2016 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

←  2014 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2018  →
All 7 South Carolina seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 6 1 Seats won 6 1 Seat change Popular vote 1,193,711 800,801 Percentage 58.53% 39.27% Swing 5.02% 6.20%
Party gains District results County results Republican   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90% Democratic   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80% Winners   Republican Hold   Democratic Hold

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the seven U.S. representatives from the state of South Carolina, one from each of the state's seven congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on June 14.

Overview

District	Republican		Democratic		Others		Total		Result
	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
District 1	190,410	58.56%	119,779	36.84%	14,981	4.61%	325,170	100.0%	Republican hold
District 2	183,746	60.25%	109,452	35.89%	11,798	3.87%	304,996	100.0%	Republican hold
District 3	198,431	72.82%	73,766	27.07%	284	0.10%	272,481	100.0%	Republican hold
District 4	198,648	67.19%	91,676	31.01%	5,346	1.81%	295,670	100.0%	Republican hold
District 5	175,909	59.07%	115,437	38.77%	6,435	2.16%	297,781	100.0%	Republican hold
District 6	70,099	27.61%	177,947	70.09%	5,855	2.31%	253,901	100.0%	Democratic hold
District 7	176,468	60.96%	112,744	38.95%	251	0.09%	289,463	100.0%	Republican hold
Total	1,193,711	58.53%	800,801	39.27%	44,950	2.20%	2,039,462	100.0%

Popular vote Republican   58.53% Democratic   39.27% Other   2.20%

House seats Republican   85.71% Democratic   14.29%

District 1

2016 South Carolina's 1st congressional district election

←  2014 2018  →

Nominee Mark Sanford Dimitri Cherny Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 190,410 119,779 Percentage 58.6% 36.8%

Results by county Results by precinct Sanford:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Cherry:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Tie:     50%

U.S. Representative before election Mark Sanford Republican Elected U.S. Representative Mark Sanford Republican

See also: South Carolina's 1st congressional district

The 1st district is located on the Atlantic coastal plain, from Seabrook Island to the border with North Carolina and includes most of Charleston and Myrtle Beach. The incumbent is Republican Mark Sanford, who has represented the district since 2013, and previously from 1995 to 2001. The district had a PVI of R+11.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mark Sanford, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Jenny Horne, state representative ^[1]

Campaign

During the campaign, Sanford had a significant fundraising advantage over Horne. During their sole debate the two expressed contrasting views on Donald Trump with Sanford saying that “I think he says some things which are very, very strange. Some of which are destructive.” with Horne saying that “I think what Donald Trump is appealing to is the anger and frustration that a lot of us feel in the U.S...” ^[2]

Results

Horne polled stronger than expected with Sanford receiving 56% of the vote to Horne's 44%. ^[3]

Republican primary results ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Sanford (incumbent)	21,299	55.6
	Republican	Jenny Horne	17,001	44.4
Total votes			38,300	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dimitri Cherny, truck driver, former high-tech product manager and activist

He also received the Working Families and Green Party nominations.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [5]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Daily Kos Elections [6]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Rothenberg [7]	Safe R	November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball [8]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
RCP [9]	Safe R	October 31, 2016

Results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district, 2016 ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Sanford (incumbent)	190,410	58.6
	Democratic	Dimitri Cherny	119,779	36.8
	Libertarian	Michael Grier Jr.	11,614	3.6
	American	Albert Travison	2,774	0.8
	Write-in		593	0.2
Total votes			325,170	100.0
	Republican hold

District 2

2016 South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election

←  2014 2018  →

Nominee Joe Wilson Arik Bjorn Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 183,746 109,452 Percentage 60.2% 35.9%

Results by county Results by precinct Wilson:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Bjorn:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Tie:     50%      No Data

U.S. Representative before election Joe Wilson Republican Elected U.S. Representative Joe Wilson Republican

See also: South Carolina's 2nd congressional district

The 2nd district is located in central South Carolina and spans from Columbia to the South Carolina side of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area. The incumbent is Republican Joe Wilson, who has represented the district since 2001. The Democratic and Green Party nominee is Arik Bjorn. The district has a PVI of R+16.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Joe Wilson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Arik Bjorn, former manager of South Carolina's SmartState program

Eliminated in primary

• Phil Black, businessman and Republican candidate for this seat in 2008, 2010 & 2012 and nominee for this seat in 2014

Results

Democratic primary results ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Arik Bjorn	9,686	50.1
	Democratic	Phil Black	9,642	49.9
Total votes			19,328	100.0

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [5]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Daily Kos Elections [6]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Rothenberg [7]	Safe R	November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball [8]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
RCP [9]	Safe R	October 31, 2016

Results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district, 2016 ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Wilson (incumbent)	183,746	60.2
	Democratic	Arik Bjorn	109,452	35.9
	American	Eddie McCain	11,444	3.8
	Write-in		354	0.1
Total votes			304,996	100.0
	Republican hold

District 3

2016 South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election

←  2014 2018  →

Nominee Jeff Duncan Hosea Cleveland Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 198,431 73,766 Percentage 72.8% 27.1%

Results by county Results by precinct Duncan:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Bjorn:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

U.S. Representative before election Jeff Duncan Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jeff Duncan Republican

See also: South Carolina's 3rd congressional district

The 3rd district is located in western South Carolina. The incumbent is Republican Jeff Duncan, who has represented the district since 2011. The district has a PVI of R+18.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jeff Duncan, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Hosea Cleveland, small business owner and candidate for this seat in 2014

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [5]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Daily Kos Elections [6]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Rothenberg [7]	Safe R	November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball [8]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
RCP [9]	Safe R	October 31, 2016

Results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district, 2016 ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeff Duncan (incumbent)	198,431	72.8
	Democratic	Hosea Cleveland	73,766	27.1
	Write-in		284	0.1
Total votes			272,481	100.0
	Republican hold

District 4

2016 South Carolina's 4th congressional district election

←  2014 2018  →

Nominee Trey Gowdy Chris Fedalei Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 198,648 91,676 Percentage 67.2% 31.0%

Results by county Results by precinct Gowdy:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Fedali:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

U.S. Representative before election Trey Gowdy Republican Elected U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy Republican

See also: South Carolina's 4th congressional district

The 4th district is located in Upstate South Carolina. The incumbent is Republican Trey Gowdy, who has represented the district since 2011. The district had a PVI of R+15.

Republican primary

After Gowdy declined to run for House Majority Leader following the announcement of the resignation of Speaker of the House John Boehner, in 2015, John Fleming, a Republican Congressman from Louisiana, told reporters that Gowdy would not run for reelection in 2016. Gowdy's office denied the report, ^[11] and said that Gowdy had "every intention" of running in 2016. ^[12]

Candidates

Nominee

• Trey Gowdy, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Chris Fedalei, attorney

General election

In the November general election, Gowdy faces Democrat Chris Fedalei, a 26-year-old attorney who has never held elected office. ^[13]

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 24, 2016

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [5]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Daily Kos Elections [6]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Rothenberg [7]	Safe R	November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball [8]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
RCP [9]	Safe R	October 31, 2016

Results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2016 ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Trey Gowdy (incumbent)	198,648	67.2
	Democratic	Chris Fedalei	91,676	31.0
	Constitution	Michael Chandler	5,103	1.7
	Write-in		243	0.1
Total votes			295,670	100.0
	Republican hold

District 5

2016 South Carolina's 5th congressional district election

←  2014 2017 (special)  →

Nominee Mick Mulvaney Fran Person Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 175,909 115,437 Percentage 59.1% 38.8%

Results by county Results by precinct Mulvaney:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Person:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

U.S. Representative before election Mick Mulvaney Republican Elected U.S. Representative Mick Mulvaney Republican

See also: South Carolina's 5th congressional district

The 5th district is located in northern South Carolina. The incumbent is Republican Mick Mulvaney, who has represented the district since 2011. The district has a PVI of R+9.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mick Mulvaney, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Ray Craig, international ministry aid worker

Results

Republican primary results ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mick Mulvaney (incumbent)	22,603	78.3
	Republican	Ray Craig	6,280	21.7
Total votes			28,883	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Fran Person, former aide to Joe Biden and former University of South Carolina football player ^[14]

Withdrawn

• John King, state representative ^[15]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [5]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Daily Kos Elections [6]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Rothenberg [7]	Safe R	November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball [8]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
RCP [9]	Safe R	October 31, 2016

Results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district, 2016 ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mick Mulvaney (incumbent)	175,909	59.1
	Democratic	Fran Person	115,437	38.8
	American	Rudy Barnes Jr	6,239	2.1
	Write-in		196	0.1
Total votes			297,781	100.0
	Republican hold

District 6

2016 South Carolina's 6th congressional district election

←  2014 2018  →

Nominee Jim Clyburn Laura Sterling Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 177,947 70,099 Percentage 70.1% 27.6%

Results by county Results by precinct Clyburn:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Sterling:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Tie:     40–50%     No Data

U.S. Representative before election Jim Clyburn Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn Democratic

See also: South Carolina's 6th congressional district

The 6th district is located in central and southern South Carolina. The incumbent is Democrat Jim Clyburn, who has represented the district since 1993. The Green Party nominee is Prince Charles Mallory. The district has a PVI of D+21.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim Clyburn, incumbent U.S. Representative

Withdrawn

• Ben Garves

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Laura Sterling

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [5]	Safe D	November 7, 2016
Daily Kos Elections [6]	Safe D	November 7, 2016
Rothenberg [7]	Safe D	November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball [8]	Safe D	November 7, 2016
RCP [9]	Safe D	October 31, 2016

Results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district, 2016 ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Clyburn (incumbent)	177,947	70.1
	Republican	Laura Sterling	70,099	27.6
	Libertarian	Rich Piotrowski	3,131	1.2
	Green	Prince Charles Mallory	2,499	1.0
	Write-in		225	0.1
Total votes			253,901	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 7

2016 South Carolina's 7th congressional district election

←  2014 2018  →

Nominee Tom Rice Mal Hyman Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 176,468 112,744 Percentage 61.0% 38.9%

Results by county Results by precinct Rice:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Hyman:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

U.S. Representative before election Tom Rice Republican Elected U.S. Representative Tom Rice Republican

See also: South Carolina's 7th congressional district

The 7th district is located in northeastern South Carolina. The incumbent is Republican Tom Rice, who has represented this district since 2013. The Democratic and Green Party candidate is Mal Hynam. The district has a PVI of R+7.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tom Rice, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mal Hyman, Coker University professor ^[16]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [5]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Daily Kos Elections [6]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
Rothenberg [7]	Safe R	November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball [8]	Safe R	November 7, 2016
RCP [9]	Safe R	October 31, 2016

Results

South Carolina's 7th congressional district, 2016 ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom Rice (incumbent)	176,468	61.0
	Democratic	Mal Hyman	112,744	38.9
	Write-in		251	0.1
Total votes			289,463	100.0
	Republican hold

References

1. "SC Rep. Jenny Horne considering bid for Congress". The State. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
2. "Mark Sanford, Jenny Horne face off in ETV debate". Post and Courier. June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
3. "Mark Sanford wins GOP primary in tighter race than expected". Charleston Scene. June 14, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
4. "June 14, 2016 Statewide Primary Election official results". South Carolina State Election Commission. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
5. "2016 House Race Ratings for November 7, 2016". House: Race Ratings. Cook Political Report . Retrieved November 12, 2016.
6. "Daily Kos Elections House race ratings: Initial ratings for 2016". Daily Kos Elections . Retrieved November 7, 2016.
7. "2016 House Ratings (November 3, 2016)". House Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report . Retrieved November 3, 2016.
8. "2016 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
9. "Battle for the House 2016". Real Clear Politics . Retrieved October 31, 2016.
10. "2016 Statewide General Election official results". South Carolina State Election Commission. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
11. "Trey Gowdy Aide Denies Retirement Report". At the Races. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
12. "Trey Gowdy: "Every intention" to run again". The Greenville News. September 30, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
13. Chris Lavender (March 4, 2016). "Spartanburg native Chris Fedalei to challenge Gowdy". Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
14. Jamie Self (February 29, 2016). "Former Biden aide running for Congress in SC". thestate.com. The State. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
15. Bristow Marchant (April 9, 2016). "Rock Hill's John King drops out of congressional race". heraldonline.com. The Herald (Rock Hill). Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
16. Jim Faile (February 11, 2016). "Coker professor Mal Hyman announces bid for S.C. 7th District seat". scnow.com. The Hartsville Messenger. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2023.

External links

• U.S. House elections in South Carolina, 2016 at Ballotpedia
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets