May 7, 1968:
Alabama's Lurleen Wallace (D), who ran for governor and won in 1966 as a surrogate for her husband, George — who was barred by state law from seeking re-election — dies of cancer. She was 41 years old, and her death came as George Wallace was pursuing his third-party presidential bid.
Mrs. Wallace, in fact, was already suffering from cancer when she won the governorship in '66. Her death elevates Lt. Gov. Albert Brewer (D) to the governorship. Brewer, a supporter of George Wallace's White House plans, will clash with him in a bitter and ugly 1970 primary when Brewer decides to seek a full term and Wallace wants to return as governor.
Today in Campaign History is a daily feature on Political Junkie.
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