List of United States Senators from South Carolina

Last updated

Current delegation

South Carolina ratified the United States Constitution on May 23, 1788. Its Senate seats were declared vacant in July 1861 owing to its secession from the Union. They were again filled from July 1868. The state's current U.S. Senators are Republicans Lindsey Graham, serving since 2003, and Tim Scott, serving since 2013.

South Carolina State of the United States of America

South Carolina is a state in the Southeastern United States and the easternmost of the Deep South. It is bordered to the north by North Carolina, to the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the southwest by Georgia across the Savannah River.

United States Senate Upper house of the United States Congress

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress which, along with the United States House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the legislature of the United States. The Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C.

Union (American Civil War) United States national government during the American Civil War

During the American Civil War (1861–1865), the Union, also known as the North, referred to the United States of America and specifically to the national government of President Abraham Lincoln and the 20 free states and four border and slave states that supported it. The Union was opposed by 11 southern slave states that formed the Confederate States of America, also known as "the Confederacy" or "the South".

Contents

List of Senators

Class 2

Class 2 U.S. Senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 1996, 2002, 2008, and 2014. The next election will be in 2020.

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Class 3

Class 3 U.S. Senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016. The next election will be in 2022.

#SenatorPartyYears in officeElectoral historyT
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1 Pierce butler.jpg
Pierce Butler
Pro-
Admin.
March 4, 1789 –
October 25, 1796
Elected in 1789.1 1st 1 Elected in 1789.March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1795
Pro-
Admin.
Ralph Izard.jpg
Ralph Izard
1
Anti-
Admin.
2nd
Re-elected in 1793.

Resigned.
2 3rd
Democratic-
Republican
4th 2 Elected during the 1794/95 cycle.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1801
Federalist JacobRead.jpg
Jacob Read
2
VacantOctober 25, 1796 –
December 8, 1796
 
2 John Hunter Democratic-
Republican
December 8, 1796 –
November 26, 1798
Elected to finish Butler's term.

Resigned.
5th
3 Charles Pinckney.jpg
Charles Pinckney
Democratic-
Republican
December 6, 1798 –
June 6, 1801
Elected to finish Hunter's term.
Re-elected in 1799.

Resigned to become U.S. Minister to Spain.
3 6th
7th 3 Elected in 1800.

Died.
March 4, 1801 –
October 26, 1802
Democratic-
Republican
John E. Colhoun.jpg
John E. Colhoun
3
VacantJune 6, 1801 –
December 15, 1801
 
4 ThomasSumter.jpg
Thomas Sumter
Democratic-
Republican
December 15, 1801 –
December 16, 1810
Elected December 3, 1801 to finish Pinckney's term.
 October 26, 1802 –
November 4, 1802
Vacant
Elected to finish Colhoun's term.

Resigned.
November 4, 1802 –
November 21, 1804
Democratic-
Republican
Pierce butler.jpg
Pierce Butler
4
8th
 November 21, 1804 –
December 6, 1804
Vacant
Elected to finish Butler's term.December 6, 1804 –
February 26, 1826
Democratic-
Republican
John Gaillard G000005.jpg
John Gaillard
5
Re-elected December 6, 1804.

Resigned.
4 9th
10th 4 Re-elected in 1806.
11th
VacantDecember 16, 1810 –
December 31, 1810
 
5 John Taylor South Carolina governor.jpg
John Taylor
Democratic-
Republican
December 31, 1810 –
November 1816
Elected to finish Sumter's term.
Re-elected December 20, 1810.

Resigned.
5 12th
13th 5 Re-elected in 1812.
14th
VacantNovember 1816 –
December 4, 1816
 
6 William Smith-SC.jpg
William Smith
Democratic-
Republican
December 4, 1816 –
March 3, 1823
Elected to finish Taylor's term.
Re-elected in 1816.

Lost re-election.
6 15th
16th 6 Re-elected in 1818.
17th
7 Ryhayne.jpg
Robert Y. Hayne
Jacksonian
Republican
March 4, 1823 –
December 13, 1832
Elected in 1822.7 18th Crawford
Republican
Jacksonian 19th 7 Re-elected in 1824.

Died.
Jacksonian
 February 26, 1826 –
March 8, 1826
Vacant
Appointed to continue Gaillard's term.March 8, 1826 –
November 29, 1826
Jacksonian Senatorwilliamharper.jpg
William Harper
6
Elected to finish Gaillard's term.

Lost re-election.
November 29, 1826 –
March 3, 1831
Jacksonian William Smith-SC.jpg
William Smith
7
20th
Re-elected in 1828.

Resigned to become South Carolina Governor.
8 21st
Nullifier 22nd 8 Elected in 1830.
Resigned due to ill health.
March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833
Nullifier Stephen Decatur Miller 8
VacantDecember 13, 1832 –
December 29, 1832
 
8 John C. Calhoun.jpeg
John C. Calhoun
Nullifier December 29, 1832 –
March 3, 1843
Elected to finish Hayne's term.
23rd  March 3, 1833 –
November 26, 1833
Vacant
Elected to finish Miller's term.November 26, 1833 –
November 29, 1842
Nullifier William C. Preston - Brady-Handy.jpg
William C. Preston
9
Re-elected in 1834.9 24th
Democratic 25th 9 Re-elected in 1837. Whig
26th
Re-elected in 1840.

Resigned.
10 27th
 November 29, 1842 –
December 23, 1842
Vacant
Elected to finish Preston's term.December 23, 1842 –
August 17, 1846
Democratic George-McDuffie.jpg
George McDuffie
10
9 Daniel Elliott Huger Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
Elected to finish Calhoun's term.

Resigned.
28th 10 Re-elected during the 1842/43 cycle.
VacantMarch 3, 1845 –
November 26, 1845
  29th
10 JohnCCalhoun.jpeg
John C. Calhoun
Democratic November 26, 1845 –
March 31, 1850
Re-elected to finish Huger's term.
 August 17, 1846 –
December 4, 1846
Vacant
Appointed to continue McDuffie's term.

Elected to finish McDuffie's term.
December 4, 1846 –
May 25, 1857
Democratic APButler.jpg
Andrew Butler
11
Re-elected in 1846.

Died.
11 30th
31st 11 Re-elected in 1848.
VacantMarch 31, 1850 –
April 11, 1850
 
11 FHElmore.jpg
Franklin H. Elmore
Democratic April 11, 1850 –
May 29, 1850
Appointed to continue Calhoun's term.

Died.
VacantMay 29, 1850 –
June 4, 1850
 
12 RWBarnwell.jpg
Robert Woodward Barnwell
Democratic June 4, 1850 –
December 8, 1850
Appointed to continue Elmore's term.

Retired when his successor was elected.
VacantDecember 8, 1850 –
December 18, 1850
 
13 Robert Barnwell Rhett.jpg
Robert Rhett
Democratic December 18, 1850 –
May 7, 1852
Elected to finish Elmore's term.

Resigned.
32nd
VacantMay 7, 1852 –
May 10, 1852
 
14 WilliamDeSaussure.jpg
William F. De Saussure
Democratic May 10, 1852 –
March 3, 1853
Appointed to continue Rhett's term.

Elected November 29, 1852 [1]
15 Hon. Josiah J. Evans, S.C - NARA - 528688.jpg
Josiah J. Evans
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
May 6, 1858
Elected during the 1852/53 cycle.

Died.
12 33rd
34th 12 Re-elected in 1854.

Died.
35th
 May 25, 1857 –
December 7, 1857
Vacant
Elected to finish Butler's term.

Withdrew.
December 7, 1857 –
November 11, 1860
Democratic JHHammond.jpg
James Henry Hammond
12
VacantMay 6, 1858 –
May 11, 1858
 
16 Arthur P. Hayne - Brady-Handy.jpg
Arthur P. Hayne
Democratic May 11, 1858 –
December 2, 1858
Appointed to continue Evans' term.

Retired when his successor was elected.
17 James Chesnut, Jr.jpg
James Chesnut, Jr.
Democratic December 3, 1858 –
November 10, 1860
Elected to finish Evans' term.
Re-elected in 1858.

Withdrew and was later expelled for his support of the Confederate States.
13 36th
VacantNovember 10, 1860 –
July 15, 1868
Civil War and Reconstruction.
Civil War and Reconstruction.November 11, 1860 –
July 16, 1868
Vacant
37th 13
38th
14 39th
40th 14
18 Thomas J. Robertson - Brady-Handy.jpg
Thomas J. Robertson
Republican July 15, 1868 –
March 3, 1877
Elected to finish the vacant term.
Elected to finish the vacant term.July 16, 1868 –
March 3, 1873
Republican FASawyer.jpg
Frederick A. Sawyer
13
41st
Re-elected in 1870.

Retired.
15 42nd
43rd 15 Elected during the 1872/73 cycle.March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1879
Republican John J. Patterson - Brady-Handy.jpg
John J. Patterson
14
44th
19 MatthewButler.jpg
Matthew Butler
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1895
Elected in 1876.16 45th
46th 16 Elected in 1878.March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1891
Democratic Wade Hampton III - Brady-Handy.jpg
Wade Hampton III
15
47th
Re-elected in 1882.17 48th
49th 17 Re-elected in 1884.

Lost re-election.
50th
Re-elected in 1888.

Lost renomination.
18 51st
52nd 18 Elected in 1890.

Retired.
March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1897
Democratic JohnIrby.jpg
John L. M. Irby
16
53rd
20 Benjamintillman.jpg
Benjamin Tillman
Democratic March 4, 1895 –
July 3, 1918
Elected December 11, 1894.19 54th
55th 19 Elected January 26, 1897.

Died.
March 4, 1897 –
May 20, 1897
Democratic Joseph Earle.jpg
Joseph H. Earle
17
 May 20, 1897 –
May 27, 1897
Vacant
Appointed to continue Earle's term.

Elected January 26, 1898 to finish Earle's term. [2]

Retired.
May 27, 1897 –
March 3, 1903
Democratic John Lowndes McLaurin.jpg
John L. McLaurin
18
56th
Re-elected in 1901.20 57th
58th 20 Elected January 27, 1903. [3]

Died.
March 4, 1903 –
February 20, 1908
Democratic Asbury Latimer.jpg
Asbury Latimer
19
59th
Re-elected January 22, 1907. [4] 21 60th
 February 20, 1908 –
March 6, 1908
Vacant
Elected in 1908 to finish Latimer's term.

Retired.
March 6, 1908 –
March 3, 1909
Democratic FrankGary.jpg
Frank B. Gary
20
61st 21 Elected January 26, 1909.March 4, 1909 –
November 17, 1944
Democratic Senator Ellison DuRant Smith.jpg
Ellison D. Smith
21
62nd
Re-elected January 28, 1913.

Died.
22 63rd
64th 22 Re-elected in 1914.
65th
VacantJuly 3, 1918 –
July 6, 1918
 
21 ChristieBenet.jpg
Christie Benet
Democratic July 6, 1918 –
November 5, 1918
Appointed to continue Tillman's term.

Lost election to finish Tillman's term.
22 William P. Pollock.jpg
William P. Pollock
Democratic November 6, 1918 –
March 3, 1919
Elected to finish Tillman's term.

[Data unknown/missing.].
23 Nathaniel B. Dial.jpg
Nathaniel B. Dial
Democratic March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1925
Elected in 1918.

Lost renomination.
23 66th
67th 23 Re-elected in 1920.
68th
24 Coleman L Blease (cropped).jpg
Coleman Livingston Blease
Democratic March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1931
Elected in 1924.

Lost renomination.
24 69th
70th 24 Re-elected in 1926.
71st
25 James F. Byrnes cph.3c32232.jpg
James F. Byrnes
Democratic March 4, 1931 –
July 8, 1941
Elected in 1930.25 72nd
73rd 25 Re-elected in 1932.
74th
Re-elected in 1936.

Resigned.
26 75th
76th 26 Re-elected in 1938.
Lost renomination before dying.
77th
VacantJuly 8, 1941 –
July 22, 1941
 
26 AlvaLumpkin.jpg
Alva M. Lumpkin
Democratic July 22, 1941 –
August 1, 1941
Appointed to continue Byrnes' term.

Died.
27 Roger Craft Peace.jpg
Roger C. Peace
Democratic August 5, 1941 –
November 4, 1941
Appointed to continue Byrnes' term.

Retired when successor elected.
28 Burnet R. Maybank.jpg
Burnet R. Maybank
Democratic November 5, 1941 –
September 1, 1954
Elected to finish Byrnes's term.
Re-elected in 1942.27 78th
 November 17, 1944 –
November 20, 1944
Vacant
Appointed to complete Smith's term.November 20, 1944 –
January 3, 1945
Democratic WiltonHall.jpg
Wilton E. Hall
22
79th 27 Elected in 1944.January 3, 1945 –
April 18, 1965
Democratic Olin D. Johnston, seated portrait.jpg
Olin D. Johnston
23
80th
Re-elected in 1948.

Died.
28 81st
82nd 28 Re-elected in 1950.
83rd
VacantSeptember 1, 1954 –
September 6, 1954
 
29 CharlesEzra2.jpg
Charles E. Daniel
Democratic September 6, 1954 –
December 23, 1954
Appointed to finish Maybank's term.

Resigned early to give successor preferential seniority.
30 StromThurmond.png
Strom Thurmond
Democratic December 24, 1954 –
April 4, 1956
Appointed to finish Daniel's term, having been elected to the next term.
Elected in 1954.

Resigned.
29 84th
31 Wofford Thomas A.jpg
Thomas A. Wofford
Democratic April 5, 1956 –
November 6, 1956
Appointed to continue Thurmond's term.

Retired.
32 Strom Thurmond.jpg
Strom Thurmond
Democratic November 7, 1956 –
January 3, 2003
Elected in 1956 to finish his own term.
85th 29 Re-elected in 1956.
86th
Re-elected in 1960.

Changed parties September 16, 1964.
30 87th
88th 30 Re-elected in 1962.

Died.
Republican
89th
 April 18, 1965 –
April 22, 1965
Vacant
Appointed to continue Johnston's term.

Lost nomination to finish Johnston's term.
April 22, 1965 –
November 8, 1966
Democratic DonaldRussell.jpg
Donald S. Russell
24
Elected to finish Johnston's term.November 9, 1966 –
January 3, 2005
Democratic FritzHollings.jpg
Fritz Hollings
25
Re-elected in 1966.31 90th
91st 31 Re-elected in 1968.
92nd
Re-elected in 1972.32 93rd
94th 32 Re-elected in 1974.
95th
Re-elected in 1978.33 96th
97th 33 Re-elected in 1980.
98th
Re-elected in 1984.34 99th
100th 34 Re-elected in 1986.
101st
Re-elected in 1990.35 102nd
103rd 35 Re-elected in 1992.
104th
Re-elected in 1996.

Retired.
36 105th
106th 36 Re-elected in 1998.

Retired.
107th
33 Lindsey Graham, Official Portrait 2006 (cropped).jpg
Lindsey Graham
Republican January 3, 2003 –
Present
Elected in 2002.37 108th
109th 37 Elected in 2004.January 3, 2005 –
January 1, 2013
Republican Jim DeMint.jpg
Jim DeMint
26
110th
Re-elected in 2008.38 111th
112th 38 Re-elected in 2010.

Resigned to head The Heritage Foundation.
Appointed to continue DeMint's term.

Elected to finish DeMint's term.
January 2, 2013 –
Present
Republican Tim Scott, official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg
Tim Scott
27
113th
Re-elected in 2014.39 114th
115th 39 Re-elected in 2016.
116th
To be determined in the 2020 election.40 117th
118th 40To be determined in the 2022 election.
#SenatorPartyYears in officeElectoral historyT
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Class 2 Class 3

List of living former U.S. Senators from South Carolina

As of April 2019, there is one living former U.S. Senator from South Carolina. The most recent Senator to die was Fritz Hollings (served 1966–2005) on April 6, 2019, who is also the most recently serving Senator to die.

Fritz Hollings Politician from the United States

Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from South Carolina from 1966 to 2005. A conservative Democrat, he was also the Governor of South Carolina and the 77th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. He served alongside Republican Senator Strom Thurmond for 36 years, making them the longest-serving Senate duo in history. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former U.S. Senator.

SenatorPartyTerm of officeClassDate of birth (and age)
Jim DeMint Republican 2005–20133September 2, 1951 (age 67)

See also

Notes

  1. Byrd, p. 164.
  2. Byrd, p. 166.
  3. "South Carolina's Choice". The New York Times. January 28, 1903. p. 8.
  4. The Tribune Almanac and Political Register 1908. New York: The Tribune Association. 1908. p. 260.

References

Robert Byrd U.S. Senator from West Virginia (1959–2010)

Robert Carlyle Byrd was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia for over 51 years, from 1959 until his death in 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, Byrd previously served as a U.S. Representative from 1953 until 1959. He is the longest-serving U.S. Senator in history. In addition, he was, at the time of his death, the longest-serving member in the history of the United States Congress, a record later surpassed by Representative John Dingell of Michigan. Byrd was the last remaining member of the U.S. Senate to have served during the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower, and the last remaining member of Congress to have served during the presidency of Harry S. Truman. Byrd is also the only West Virginian to have served in both chambers of the state legislature and both chambers of Congress.

Washington, D.C. Capital of the United States

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington or D.C., is the capital of the United States. Founded after the American Revolution as the seat of government of the newly independent country, Washington was named after George Washington, the first president of the United States and a Founding Father. As the seat of the United States federal government and several international organizations, Washington is an important world political capital. The city, located on the Potomac River bordering Maryland and Virginia, is one of the most visited cities in the world, with more than 20 million tourists annually.

The United States Government Publishing Office is an agency of the legislative branch of the United States federal government. The office produces and distributes information products and services for all three branches of the Federal Government, including U.S. passports for the Department of State as well as the official publications of the Supreme Court, the Congress, the Executive Office of the President, executive departments, and independent agencies.