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 County results Sanford: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Gavin: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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The1960 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1960.Democratic nomineeTerry Sanford defeatedRepublican nomineeRobert L. Gavin with 54.45% of the vote.
By 1960, many of the North Carolina's leading Democratic politicians from the previous two decades were dead. The incumbent governor,Luther H. Hodges did not have a strong political organization and was retiring from politics.[1]
Primary elections were held on May 28, 1960.[2]
John Davis Larkins Jr. was the first Democrat to declare his candidacy, announcing his bid on January 20, 1960.[3] 25.8% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.[4]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Terry Sanford | 269,463 | 41.26 | |
| Democratic | I. Beverly Lake Sr. | 181,692 | 27.82 | |
| Democratic | Malcolm B. Seawell | 101,148 | 15.49 | |
| Democratic | John Davis Larkins Jr. | 100,757 | 15.43 | |
| Total votes | 653,060 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Terry Sanford | 352,133 | 56.07 | |
| Democratic | I. Beverly Lake Sr. | 275,905 | 43.93 | |
| Total votes | 628,038 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Terry Sanford | 735,248 | 54.45% | ||
| Republican | Robert L. Gavin | 613,975 | 45.47% | ||
| Majority | 121,273 | ||||
| Turnout | 1,350,360 | ||||
| Democratichold | Swing | ||||
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