1974 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

The 1974 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 5, 1974, to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The primary elections were held on July 16 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on July 30. Three incumbents were re-elected, Democrat John Jenrette defeated incumbent Republican Edward Lunn Young in the 6th district and the two open seats in the 3rd and 5th districts were retained by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation after the elections was five Democrats and one Republican.

1st congressional district

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1974 South Carolina's 1st congressional district election
 
← 1972 November 5th, 1974 1976 →
   
Nominee Mendel J. Davis George B. Rast
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 60,142 22,000
Percentage 72.2% 26.4%

 
County Results
Davis:      70-80%      80-90%

U.S. Representative before election

Mendel J. Davis
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Mendel J. Davis
Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Mendel Jackson Davis of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1971, defeated Republican challenger George B. Rast.

General election results

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South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1974
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mendel J. Davis (incumbent) 60,142 72.2 +17.9
Republican George B. Rast 22,000 26.4 −19.3
Independent Charles Amaker 673 0.8 +0.8
United Citizens Party Benjamin Frasier, Jr. 509 0.6 +0.6
Majority 38,142 45.8 +37.2
Turnout 83,324
Democratic hold

2nd congressional district

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1974 South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election
 
← 1972 November 5th, 1974 1976 →
   
Nominee Floyd Spence Matthew J. Perry
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 58,936 45,205
Percentage 56.1% 43.0%

 
County Results
Spence:      50-60%      70-80%
Perry:      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. Representative before election

Floyd Spence
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Floyd Spence
Republican

Incumbent Republican Congressman Floyd Spence of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1971, defeated Democratic challenger Matthew J. Perry.

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Matthew J. Perry 31,360 57.5
Cole Blease Graham 23,189 42.5

General election results

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South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1974
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Floyd Spence (incumbent) 58,936 56.1 −43.9
Democratic Matthew J. Perry 45,205 43.0 +43.0
Independent Paul Proveaux 950 0.9 +0.9
Majority 13,731 13.1 −86.9
Turnout 105,091
Republican hold

3rd congressional district

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1974 South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election
 
← 1972 November 5th, 1974 1976 →
   
Nominee Butler Derrick Marshall Parker
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 55,120 34,036
Percentage 61.8% 38.2%

 
County Results
Mace:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
Mace:      50-60%

U.S. Representative before election

Butler Derrick
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Butler Derrick
Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1951, chose to not seek re-election and instead made an unsuccessful run for governor. Butler Derrick won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Marshall Parker in the general election.

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Butler Derrick 36,501 64.7
Jack M. McIntosh 13,751 24.4
George M. Jones 6,138 10.9

General election results

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South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1974
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Butler Derrick 55,120 61.8 −13.4
Republican Marshall Parker 34,036 38.2 +13.4
Majority 21,084 23.6 −26.8
Turnout 89,156
Democratic hold

4th congressional district

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1974 South Carolina's 4th congressional district election
 
← 1972 November 5th, 1974 1976 →
   
Nominee James R. Mann Robert Watkins
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 45,070 26,193
Percentage 63.2% 36.8%

 
County Results
Mann:     60-70%

U.S. Representative before election

James R. Mann
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

James R. Mann
Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James R. Mann of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1969, defeated Republican challenger Robert L. Watkins.

General election results

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South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1974
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James R. Mann (incumbent) 45,070 63.2 −2.9
Republican Robert L. Watkins 26,193 36.8 +2.9
Majority 18,877 26.4 −5.8
Turnout 71,263
Democratic hold

5th congressional district

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1974 South Carolina's 5th congressional district election
 
← 1972 November 5th, 1974 1976 →
   
Nominee Kenneth Lamar Holland B. Len Phillips
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 47,617 29,294
Percentage 61.4 % 37.8%

 
County Results
Holland:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. Representative before election

Kenneth Lamar Holland
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Kenneth Lamar Holland
Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Thomas S. Gettys of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1964, opted to retire. Kenneth Lamar Holland won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican B. Len Phillips in the general election.

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Kenneth Lamar Holland 20,176 31.5
Frank Roddey 17,051 26.7
John Justice 11,406 17.8
Robert H. Moore 5,848 9.1
E.M. Watt 3,631 5.7
Howard J. Parnell 3,244 5.1
William S. Holler 2,648 4.1
Democratic primary runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
Kenneth Lamar Holland 32,549 52.2 +20.7
Frank Roddey 29,768 47.8 +21.1

General election results

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South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1974
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kenneth Lamar Holland 47,617 61.4 +0.5
Republican B. Len Phillips 29,294 37.8 −1.3
Independent James B. Sumner 637 0.8 +0.8
Majority 18,323 23.6 +1.8
Turnout 77,548
Democratic hold

6th congressional district

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1974 South Carolina's 6th congressional district election
 
← 1972 November 5th, 1974 1976 →
     
Nominee John Jenrette Edward Lunn Young
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote John Jenrette 41,982
Percentage 52.0% 48.0%

 
County Results
Jenrette:      50-60%      60-70%
Young:      50-60%

U.S. Representative before election

Edward Lunn Young
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

John Jenrette
Democratic

Incumbent Republican Congressman Edward Lunn Young of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1973, was defeated in his bid for re-election by Democrat John Jenrette.

General election results

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South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1974
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Jenrette 45,396 52.0 +5.4
Republican Edward Lunn Young (incumbent) 41,982 48.0 −5.4
Majority 3,414 4.0 −2.8
Turnout 87,378
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

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References

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  • State Election Commission (1975). Report of the South Carolina State Election Commission. Columbia, SC: State Election Commission. pp. 38–39, 446–447.