 The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor in the summer of 1958 and it became a heated contest between Lieutenant Governor Ernest Hollings and the former president of the University of South Carolina, Donald S. Russell.Hollings emerged victorious from the runoff and effectively became the next governor of South Carolina because there was no opposition in the general election.The general election was held on November 4, 1958 and Ernest Hollings was elected the next governor of South Carolina without opposition.