Ronnie Thompson (Georgia Politician) - Runoff Primary, 1974

Runoff Primary, 1974

In the runoff primary campaign, State GOP Chairman Bob Shaw of Atlanta approached Thompson in a debate and questioned the likelihood of Thompson being indicted as a result of an investigation into gambling in Macon. Thompson was subpoenaed for three hours before a grand jury but was not indicted. Thompson called for the resignation of Shaw and the entire sixty-seven members of the state executive committee.

Thompson prevailed in the second Republican primary balloting, 22,211 (50.6 percent) to Dye's 21,669 (49.4 percent). Considering the ongoing schism, Dye and other party leaders refused to endorse Thompson in the general election.