1940 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

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The 1940 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 5, 1940 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 1st congressional district was retained by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation thus remained solely Democratic.

1st congressional district[edit]

Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Clara G. McMillan of the 1st congressional district succeeded her husband, Thomas S. McMillan, in office upon his death in 1939. She did not seek re-election and L. Mendel Rivers defeated Alfred von Kolnitz in the Democratic primary and Republican Mrs. John E. Messervy in the general election.

Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
L. Mendel Rivers 18,253 54.2
Alfred von Kolnitz 15,413 45.8

General election results[edit]

South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1940
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic L. Mendel Rivers 16,626 98.3 +0.1
Republican Mrs. John E. Messervy 278 1.6 -0.2
No party Write-Ins 14 0.1 +0.1
Majority 16,348 96.7 +0.3
Turnout 16,918
Democratic hold

2nd congressional district[edit]

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Hampton P. Fulmer of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1921, defeated former Lieutenant Governor Andrew J. Bethea in the Democratic primary and Republican M.B. Cross in the general election.

Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Hampton P. Fulmer 39,945 76.8
Andrew J. Bethea 12,078 23.2

General election results[edit]

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1940
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hampton P. Fulmer (incumbent) 14,920 98.6 -0.2
Republican M.B. Cross 206 1.4 +1.1
Majority 14,714 97.2 -1.3
Turnout 15,126
Democratic hold

3rd congressional district[edit]

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Butler B. Hare of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated former Representative John C. Taylor in the Democratic primary and Republican A.F. Ernest in the general election.

Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Butler B. Hare 44,713 67.2
John C. Taylor 21,787 32.8

General election results[edit]

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1940
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Butler B. Hare (incumbent) 15,977 99.3 -0.3
Republican A.F. Ernest 108 0.7 +0.3
Majority 15,869 98.6 -0.6
Turnout 16,085
Democratic hold

4th congressional district[edit]

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Joseph R. Bryson of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Virgil Evans in the Democratic primary and Republican J.D. McCullough in the general election.

Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Joseph R. Bryson 65,812 85.7
Virgil Evans 10,971 14.3

General election results[edit]

South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1940
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joseph R. Bryson (incumbent) 23,825 97.3 -2.1
Republican J.D. McCullough 657 2.7 +2.1
Majority 23,168 94.6 -4.2
Turnout 24,482
Democratic hold

5th congressional district[edit]

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, defeated Roy C. Cobb in the Democratic primary and Republican C.F. Pendleton in the general election.

Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
James P. Richards 33,262 72.3
Roy C. Cobb 12,748 27.7

General election results[edit]

South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1940
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James P. Richards (incumbent) 14,754 99.2 -0.6
Republican C.F. Pendleton 120 0.8 +0.6
No party Write-Ins 4 0.0 0.0
Majority 14,634 98.4 -1.2
Turnout 14,878
Democratic hold

6th congressional district[edit]

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated James P. "Spot" Mozingo in the Democratic primary and Republican C.B. Ruffin in the general election.

Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
John L. McMillan 34,969 65.3
James P. "Spot" Mozingo 18,576 34.7

General election results[edit]

South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1940
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John L. McMillan (incumbent) 12,074 99.0 -0.2
Republican C.B. Ruffin 123 1.0 +0.2
Majority 11,951 98.0 -0.4
Turnout 12,197
Democratic hold

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  • Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 99, 106, 111, 116, 120, 125.
  • "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Report of the State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1941, pp. 7–9.