June 8, 1976:
Jimmy Carter wins the Ohio Democratic primary, a victory that essentially sews up his party's presidential nomination.
The former Georgia governor receives 52 percent of the vote, easily topping his closest competitor, Rep. Mo Udall of Arizona, by 31 percentage points. Carter's victory in Ohio begins a parade of endorsements, from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to erstwhile rivals George Wallace and Henry Jackson. It is thought to be the earliest time a candidate won his party's presidential nomination in advance of the national convention.
The California presidential primaries, held the same day, do not garner the same attention. Gov. Jerry Brown, as expected, easily wins the Democratic contest. Brown, an extremely popular governor, won 59 percent of the vote. Ronald Reagan, another California favorite son, wins the Republican primary by nearly two to one over President Gerald Ford. Reagan and Ford will continue to battle it out up until the GOP convention in Kansas City.
Today in Campaign History is a daily feature on Political Junkie.
categories: Today In Campaign History
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