1982 South Carolina gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1982 South Carolina gubernatorial election South Carolina presidential no 1978 South Carolina gubernatorial election 1978 1986 South Carolina gubernatorial election 1986 November 2, 1982 Image:Portrait of SC Governor Dick Riley.jpg 150x150px Richard Riley Democratic Party (United States) 468,787 69.78% File:William D. Workman in 1962 (cropped).jpg W. D. Workman Jr. Republican Party (United States) 202,806 30.19% 1982 South Carolina gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 230px County resultsRiley: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% Governor Richard Riley Democratic Party (United States) Richard Riley Democratic Party (United States) An election was held on November 2, 1982, to select the governor of South Carolina. The state constitution was amended by the voters on November 4, 1980 to allow for the governor to serve a second consecutive four-year term. Governor Richard Riley, the popular Democratic incumbent, easily defeated Republican W. D. Workman Jr. and became the first governor since Thomas Gordon McLeod in 1924 to be elected to a second consecutive term. 2025, this is the only time a Democratic governor won a second term since the constitution was amended to allow for two consecutive terms. It was also the last election that a Democrat has carried every county in South Carolina, and the last South Carolina gubernatorial race where any candidate won every county. April 2022 Democratic primary Governor Richard Riley faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats and avoided a primary election. Republican primary The South Carolina Republican Party held their primary for governor in the summer of 1982. The lack of a Democratic primary for Governor gave the Republicans an opportunity to increase interest in their party, but the popularity of Governor Richard Riley prevented many additional voters from participating in the primary. W. D. Workman Jr. decisively defeated Roddy T. Martin and earned the right to face Riley in the general election. Republican PrimaryCandidateVotes% W. D. Workman Jr. 17,128 81.8 Roddy T. Martin 3,816 18.2 General election The general election was held on November 2, 1982 and Richard Riley was elected as the next governor of South Carolina. Turnout decreased from the previous gubernatorial election because of the uncompetitive nature of the race. Riley won every County in the state. South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1982 Democratic Party (United States) Richard Riley (incumbent) 468,787 69.78 +8.5 Republican Party (United States) W. D. Workman Jr. 202,806 30.19 -7.5 No party Write-Ins 184 0.0 -0.1 265,981 39.6 +16.0 671,777 54.6 -2.6 |- | Democratic Party (United States) | colspan=5 |Democratic hold |- See also Governor of South Carolina List of governors of South Carolina South Carolina gubernatorial elections External links SCIway Biography of Governor Richard Wilson Riley 1978 South Carolina gubernatorial elections 1986 Gubernatorial 1982 Category:1982 United States gubernatorial elections