1974 United States Senate election in South Carolina

The 1974 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 5, 1974, to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Gwen Bush to win his third (his second full) term.

1974 United States Senate election in South Carolina

← 1968 November 5, 1974 1980 →
 
Nominee Ernest Hollings Gwen Bush
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 355,107 146,649
Percentage 69.44% 28.68%

County results
Hollings:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

Primaries

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Both Fritz Hollings and Gwen Bush faced no opposition in their party's primaries which allowed both candidates to concentrate solely on the general election.

General election campaign

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The Watergate scandal caused the Republicans to perform poorly nationwide in 1974 and Gwen Bush was little more than a sacrificial lamb. The main focus of the voters in South Carolina was on the competitive gubernatorial contest and Fritz Hollings easily cruised to a comfortable re-election.

General election results

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South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1974
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Fritz Hollings (incumbent) 355,107 69.44% +7.55%
Republican Gwen Bush 146,649 28.68% −9.43%
Independent Harold Hough 9,624 1.88% N/A
Majority 208,458 40.76% +16.98%
Turnout 511,380 51.3% −25.2%
Democratic hold

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. p. 37.