# 1918 South Carolina gubernatorial election

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The 1918 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1918, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Robert Archer Cooper emerged from the crowded Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the one-party state's general election to become the 93rd governor of South Carolina.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Andrew Bethea, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
* Robert Archer Cooper, former State Representative from Laurens and candidate for Governor in 1914 and 1916
* John M. DesChamps, candidate for Governor in 1916
* John T. Duncan, perennial candidate
* John L. McLaurin, planter and former U.S. Senator (1897–1903) and State Senator from Bennettsville (1913–1914)
* John Gardiner Richards Jr., former State Representative from Liberty Hill, Kershaw County and candidate for Governor in 1910 and 1914

### Campaign

The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor on August 27 and progressive reformer Robert Archer Cooper emerged as the winner in a crowded field. He garnered more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary election and was able to avoid a runoff election.

### Results

Democratic Primary :
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Robert Archer Cooper | 61,900 | 57.9 |
| John Gardiner Richards, Jr. | 31,230 | 29.2 |
| Andrew J. Bethea | 10,362 | 9.7 |
| John L. McLaurin | 1,584 | 1.5 |
| John T. Duncan | 1,256 | 1.2 |
| John M. DesChamps | 496 | 0.5 |

## General election

The general election was held on November 5, 1918, and Robert Archer Cooper was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition. Being a non-presidential election and few contested races, turnout was much less than the previous gubernatorial election.
South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1918 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robert Archer Cooper | 25,267 | 100.0 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,267 | 100.0 | +3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,267 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |