[1] Democrat Bill Waller, the former District Attorney of Hinds County, was chosen as his party's nominee in a contested primary.

Evers' campaign was supported by civil rights leader Coretta Scott King, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Mayor of New York John Lindsay.

However, one report noted that Waller's campaign featured "racially ragged edges", such as airing radio commercials that played the song "Dixie" and receiving support from segregationist politicians like James Eastland.

A reporter later wrote that: Waller's aides learned Evers was in the building and tried to hustle the governor-elect out of the studio as soon as the interview ended.

During the campaign Evers told reporters that his main purpose in running was to encourage registration of black voters.