In the 1964 governor's race in Georgia, segregationist Lester Maddox won the Democratic primary, defeating former Governor Ellis Arnall. Maddox, a restaurant owner, gained national attention the year before for closing his business rather than serving African American customers. He ran a controversial campaign centered on staunch opposition to the Civil Rights Movement and integration of schools. Despite his controversial views, Maddox won the primary and went on to become the Governor of Georgia. His victory symbolized the strong resistance to civil rights progress in the South during this turbulent period in American history.
