1975 Mississippi gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1975 Mississippi gubernatorial election presidential Mississippi Flag of Mississippi (1894-1996).svg 1971 Mississippi gubernatorial election 1971 1979 Mississippi gubernatorial election 1979 no November 5, 1975 Cliff Finch.jpg Cliff Finch Democratic Party (United States) 369,568 52.19% Gil Carmichael.png 150x150px Gil Carmichael Republican Party (United States) 319,632 45.14% 1975 Mississippi gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 170px County results Finch: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90%Carmichael: #FFB2B2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Governor Bill Waller Democratic Party (United States) Cliff Finch Democratic Party (United States) The 1975 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1975, in order to elect the Governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Democrat Bill Waller was term-limited, and could not run for reelection to a second term. To date, this was the last time Washington County voted for the Republican candidate. Democratic primary No candidate received a majority in the Democratic primary, which featured 6 contenders, so a runoff was held between the top two candidates. The runoff election was won by former state representative Cliff Finch, who defeated Lieutenant Governor William Winter. Results Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1975http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=51903 MS Governor D Primary 1975 Our Campaigns December 4, 2016 Democratic Party (United States) William Winter 286,652 36.29 Democratic Party (United States) Cliff Finch 253,829 32.14 Democratic Party (United States) Maurice Dantin 179,472 22.72 Democratic Party (United States) John Arthur Eaves 50,606 6.41 Democratic Party (United States) Leman Gandy 11,966 1.52 Democratic Party (United States) David Perkins 7,369 0.93 789,894 100.00 Runoff Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff, 1975http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=51904 MS Governor D Primary Runoff 1975 Our Campaigns December 4, 2016 Democratic Party (United States) Cliff Finch 442,865 57.69 Democratic Party (United States) William Winter 324,749 42.31 767,614 100.00 General election Campaign During the campaign, Finch forged a coalition of African American and working class white voters in a populist-style gubernatorial campaign, adopted the campaign slogan "The working man's friend". This campaign tactic proved popular as Finch was elected over Republican nominee Gil Carmichael and the African American independent candidate Henry Kirksey. Carmichael did, however, draw 45 percent of the vote, an exceptionally high figure for a statewide Republican candidate at that time. Results Mississippi gubernatorial election, 1975http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=51902 MS Governor 1975 Our Campaigns December 4, 2016 Democratic Party (United States) Cliff Finch 369,568 52.19 Republican Party (United States) Gil Carmichael 319,632 45.14 Independent (politician) Henry Jay Kirksey 18,883 2.67 708,083 100.00 Democratic Party (United States) Analysis Historian David Sansing described Mississippi's 1975 gubernatorial election as "one of the most unusual in the state's history".Sansing 2016 215 References 30em Works cited Sansing David G. Mississippi Governors: Soldiers, Statesmen, Scholars, Scoundrels Nautilus Publishing Company first 2016 Oxford 978-1-936946-81-5 1975 gubernatorial Mississippi Category:1975 in Mississippi Category:November 1975 in the United States