gubernatorial election, 1971[3]
Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic William L. Waller 601,222 77.02
Independent Charles Evers 172,762 22.13
Independent Tom P. Brady 6,653 0.85

References edit

  1. ^ "Gov.-elect Bryant's 8 appointments could impact college board". November 22, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  2. ^ a b McFadden, Robert D. (July 22, 2020). "Charles Evers, Businessman and Civil Rights Leader, Dies at 97". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Sumners, Cecil L. (1998). The Governors of Mississippi. Pelican Publishing. p. 140. ISBN 9781455605217.
  4. ^ Reed, Roy (November 3, 1971). "Evers Is Defeated In Large Turnout In Mississippi Vote". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  5. ^ Powers, Thomas. "Letter from a Lost Campaign". Harper's Magazine (March 1972).