1932 United States Senate election in South Carolina

1932 South Carolina Democratic Senate primary
← 1926 September 13, 1932 1938 →
 
Nominee Ellison D. Smith Cole Blease
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 150,468 114,840
Percentage 56.71% 43.29%
County results
Smith:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%
Blease:      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Ellison D. Smith
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Ellison D. Smith
Democratic

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The 1932 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 8.

On September 13, incumbent Senator Ellison D. Smith defeated former Senator Cole Blease in the Democratic primary with 56.7% of the vote.

At this time, South Carolina was a one-party state, and the Democratic nomination was tantamount to victory. Smith won the November general election without any effort.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
Ellison D. Smith 100,270 37.0
Coleman Livingston Blease 81,297 30.0
Ashton H. Williams 48,084 17.7
Leon W. Harris 41,478 15.3

Runoff

Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
Ellison D. Smith 150,468 56.7 +19.7
Coleman Livingston Blease 114,840 43.3 +13.3

General election

Campaign

Since the end of Reconstruction in 1877, the Democratic Party dominated the politics of South Carolina and its statewide candidates were never seriously challenged. Smith did not campaign for the general election as there was no chance of defeat. Republican Clara Harrigal, an Aiken businesswoman and Republican National Committeewoman, was the first woman to run for statewide office in South Carolina.

Results

South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1932
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ellison D. Smith (incumbent) 104,472 98.14% −1.86%
Republican Clara Harrigal 1,976 1.86% N/A
Majority 102,496 96.29% −3.71%
Turnout 106,448
Democratic hold

See also

References

  • Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 72–73.
  • "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports of State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1933, p. 6.
  • "Makings of the 73rd". Time. September 26, 1932. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2008.