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1966 Florida gubernatorial election

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1966 Florida gubernatorial election

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FieldValue
election_name1966 Florida gubernatorial election
countryFlorida
flag_year1900
typepresidential
ongoingno
previous_election1964 Florida gubernatorial election
previous_year1964
next_election1970 Florida gubernatorial election
next_year1970
election_dateNovember 8, 1966
<!-- Claude Kirk -->image1File:Kirk cropped.jpg
image_size150x150px
nominee1**Claude R. Kirk Jr.**
party1Republican Party of Florida
popular_vote1**821,190**
percentage1**55.13%**
<!-- Robert King -->image2File:Gubernatorial candidate Robert King High speaking to supporters in Tallahassee (cropped).jpg
nominee2Robert K. High
party2Florida Democratic Party
popular_vote2668,233
percentage244.86%
map_image1966 Florida gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
map_size300px
map_captionCounty results
titleGovernor
before_electionW. Haydon Burns
before_partyDemocratic Party (United States)
after_electionClaude Roy Kirk Jr.
after_partyRepublican Party (United States)
turnout66.50% (of registered voters)

Kirk:
High:
The 1966 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1966. During the primary election, the results from the Democratic Party were close among three of the four candidates. Thus, the top two Democrat candidates – incumbent Governor of Florida William "Haydon" Burns and Mayor of Miami Robert King High – competed in a runoff election on May 24, 1966. In an upset outcome, Robert King High was chosen over W. Haydon Burns as the Democratic Gubernatorial nominee. In contrast, the Republican primary was rather uneventful, with businessman Claude Roy Kirk Jr. easily securing the Republican nomination against Richard Muldrew. This was the first time since 1876, and the last time until 1986, that a Republican was elected governor.

On Election Day – November 8 – Claude Kirk won the general election with 821,190 (55.13%) votes versus Robert High's 668,233 (44.86%) votes. As a result, Claude Kirk became the first Republican elected to the office of Governor of Florida since Ossian B. Hart in 1872. At the time of the election, the Florida Constitution did not include a provision allowing a lieutenant governor. However, after a new state constitution was adopted in 1968, Governor Kirk appointed Ray C. Osborn as Lieutenant Governor of Florida, the first to serve in that office since Milton H. Mabry in 1889. As of 2022, this is the last time that a Republican gubernatorial nominee has carried Broward County.

Background

Democratic Haydon Burns, who won the gubernatorial election in 1964, was up for re-election. Although gubernatorial elections in Florida are normally every four years, the cycle of gubernatorial elections was changed so as not to coincide with presidential election years. Thus, the Governor of Florida elected in 1964 would serve from January 5, 1965 to January 3, 1967, while the next term would last from January 3, 1967 – January 5, 1971.

Democratic nomination

Candidates

  • Haydon Burns, incumbent governor
  • Sam Foor
  • Robert King High, Mayor of Miami and candidate for governor in 1964
  • Scott Kelly, State Senator from Lakeland and candidate for governor in 1964

Campaign

In September 1965, a poll with a sample size exceeding 3,000 people indicated Governor Haydon Burns had an approval rating of 75%. However, by March 1966, the Governor's approval rating fell to 56%, due to Burns' alleged dishonesty, lack of integrity, and showing favoritism. In that same "confidential" poll Robert High surprisingly led Haydon Burns by 34%-28.5%, while Scott Kelly received 18.5% and 19% were left undecided. Due to the "stunning" results this poll conducted by Haydon Burns' campaign managers, they attempted to cover up it up. By the end of November, the three major Democratic candidates in 1964 all announced their intention to run for governor in 1966, which were incumbent governor Haydon Burns, Mayor of Miami Robert King, and State Senator Scott Kelly. Additionally, it was speculated that former governor Thomas "LeRoy" Collins would also challenge Burns in the primary, but instead ran for United States Senate in 1968. Eventually a fourth person, Tallahassee publisher Sam Foor, decided to enter the race, though he was not considered a "serious contender".

28.3% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary. Both the Democratic and Republican primary election took place on May 3, 1966. The results of the Democratic primary were Haydon Burns with 372,451 votes (35.35%), Robert High with 338,281 votes (32.11%), Scott Kelly with 331,580 votes (31.47%), and Sam Foor with 11,343 votes (1.08%). Because none of the four candidates received at a majority of votes, a runoff election was held between Haydon Burns and Robert King, the top two candidates, on May 24, 1966. After the run-off election, Robert High defeated Haydon Burns by a margin of 596,471-509,271 (53.94%-46.065). Thus, Robert King High was the Democratic nominee for the 1966 gubernatorial election in Florida.

Results

Democratic Primary Runoff by county{{collapsible list

Republican nomination

Candidates

  • Claude Kirk, Businessman and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 1964
  • Richard Muldrew, Brevard County commissioner

3.5% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.

Results

General election

After a bitter Democratic primary election, defeated incumbent governor Haydon Burns refused to endorse nominee Robert High. However, High was able to draw endorsements from major Florida newspapers, labor unions, and other Democratic politicians in Florida. High made unpopular proposals, such as a severance tax on phosphate and tightening the sales tax on all products except food and drugs. Republican nominee Claude Kirk promised to veto new taxes and abolish a program calling for several millions of dollars in additional taxation. Kirk also noted that a vote for him would be a vote against inflation and warned voters about the "Johnson–Humphrey-High Administration". The general election campaign was described as "dreary", with a projected voter turnout of less than 65%.

Results

References

Bibliography

References

  1. "Our Campaigns - FL Governor Race - Nov 08, 1966".
  2. Michael Mello, ''Deathwork: Defending the Condemned'', University of Minnesota Press, 2002, {{ISBN. 0-8166-4088-2, {{ISBN. 978-0-8166-4088-1
  3. Rowland Evans and Robert Novak. (March 15, 1966). "Poll Shows High Leading Burns". [[Tampa Bay Times]].
  4. Jack Ledden. (November 28, 1965). "'Rerun' Governor's Race Seen For 1966". [[The Palm Beach Post]].
  5. (March 23, 2003). "FL US Senate". Our Campaigns.
  6. (May 3, 1966). "Six Vie For Governor Nominations". [[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]].
  7. "FL Governor, 1966 - D Primary". Our Campaigns.
  8. "FL Governor, 1966 - D Runoff". Our Campaigns.
  9. "FL Governor, 1966 - R Primary". Our Campaigns.
  10. (November 8, 1966). "Is It High Or Kirk? Ballot To Tell Tale". [[Palm Beach Daily News]].
  11. "FL Governor, 1966". Our Campaigns.
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