United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 1968

The 1968 South Carolina United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 5, 1968 to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The primary elections were held on June 11 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on June 25. All five incumbents who ran were re-elected and the open seat in the 5th district was retained by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation remained five Democrats and one Republican.

1st Congressional District

Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel Rivers of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1941, defeated black attorney George A. Payton, Jr. in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election. Charleston County Republican Party chairman James B. Edwards was prepared to run in the general election had George A. Payton, Jr. won the Democratic primary.[1]

Democratic primary

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
L. Mendel Rivers 65,817 77.7
George A. Payton, Jr. 18,933 22.3

General election results

South Carolina's 1st Congressional District Election Results, 1968
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent) 95,478 100.0 0.0
Majority 95,478 100.0 0.0
Turnout 95,478
Democratic hold

2nd Congressional District

Incumbent Republican Congressman Albert Watson of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1963, defeated Democratic challenger Frank K. Sloan.

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District Election Results, 1968
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Albert Watson (incumbent) 63,877 57.6 -6.7
Democratic Frank K. Sloan 47,053 42.4 +6.7
No party Write-Ins 5 0.0 0.0
Majority 16,824 15.2 -13.4
Turnout 110,935
Republican hold

3rd Congressional District

Incumbent Democratic Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1951, defeated Republican challenger John Grisso.

General election results

South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District Election Results, 1968
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic William J.B. Dorn (incumbent) 74,104 66.1 +8.3
Republican John K. Grisso 35,463 31.7 -10.5
Independent J. Harold Morton 2,489 2.2 +2.2
No party Write-Ins 1 0.0 0.0
Majority 38,641 34.4 +18.8
Turnout 112,057
Democratic hold

4th Congressional District

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Robert T. Ashmore of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1953, opted to retire. James R. Mann won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican challenger Charles Bradshaw in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
James R. Mann 17,035 31.7
E.C. Burnett, Jr. 15,089 28.1
Nick A. Theodore 14,361 26.7
Leo Hill 7,218 13.4
Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
James R. Mann 23,923 56.9 +25.2
E.C. Burnett, Jr. 18,107 43.1 +15.0

General election results

South Carolina's 4th Congressional District Election Results, 1968
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic James R. Mann 68,437 61.2 -38.8
Republican Charles Bradshaw 43,440 38.8 +38.8
Majority 24,997 22.4 -77.6
Turnout 111,877
Democratic hold

5th Congressional District

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Thomas S. Gettys of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1964, defeated Fred R. Sheheen in the Democratic primary and Republican Hugh J. Boyd in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
Thomas S. Gettys 53,448 72.9
Fred R. Sheheen 19,890 27.1

General election results

South Carolina's 5th Congressional District Election Results, 1968
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Thomas S. Gettys (incumbent) 72,805 74.7 -24.5
Republican Hugh J. Boyd 21,246 21.8 +21.8
Independent Bert Sumner 3,411 3.5 +3.5
Majority 51,559 52.9 -45.5
Turnout 97,462
Democratic hold

6th Congressional District

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Richard G. Dusenbury in the Democratic primary and Republican Ray Harris in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
John L. McMillan 47,611 65.9
Richard G. Dusenbury 24,679 34.1

General election results

South Carolina's 6th Congressional District Election Results, 1968
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic John L. McMillan (incumbent) 58,304 58.3 -3.4
Republican Ray Harris 39,876 39.9 +1.6
Independent Claude E. Harris 1,849 1.8 +1.8
Majority 18,428 18.4 -5.0
Turnout 100,029
Democratic hold

See also

Notes

  1. Ravenel, pp. 197-198

References

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