The 1946 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946 to select the
governor of the state of
South Carolina.
Strom Thurmond won the contested
Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election becoming the
103rd governor of South Carolina.
The
South Carolina Democratic Party held their
primary for governor in the summer of 1946 and ten candidates entered the contest. The race featured Governor
Ransome Judson Williams, who became governor in 1945 upon the resignation of
Olin D. Johnston, but it mainly became a contest between
Strom Thurmond and James McLeod. Strom Thurmond was a World War II veteran and advocated a progressive platform whereas, James McLeod, a
physician from
Florence County, had the support of the "
Barnwell Ring" and sought to maintain the status quo.
Race was not an issue in the campaign and Strom Thurmond emerged victorious with the support of the returning
veterans of World War II who wanted to reform
South Carolina.
Edgar, Walter (1998). South Carolina A History. University of South Carolina Press.
ISBN1-57003-255-6.
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876–1962. pp. 44–46.
"Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of South Carolina to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, South Carolina: 1947, p. 10.