1870 South Carolina gubernatorial election

1870 South Carolina gubernatorial election

October 19, 1870
 
Nominee Robert Kingston Scott Richard B. Carpenter
Party Republican Union Reform
Alliance - Democratic
Popular vote 85,071 51,537
Percentage 62.27% 37.72%

County results
Scott:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Carpenter:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Robert Kingston Scott
Republican

Elected Governor

Robert Kingston Scott
Republican

The 1870 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on October 19, 1870, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Governor Robert Kingston Scott easily won reelection based entirely on the strength of the black vote in the state. The election was significant because white conservatives of the state would justify later actions with assertions that their loss demonstrated the impossibility of political harmony between the white and black race, and that only through violent insurrection and the use of terror would they be able to seize control of the state government.