1972 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

The 1972 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 7, 1972, to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The primary elections were held on August 29 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on September 12. Five incumbents were re-elected and the only change was in the 6th district where Republican Edward Lunn Young succeeded Democrat John L. McMillan, who was defeated in the Democratic primary. The composition of the state delegation after the elections was four Democrats and two Republicans.

1972 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

← 1970 November 7, 1972 (1972-11-07)[1] 1974 →
All 6 South Carolina seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 5 1 Seats won 4 2 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 328,860 301,695 Percentage 52.15% 47.84% Swing 20.34% 20.78%
District results Democratic   50–60%   60–70%   70–80% Republican   50–60%   90–100%

1st congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Mendel Jackson Davis of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1971, won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Sidi Limehouse in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Mendel Jackson Davis	37,493	72.3
Benjamin Frasier	11,247	21.7
Milton L. Dukes	3,093	6.0

General election results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1972

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mendel J. Davis (incumbent)	61,376	54.3	+6.0
	Republican	Sidi Limehouse	51,728	45.7	+4.3
Majority			9,648	8.6	+1.7
Turnout			113,104
	Democratic hold

2nd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Floyd Spence of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1971, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1972

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Floyd Spence (incumbent)	79,667	100.0	+46.9
Majority			79,667	100.0	+93.3
Turnout			79,667
	Republican hold

3rd congressional district

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

General election results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1972

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William J.B. Dorn (incumbent)	82,579	75.2	0.0
	Republican	Ray Ethridge	27,173	24.8	0.0
Majority			55,406	50.4	0.0
Turnout			109,752
	Democratic hold

4th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James R. Mann of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1969, defeated Republican challenger Wayne N. Whatley.

General election results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1972

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James R. Mann (incumbent)	64,989	66.1	−33.9
	Republican	Wayne N. Whatley	33,363	33.9	+33.9
Majority			31,626	32.2	−67.8
Turnout			98,352
	Democratic hold

5th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Thomas S. Gettys of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1964, defeated Republican challenger B. Leonard Phillips.

General election results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1972

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Thomas S. Gettys (incumbent)	66,343	60.9	−5.0
	Republican	B. Leonard Phillips	42,620	39.1	+6.0
Majority			23,723	21.8	−11.0
Turnout			108,963
	Democratic hold

6th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, was defeated in the Democratic primary. Republican Edward Lunn Young defeated Democrat John Jenrette in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
John L. McMillan	38,542	43.9
John Jenrette	25,730	29.3
Bill R. Craig	23,476	26.8

Democratic primary runoff
Candidate	Votes	%	±%
John Jenrette	36,057	50.6	+21.3
John L. McMillan	35,212	49.4	+5.5

General election results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1972

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Edward Lunn Young	60,766	53.4	+18.5
	Democratic	John Jenrette	53,085	46.6	−17.5
Majority			7,681	6.8	−22.4
Turnout			113,851
	Republican gain from Democratic

See also

• United States House elections, 1972
• United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1972
• South Carolina's congressional districts