1944 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

The 1944 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 7, 1944, 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 2nd congressional district was retained by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation thus remained solely Democratic.

1944 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

← 1942 November 7, 1944 (1944-11-07) 1946 →
All 6 South Carolina seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party   Party Democratic Last election 6 Seats won 6 Seat change
District results Democratic   90–100%

1st congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel Rivers of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1941, defeated Republican challenger O.H. Wilcox.

General election results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1944

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent)	15,326	92.8	−7.2
	Republican	O.H. Wilcox	1,190	7.2	+7.2
	No party	Write-Ins	1	0.0	0.0
Majority			14,136	85.6	−14.4
Turnout			16,517
	Democratic hold

2nd congressional district special election

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Hampton P. Fulmer of the 2nd congressional district died on October 19, 1944, and a special election was called for November 7 to be held simultaneously with the regular election. Fulmer's widow, Willa L. Fulmer, was unopposed in the special election to serve out the remainder of the term.

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district special election results, 1944

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Willa L. Fulmer	7,943	100.0	0.0
Majority			7,943	100.0	0.0
Turnout			7,943
	Democratic hold

2nd congressional district

Willa L. Fulmer, who ran in the special election for the 2nd congressional district, was not also a contestant for the regular election to the 79th Congress. John J. Riley won the Democratic primary on November 1 and defeated Republican H.G. Willingham in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
John J. Riley	11,772	52.2
Joe E. Berry	8,161	36.2
D.M. Winter	2,607	11.6

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1944

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John J. Riley	19,342	98.0	−2.0
	Republican	H.G. Willingham	398	2.0	+2.0
	No party	Write-Ins	1	0.0	0.0
Majority			18,944	96.0	−4.0
Turnout			19,741
	Democratic hold

3rd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Butler B. Hare of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1939, won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican D.F. Merrill in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Butler B. Hare	26,320	55.4
R.L. "Buck" Gamble	14,484	30.5
Leon Rice	6,692	14.1

General election results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1944

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Butler B. Hare (incumbent)	13,105	97.0	−3.0
	Republican	D.F. Merrill	404	3.0	+3.0
	No party	Write-Ins	3	0.0	0.0
Majority			12,701	94.0	−6.0
Turnout			13,512
	Democratic hold

4th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Joseph R. Bryson of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Republican challenger J.G. Jones.

General election results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1944

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Joseph R. Bryson (incumbent)	20,988	95.7	−4.3
	Republican	J.G. Jones	934	4.3	+4.3
Majority			20,054	91.4	−8.6
Turnout			21,922
	Democratic hold

5th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, defeated Republican challenger W.I. Bost.

General election results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1944

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James P. Richards (incumbent)	14,435	98.1	−1.9
	Republican	W.I. Bost	278	1.9	+1.9
Majority			14,157	96.2	−3.8
Turnout			14,713
	Democratic hold

6th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Republican challenger C.B. Ruffin.

General election results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1944

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John L. McMillan (incumbent)	14,164	98.0	−2.0
	Republican	C.B. Ruffin	291	2.0	+2.0
	No party	Write-Ins	2	0.0	0.0
Majority			13,873	96.0	−4.0
Turnout			14,457
	Democratic hold

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections, 1944
• United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1944
• South Carolina's congressional districts

References

• Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 107, 125.
• "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of South Carolina to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1945, pp. 11–13, 36.