Governorship
Burns defeated Republican Charles Holley in the November 3 general election to become Governor of Florida. He was sworn in on January 5, 1965, to serve an abbreviated two year term. This short term came about because the cycle of gubernatorial elections was changed so as not to coincide with presidential election years. While in office, he oversaw progress in the development of a new state constitution, as well as new areas of outdoor recreation and industry. Also, Governor Burns opposed the death penalty and allowed no executions (the last pre-Furman execution in Florida took place in 1964).
Governor Burns is also remembered for participating in a news conference at the Cherry Plaza Hotel in Orlando on November 15, 1965 introducing Walt and Roy Disney to Florida as they announced that the state would be the location of their "East Coast Disneyland."
The 1966 gubernatorial elections pitted the sitting governor against Robert King High, a popular Miami politician. This primary was significant because Burns represented the conservative wing of the Democratic Party and High was the choice of the liberals from South Florida. Governor Burns lost the 1966 Democratic primary and then did not support High in the general election. Political observers in Florida point to High's supposed failure to seek such endorsement from Burns. This left the party divided in the face of united Republican support for Claude Kirk. He left office on January 3, 1967 as the first Democratic Governor of Florida in history to be succeeded by a Republican since Reconstruction.
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