1974 Florida gubernatorial election

The 1974 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Democratic Governor Reubin Askew won re-election to a second term.

This was just the second time after 1956, and the first that the Governor of Florida was re-elected for the second four-year term. This was also the first time a candidate got over one million votes in a Florida governor election.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 10, 1974.

Democratic primary

Incumbent Reubin O'Donovan Askew faced little opposition in the Democratic Party primary. Despite a challenge from his own Lieutenant Governor Thomas Burton Adams, Jr., Askew, a popular member of the "New Southerner" political generation, was renominated easily.

Candidates

• Thomas Burton Adams Jr., incumbent Lieutenant Governor
• Reubin Askew, incumbent Governor
• Ben Hill Griffin Jr., citrus magnate
• Norman Bie, lawyer

Results

J. H. Williams became Askew's running mate for second term.

Republican primary

Candidate

• Jerry Thomas, former President of the Florida Senate, banker

Results

General election

Results

Williams, as he ran on the joint ticket, replaced Adams as Lieutenant Governor.

References

Bibliography

• Congressional Elections, 1946-1996. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-248-4.
• Morris, Allen; Perry Morris, Joan (2014). The Florida Handbook 2013-2014 (PDF). Tallahassee, Florida: Florida House of Representatives.