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 County results Riley: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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An election was held on November 2, 1982, to select thegovernor 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. GovernorRichard Riley, the popularDemocratic incumbent, easily defeatedRepublican W. D. Workman, Jr. and became the first governor sinceThomas Gordon McLeod in1924 to be elected to a second consecutive term.
As of 2025[update], 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 inSouth Carolina.[original research?]
GovernorRichard Riley faced no opposition fromSouth Carolina Democrats and avoided aprimary election.
TheSouth Carolina Republican Party held theirprimary 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 Primary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| W. D. Workman, Jr. | 17,128 | 81.8 |
| Roddy T. Martin | 3,816 | 18.2 |
The general election was held on November 2, 1982 and Richard Riley was elected as the nextgovernor 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.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Richard Riley (incumbent) | 468,787 | 69.78 | +8.5 | |
| Republican | W. D. Workman, Jr. | 202,806 | 30.19 | −7.5 | |
| No party | Write-Ins | 184 | 0.0 | −0.1 | |
| Majority | 265,981 | 39.6 | +16.0 | ||
| Turnout | 671,777 | 54.6 | −2.6 | ||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Preceded by 1978 | South Carolina gubernatorial elections | Succeeded by 1986 |
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