The 1964 governors race in Georgia was important because it marked a pivotal moment in the state's political history. The race was notable for being the first time in over 100 years that a Republican candidate, Howard "Bo" Callaway, came within a whisker of winning the governorship. Callaway lost to the Democratic candidate, Lester Maddox, by a narrow margin.
The race highlighted the growing divide between conservative Democrats and the emerging Republican Party in the South. Callaway's strong showing signaled the beginning of the end of Democratic dominance in Georgia politics and foreshadowed the eventual shift towards the Republican Party that would occur in the coming decades.
Overall, the 1964 governors race in Georgia represented a turning point in the state's political landscape and set the stage for the rise of the Republican Party as a significant force in Georgia politics.
why is the 1964 governors race important to Georgia?
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