2016 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

← 2014 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2018 →

All 7 South Carolina seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 6 1
Seats won 6 1
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 1,193,711 800,801
Percentage 58.53% 39.27%
Swing Decrease 5.02% Increase 6.20%

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the seven U.S. representatives from the state of South Carolina, one from each of the state's seven congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on June 14.

Overview

District Republican Democratic Others Total Result
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 1 190,410 58.56% 119,779 36.84% 14,981 4.61% 325,170 100.0% Republican hold
District 2 183,746 60.25% 109,452 35.89% 11,798 3.87% 304,996 100.0% Republican hold
District 3 198,431 72.82% 73,766 27.07% 284 0.10% 272,481 100.0% Republican hold
District 4 198,648 67.19% 91,676 31.01% 5,346 1.81% 295,670 100.0% Republican hold
District 5 175,909 59.07% 115,437 38.77% 6,435 2.16% 297,781 100.0% Republican hold
District 6 70,099 27.61% 177,947 70.09% 5,855 2.31% 253,901 100.0% Democratic hold
District 7 176,468 60.96% 112,744 38.95% 251 0.09% 289,463 100.0% Republican hold
Total 1,193,711 58.53% 800,801 39.27% 44,950 2.20% 2,039,462 100.0%
Popular vote
Republican
58.53%
Democratic
39.27%
Other
2.20%
House seats
Republican
85.71%
Democratic
14.29%

District 1

2016 South Carolina's 1st congressional district election

← 2014
2018 →
 
Nominee Mark Sanford Dimitri Cherny
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 190,410 119,779
Percentage 58.6% 36.8%

Sanford:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Cherry:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      50%

U.S. Representative before election

Mark Sanford
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Mark Sanford
Republican

The 1st district is located on the Atlantic coastal plain, from Seabrook Island to the border with North Carolina and includes most of Charleston and Myrtle Beach. The incumbent is Republican Mark Sanford, who has represented the district since 2013, and previously from 1995 to 2001. The district had a PVI of R+11.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary

Campaign

During the campaign, Sanford had a significant fundraising advantage over Horne. During their sole debate the two expressed contrasting views on Donald Trump with Sanford saying that “I think he says some things which are very, very strange. Some of which are destructive.” with Horne saying that “I think what Donald Trump is appealing to is the anger and frustration that a lot of us feel in the U.S...”[2]

Results

Horne polled stronger than expected with Sanford receiving 56% of the vote to Horne's 44%.[3]

Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Sanford (incumbent) 21,299 55.6
Republican Jenny Horne 17,001 44.4
Total votes 38,300 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Dimitri Cherny, truck driver, former high-tech product manager and activist

He also received the Working Families and Green Party nominations.

General election

Results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district, 2016 [5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Sanford (incumbent) 190,410 58.6
Democratic Dimitri Cherny 119,779 36.8
Libertarian Michael Grier Jr. 11,614 3.6
American Albert Travison 2,774 0.8
Write-in 593 0.2
Total votes 325,170 100.0
Republican hold

District 2

2016 South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election

← 2014
2018 →
 
Nominee Joe Wilson Arik Bjorn
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 183,746 109,452
Percentage 60.2% 35.9%

Wilson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Bjorn:     40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      50%
     No Data

U.S. Representative before election

Joe Wilson
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Joe Wilson
Republican

The 2nd district is located in central South Carolina and spans from Columbia to the South Carolina side of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area. The incumbent is Republican Joe Wilson, who has represented the district since 2001. The Democratic and Green Party nominee is Arik Bjorn. The district has a PVI of R+16.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Arik Bjorn, former manager of South Carolina's SmartState program
Eliminated in primary
  • Phil Black, businessman and Republican candidate for this seat in 2008, 2010 & 2012 and nominee for this seat in 2014

Results

Democratic primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Arik Bjorn 9,686 50.1
Democratic Phil Black 9,642 49.9
Total votes 19,328 100.0

General election

Results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district, 2016 [5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Wilson (incumbent) 183,746 60.2
Democratic Arik Bjorn 109,452 35.9
American Eddie McCain 11,444 3.8
Write-in 354 0.1
Total votes 304,996 100.0
Republican hold

District 3

2016 South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election

← 2014
2018 →
 
Nominee Jeff Duncan Hosea Cleveland
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 198,431 73,766
Percentage 72.8% 27.1%

Duncan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Bjorn:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. Representative before election

Jeff Duncan
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Jeff Duncan
Republican

The 3rd district is located in western South Carolina. The incumbent is Republican Jeff Duncan, who has represented the district since 2011. The district has a PVI of R+18.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Hosea Cleveland, small business owner and candidate for this seat in 2014

General election

Results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district, 2016 [5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Duncan (incumbent) 198,431 72.8
Democratic Hosea Cleveland 73,766 27.1
Write-in 284 0.1
Total votes 272,481 100.0
Republican hold

District 4

2016 South Carolina's 4th congressional district election

← 2014
2018 →
 
Nominee Trey Gowdy Chris Fedalei
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 198,648 91,676
Percentage 67.2% 31.0%

Gowdy:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Fedali:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. Representative before election

Trey Gowdy
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Trey Gowdy
Republican

The 4th district is located in Upstate South Carolina. The incumbent is Republican Trey Gowdy, who has represented the district since 2011. The district had a PVI of R+15.

Republican primary

After Gowdy declined to run for House Majority Leader following the announcement of the resignation of Speaker of the House John Boehner, in 2015, John Fleming, a Republican Congressman from Louisiana, told reporters that Gowdy would not run for reelection in 2016. Gowdy's office denied the report,[6] and said that Gowdy had "every intention" of running in 2016.[7]

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Chris Fedalei, attorney

General election

In the November general election, Gowdy faces Democrat Chris Fedalei, a 26-year-old attorney who has never held elected office.[8]

Debates

Results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2016 [5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Trey Gowdy (incumbent) 198,648 67.2
Democratic Chris Fedalei 91,676 31.0
Constitution Michael Chandler 5,103 1.7
Write-in 243 0.1
Total votes 295,670 100.0
Republican hold

District 5

2016 South Carolina's 5th congressional district election

 
Nominee Mick Mulvaney Fran Person
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 175,909 115,437
Percentage 59.1% 38.8%

Mulvaney:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Person:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. Representative before election

Mick Mulvaney
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Mick Mulvaney
Republican

The 5th district is located in northern South Carolina. The incumbent is Republican Mick Mulvaney, who has represented the district since 2011. The district has a PVI of R+9.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Ray Craig, international ministry aid worker

Results

Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mick Mulvaney (incumbent) 22,603 78.3
Republican Ray Craig 6,280 21.7
Total votes 28,883 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Withdrawn

General election

Results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district, 2016 [5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mick Mulvaney (incumbent) 175,909 59.1
Democratic Fran Person 115,437 38.8
American Rudy Barnes Jr 6,239 2.1
Write-in 196 0.1
Total votes 297,781 100.0
Republican hold

District 6

2016 South Carolina's 6th congressional district election

← 2014
2018 →
 
Nominee Jim Clyburn Laura Sterling
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 177,947 70,099
Percentage 70.1% 27.6%

Clyburn:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Sterling:     40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Tie:      40–50%
     No Data

U.S. Representative before election

Jim Clyburn
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Jim Clyburn
Democratic

The 6th district is located in central and southern South Carolina. The incumbent is Democrat Jim Clyburn, who has represented the district since 1993. The Green Party nominee is Prince Charles Mallory. The district has a PVI of D+21.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Withdrawn
  • Ben Garves

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Laura Sterling

General election

Results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district, 2016 [5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Clyburn (incumbent) 177,947 70.1
Republican Laura Sterling 70,099 27.6
Libertarian Rich Piotrowski 3,131 1.2
Green Prince Charles Mallory 2,499 1.0
Write-in 225 0.1
Total votes 253,901 100.0
Democratic hold

District 7

2016 South Carolina's 7th congressional district election

← 2014
2018 →
 
Nominee Tom Rice Mal Hyman
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 176,468 112,744
Percentage 61.0% 38.9%

Rice:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Hyman:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. Representative before election

Tom Rice
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Tom Rice
Republican

The 7th district is located in northeastern South Carolina. The incumbent is Republican Tom Rice, who has represented this district since 2013. The Democratic and Green Party candidate is Mal Hynam. The district has a PVI of R+7.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

South Carolina's 7th congressional district, 2016 [5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Rice (incumbent) 176,468 61.0
Democratic Mal Hyman 112,744 38.9
Write-in 251 0.1
Total votes 289,463 100.0
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ "SC Rep. Jenny Horne considering bid for Congress". The State. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  2. ^ "Mark Sanford, Jenny Horne face off in ETV debate". Post and Courier. June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  3. ^ "Mark Sanford wins GOP primary in tighter race than expected". Charleston Scene. June 14, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "June 14, 2016 Statewide Primary Election official results". South Carolina State Election Commission. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "2016 Statewide General Election official results". South Carolina State Election Commission. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "Trey Gowdy Aide Denies Retirement Report". At the Races. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  7. ^ "Trey Gowdy: "Every intention" to run again". The Greenville News. September 30, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  8. ^ Chris Lavender (March 4, 2016). "Spartanburg native Chris Fedalei to challenge Gowdy". Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  9. ^ Jamie Self (February 29, 2016). "Former Biden aide running for Congress in SC". thestate.com. The State. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  10. ^ Bristow Marchant (April 9, 2016). "Rock Hill's John King drops out of congressional race". heraldonline.com. The Herald (Rock Hill). Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  11. ^ Jim Faile (February 11, 2016). "Coker professor Mal Hyman announces bid for S.C. 7th District seat". scnow.com. The Hartsville Messenger. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2023.