1956 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

The 1956 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 6, 1956, 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 5th congressional district was retained by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation thus remained solely Democratic.

1956 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

November 6, 1956 (1956-11-06)
All 6 South Carolina seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party   Party Democratic Last election 6 Seats won 6 Seat change Popular vote 249,591 Percentage 95.26%
District results Democratic   80–90%   90–100%

1st congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel Rivers of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1941, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

General election results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent)	31,112	100.0	+2.3
	No party	Write-Ins	2	0.0	0.0
Majority			31,110	100.0	+4.6
Turnout			31,114
	Democratic hold

2nd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John J. Riley of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1951, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John J. Riley (incumbent)	49,284	100.0	+2.3
	No party	Write-Ins	3	0.0	0.0
Majority			49,281	100.0	+4.6
Turnout			49,287
	Democratic hold

3rd congressional district

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

General election results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William J.B. Dorn (incumbent)	39,270	92.9	−6.4
	Republican	Maka Knox	2,885	6.8	+6.2
	No party	Write-Ins	127	0.3	+0.2
Majority			36,385	86.1	−12.6
Turnout			42,282
	Democratic hold

4th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Robert T. Ashmore of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1953, defeated Republican challenger Dan H. Wallace, Jr.

General election results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert T. Ashmore (incumbent)	53,722	85.1	−14.1
	Republican	Dan H. Wallace, Jr.	9,393	14.9	+14.1
Majority			44,329	70.2	−28.2
Turnout			63,115
	Democratic hold

5th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, opted to retire. Robert W. Hemphill defeated Thomas S. Gettys in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Robert W. Hemphill	28,424	59.0
Thomas S. Gettys	19,760	41.0

General election results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert W. Hemphill	36,454	100.0	0.0
Majority			36,454	100.0	0.0
Turnout			36,454
	Democratic hold

6th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

General election results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John L. McMillan (incumbent)	39,749	100.0	+1.1
	No party	Write-Ins	3	0.0	0.0
Majority			39,746	100.0	+2.2
Turnout			39,752
	Democratic hold

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections, 1956
• United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1956
• United States Senate special election in South Carolina, 1956
• South Carolina's congressional districts

References

• Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. p. 116.
• "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: 1957, pp. 10–12.