1970 Georgia gubernatorial election

1970 Georgia gubernatorial election

← 1966 November 3, 1970 1974 →
 
Nominee Jimmy Carter Hal Suit
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 620,419 424,983
Percentage 59.35% 40.65%

County results
Carter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Suit:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Lester Maddox
Democratic

Elected Governor

Jimmy Carter
Democratic

The 1970 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. It was marked by the election as Governor of Georgia of the relatively little-known former state senator Jimmy Carter after a hard battle in the Democratic primary. This election is famous because Carter, who was often regarded as one of the New South Governors, later ran for president in 1976 on his gubernatorial record and won. As of 2024, this was the last time Fulton County was carried by the Republican candidate in a gubernatorial election, the only time it failed to back Carter, and the last time a Democrat in any race won without carrying it. It is also the last time that Clarke County voted for the Republican candidate for governor.