The 1954 Florida gubernatorial special election was held on November 2, 1954, to elect a successor to Daniel T. McCarty, who died in office on September 28, 1953.
State Senator LeRoy Collins won the Democratic nomination in a three-way race against acting Governor Charley E. Johns and J. Brailey Odham. He defeated Johns in a run-off election with 54.8% of the vote. In the general election, Collins faced J. Thomas Watson, the former Attorney General who had switched his party affiliation to run as a Republican in the special election. However, Watson died two weeks before the election, and Collins won a landslide with 80.43% of the vote.
Background
On September 28, 1953, Governor Daniel T. McCarty, who was elected in the 1952 gubernatorial election, died in office of pneumonia. McCarty's death elevated Florida Senate President Charley E. Johns to acting governor and a special election for November 1954 was called to fill the position for the final two years of McCarty's term. The state constitution was revised in 1968 to establish a position of Lieutenant Governor who is first in line to succeed the governor.
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on May 4, 1954, with the Democratic runoff held on May 25, 1954.
Democratic primary
30.1% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.
Candidates
- LeRoy Collins, State Senator
- Charley E. Johns, incumbent acting Governor
- J. Brailey Odham, former State Representative
Republican primary
1.6% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.
Candidates
- J. Thomas Watson, former Florida Attorney General
- Charles E. Compton
General election
Candidates
- LeRoy Collins, Democratic
- J. Thomas Watson, Republican
Campaign
Watson, the Republican nominee, died on 24 October. His name remained on the ballot.