1982 Georgia gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1982 United States gubernatorial elections.

1982 Georgia gubernatorial election

November 2, 1982

Nominee Joe Frank Harris Robert H. Bell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 734,090 434,496 Percentage 62.82% 37.18%

County results Harris:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Bell:      50–60%

Governor before election George Busbee Democratic Elected Governor Joe Frank Harris Democratic

The 1982 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Joe Frank Harris was elected as the 78th Governor of Georgia.

Democratic nomination

Candidates

Nominee

• Joe Frank Harris, state representative

Eliminated in runoff

• Bo Ginn, U.S. representative from Georgia's 1st congressional district (1973–1983)

Eliminated in primary

• Buck Melton, Mayor of Macon, Georgia (1975–1979)
• Billy Lovett, member of the Georgia Public Service Commission (1979–1990)
• Henry Jackson
• Jack Watson, White House Chief of Staff (1980–1981)
• Mildred Glover, state representative (1975–1983)
• Mac McNease
• Norman Underwood, Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals (1979)
• Thomas J. Irwin

Democratic primary election results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bo Ginn	316,019	35.11
	Democratic	Joe Frank Harris	233,545	24.84
	Democratic	Norman Underwood	147,535	16.39
	Democratic	Jack Watson	114,553	12.72
	Democratic	Billy Lovett	62,341	6.93
	Democratic	Buck Melton	20,052	2.23
	Democratic	Mildred Glover	8,958	1.00
	Democratic	Henry Jackson	2,706	0.30
	Democratic	Mac McNease	2,545	0.28
	Democratic	Thomas J. Irwin	1,855	0.21

Democratic runoff results

Democratic primary runoff results by county:

  Harris

•   Harris—50–60%
•   Harris—60–70%
•   Harris—80–90%
•   Harris—<90%

  Ginn

•   Ginn—50–60%
•   Ginn—60–70%
•   Ginn—70–80%
•   Ginn—80–90%

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joe Frank Harris	500,765	54.97
	Democratic	Bo Ginn	410,259	45.03

Republican nomination

Robert H. Bell won the primary with 36,347 votes (59.19%) over Benjamin B. Blackburn and his 25,063 votes (40.81%).

General election results

Though the Democrats once again won the election, Bell did win five counties (Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Fayette, Bulloch) and the GOP gained their most votes in an election since Howard Callaway in 1966. As of 2022, this is the last time that DeKalb County voted for the Republican candidate for governor.

Georgia gubernatorial Election 1974

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Joe Frank Harris	734,090	62.79%
	Republican	Robert H. Bell	434,496	37.17%
	Democratic hold		Swing