James Strom Thurmond Sr. was an American politician who represented South Carolina in the United States Senate from 1954 to 2003. Before his 47 years as a senator,he served as the 103rd governor of South Carolina from 1947 to 1951. Thurmond was a member of the Democratic Party until 1964,when he joined the Republican Party. He had earlier run for president in 1948 as the Dixiecrat candidate in opposition to Democrat Harry Truman,receiving over a million votes and winning four states,and endorsed Republican Dwight Eisenhower for president in the 1950s.
The 1990 United States Senate elections were held on Tuesday,November 6,1990,with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. The Democratic Party increased its majority with a net gain of one seat from the Republican Party. The election cycle took place in the middle of President George H. W. Bush's term,and as with most other midterm elections,the party not holding the presidency gained seats in Congress. This was the first time since 1980 that any party successfully defended all their own seats,and the first time Democrats did so since 1958.
The 1986 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate. Held on November 4,in the middle of Ronald Reagan's second presidential term,the 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. The Republicans had to defend an unusually large number of freshman Senate incumbents who had been elected on President Ronald Reagan's coattails in 1980. Democrats won a net of eight seats,defeating seven freshman incumbents,picking up two Republican-held open seats,and regaining control of the Senate for the first time since January 1981. This remains the most recent midterm election cycle in which the sitting president's party suffered net losses while still flipping a Senate seat.
The 1984 United States Senate elections were held on November 6,with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. They coincided with the landslide re-election of President Ronald Reagan in the presidential election. In spite of the lopsided presidential race,Reagan's Republican Party suffered a net loss of two Senate seats to the Democrats,although it retained control of the Senate with a reduced 53–47 majority.
The 1978 United States Senate elections were held on November 7,in the middle of Democratic President Jimmy Carter's term. The 33 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies.
The 1972 United States Senate elections were held on November 7,with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. They coincided with the landslide re-election of Republican President Richard Nixon. Despite Nixon's landslide victory,Democrats increased their majority by two seats. The Democrats picked up open seats in Kentucky and South Dakota,and defeated four incumbent senators:Gordon Allott of Colorado,J. Caleb Boggs of Delaware,Jack Miller of Iowa,and Margaret Chase Smith of Maine. The Republicans picked up open seats in New Mexico,North Carolina,and Oklahoma,and defeated one incumbent,William B. Spong Jr. of Virginia.
The 1966 United States Senate elections were elections on November 8,1966,for the United States Senate which occurred midway through the second term of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The 33 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. With divisions in the Democratic base over the Vietnam War,and with the traditional mid-term advantage of the party not holding the presidency,the Republicans took three Democratic seats,thereby breaking Democrats' 2/3rds supermajority. Despite Republican gains,the balance remained overwhelmingly in favor of the Democrats,who retained a 64–36 majority. Democrats were further reduced to 63–37,following the death of Robert F. Kennedy in June 1968.
The 1962 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate. Held on November 6,the 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. They occurred in the middle of President John F. Kennedy's term. His Democratic Party made a net gain of four seats from the Republicans,increasing their control of the Senate to 68–32. However,this was reduced to 67–33 between the election and the next Congress,as on November 18,1962,Democrat Dennis Chávez,who was not up for election that year,died. He was replaced on November 30,1962,by Republican appointee Edwin L. Mechem. Additionally,Democrat Strom Thurmond became a Republican in 1964,further reducing Democrats to 66–34. This was the first time since 1932 that Democrats gained seats in this class of Senators.
The 1956 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate that coincided with the re-election of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The 32 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections,and three special elections were held to fill vacancies. Although Democrats gained two seats in regular elections,the Republicans gained two seats in special elections,leaving the party balance of the chamber unchanged.
The 1954 United States Senate elections was a midterm election in the first term of Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency. The 32 Senate seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections,and six special elections were held to fill vacancies. Eisenhower's Republican party lost a net of two seats to the Democratic opposition. This small change was just enough to give Democrats control of the chamber with the help of the Independent who at the start of this Congress in January 1955 agreed to caucus with them;he later officially joined the party in April 1955.
The South Carolina Republican Party (SCGOP) is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in South Carolina. It is one of two major political parties in the state,along with the South Carolina Democratic Party,and is the dominant party. Incumbent governor Henry McMaster,as well as senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham,are members of the Republican party. Graham has served since January 3,2003,having been elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2008,2014,and 2020;Tim Scott was appointed in 2013 by then-governor Nikki Haley,who is also a Republican.
The 2002 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 5,2002. Longtime Republican incumbent Strom Thurmond decided to retire at the age of 100,becoming the first centenarian to ever serve in Congress;he later died in June 2003. Thurmond's record as the longest-serving Senator in U.S. history was later surpassed by West Virginia's Robert Byrd.
The 1984 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 6,1984,to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Republican Senator Strom Thurmond cruised to re-election against Democratic challenger Melvin Purvis.
Electoral history of Strom Thurmond,103rd Governor of South Carolina (1947–1951),United States Senator from South Carolina,1948 States' Rights Democrats presidential nominee and President pro tempore of the United States Senate.
William Walter "Billy" Wilkins Jr. is a former United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and a former United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Timothy Eugene Scott is an American businessman and politician serving as the junior United States senator from South Carolina since 2013. A member of the Republican Party,he previously served as a member of the Charleston County Council,a state representative,and a U.S. Representative. He also worked in financial services before entering politics.
Paul Reynolds Thurmond is an American politician from the state of South Carolina. A member of the Republican Party,Thurmond is a former member of the South Carolina Senate. He is the youngest child of Strom Thurmond,who served in the United States Senate for 48 years.
William Richardson Timmons IV is an American attorney,entrepreneur,and politician serving as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district since 2019. His district is in the heart of the Upstate and includes Greenville,Spartanburg,and most of their suburbs. A member of the Republican Party,Timmons served as a South Carolina state senator from 2016 to 2018.
Strom Thurmond served in the United States Senate from 1956 to 2003. He was a supporter of the presidencies of Richard Nixon,Gerald Ford,Ronald Reagan,George H. W. Bush,and George W. Bush.
DeAndrea Gist Benjamin is an American lawyer serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She previously served as a judge of the South Carolina Circuit Court for the fifth district.
