1944 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

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1944 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina
Flag of South Carolina.svg
  1942 November 7, 1944 (1944-11-07) 1946  

All 6 South Carolina seats to the United States House of Representatives
 Majority party
 
Party Democratic
Last election6
Seats won6
Seat changeSteady2.svg

SC1932-1946CD.svg
District results
Democratic
  90–100%

The 1944 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 7, 1944, to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. All five incumbents who ran were re-elected and the open seat in the 2nd congressional district was retained by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation thus remained solely Democratic.

Contents

1st congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel Rivers of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1941, defeated Republican challenger O.H. Wilcox.

General election results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1944
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent)15,32692.8−7.2
Republican O.H. Wilcox1,1907.2+7.2
No party Write-Ins 10.00.0
Majority 14,13685.6−14.4
Turnout 16,517
Democratic hold

2nd congressional district special election

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Hampton P. Fulmer of the 2nd congressional district died on October 19, 1944, and a special election was called for November 7 to be held simultaneously with the regular election. Fulmer's widow, Willa L. Fulmer, was unopposed in the special election to serve out the remainder of the term.

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district special election results, 1944
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Willa L. Fulmer 7,943100.00.0
Majority 7,943100.00.0
Turnout 7,943
Democratic hold

2nd congressional district

Willa L. Fulmer, who ran in the special election for the 2nd congressional district, was not also a contestant for the regular election to the 79th Congress. John J. Riley won the Democratic primary on November 1 and defeated Republican H.G. Willingham in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
CandidateVotes%
John J. Riley 11,772 52.2
Joe E. Berry 8,161 36.2
D.M. Winter 2,607 11.6

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1944
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic John J. Riley 19,34298.0−2.0
Republican H.G. Willingham3982.0+2.0
No party Write-Ins 10.00.0
Majority 18,94496.0−4.0
Turnout 19,741
Democratic hold

3rd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Butler B. Hare of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1939, won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican D.F. Merrill in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
CandidateVotes%
Butler B. Hare 26,320 55.4
R.L. "Buck" Gamble 14,484 30.5
Leon Rice 6,692 14.1

General election results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1944
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Butler B. Hare (incumbent)13,10597.0−3.0
Republican D.F. Merrill4043.0+3.0
No party Write-Ins 30.00.0
Majority 12,70194.0−6.0
Turnout 13,512
Democratic hold

4th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Joseph R. Bryson of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Republican challenger J.G. Jones.

General election results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1944
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Joseph R. Bryson (incumbent)20,98895.7−4.3
Republican J.G. Jones9344.3+4.3
Majority 20,05491.4−8.6
Turnout 21,922
Democratic hold

5th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, defeated Republican challenger W.I. Bost.

General election results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1944
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic James P. Richards (incumbent)14,43598.1−1.9
Republican W.I. Bost2781.9+1.9
Majority 14,15796.2−3.8
Turnout 14,713
Democratic hold

6th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Republican challenger C.B. Ruffin.

General election results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1944
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic John L. McMillan (incumbent)14,16498.0−2.0
Republican C.B. Ruffin2912.0+2.0
No party Write-Ins 20.00.0
Majority 13,87396.0−4.0
Turnout 14,457
Democratic hold

See also

References