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

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1982 Georgia gubernatorial election

← 1978 November 2, 1982 1986 →

Nominee Joe Frank Harris Robert H. Bell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 734,090 434,496 Percentage 62.8% 37.2%

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

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With 10 candidates, including Jack Watson and Buck Melton, running, Bo Ginn won the primary with 316,019 votes (35.11%) to 2nd place Joe Frank Harris and his 223,545 votes (24.84%), necessitating a runoff. In the runoff, Harris prevailed with 500,765 votes (54.97%) to Ginn's 410,259 votes (45.03%).^[1][2]

Robert H. Bell won the primary with 36,347 votes (59.19%) over Benjamin B. Blackburn and his 25,063 votes (40.81%).^[3]

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.