He was defeated by a more liberal candidate, Hal Suit, an Atlanta news broadcaster who opposed capital punishment.
In the primary race, Bentley carried the backing of the 1966 Republican gubernatorial standard-bearer and the state's Republican national committeeman, Howard Callaway, even though Bentley had earlier voted for Callaway's Democratic opponent, Lester Maddox (who was ultimately elected as governor by the state legislature).
Bentley said that he was shunned by the GOP regulars who "seemed somewhat indignant because we had not consulted the Republican leadership before we joined."
Bentley blamed his primary loss on "stand-pat" Republicans practicing "kamikaze" politics.
[1] Suit subsequently lost the general election to Democrat Jimmy Carter, 41-59 percent.