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Jimmy Carter’s Florida Primary victory helped propel him to the presidency

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Updated  December 31, 2024 12:52am EST
Florida
FOX 35 Orlando

How Florida helped propel Jimmy Carter to presidency

Jimmy Carter, a Georgia native, may owe much of his rise to the White House to Florida’s pivotal role in the 1970s.

The Brief

    • Jimmy Carter's 1976 victory in Florida's Democratic primary over George Wallace helped him secure the nomination and ultimately the presidency. 
    • His work with Habitat for Humanity left a lasting impact, with the nonprofit's growth and mission benefiting from his involvement. 
    • While Carter did not found Habitat for Humanity, his humanitarian efforts remain central to its success, especially in Central Florida.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Jimmy Carter, a Georgia native, may owe much of his rise to the White House to Florida’s pivotal role in the 1970s.

"Florida was probably the second-most important state for Jimmy Carter to win the Democratic presidential nomination," said Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida.

Carter’s unexpected victory in Florida’s 1976 Democratic primary over segregationist George Wallace, who had carried the state four years earlier, gave him the momentum needed to secure his party’s nomination.

"When he took over as Governor of Georgia, he announced that this was a new day for Georgia and people were going to be treated equally regardless of the color of their skin," Jewett explained. "He brought that message to Florida, and Florida Democrats — the majority, or at least a plurality of them, 40-plus percent — liked what they heard and voted for Jimmy Carter."

Carter’s tenure in the White House lasted four years, but his humanitarian work with Habitat for Humanity has left an enduring legacy.

"We wouldn’t be in existence and be all across the United States if it wasn’t for President Carter and his humanitarian work and his commitment to affordable housing," said Penny Seater, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka.

Carter became Habitat for Humanity’s most visible volunteer, helping to elevate the nonprofit’s profile and mission. Although he never built houses in Central Florida, his influence is deeply felt in the region.

"If we’re going to continue Jimmy Carter’s legacy, we’re called to build more houses and house more families in our community," Seater said.

Seater noted that Carter is so closely associated with Habitat for Humanity that many people mistakenly believe he founded the organization. While he did not, his contributions have been vital to its growth and success.

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