United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 1944

frame|300px|right|South Carolina Congressional Districts, 1942 to 1950

The 1944 South Carolina United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 7, 1944 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 2nd congressional district was retained by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation thus remained solely Democratic.

1st Congressional District

Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel Rivers of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1941, defeated Republican challenger O.H. Wilcox.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent)
votes = 15,326
percentage = 92.8
change = -7.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = O.H. Wilcox
votes = 1,190
percentage = 7.2
change = +7.2Election box candidate
party = "No party"
candidate = Write-Ins
votes = 1
percentage = 0.0
change = 0.0Election box majority
votes = 14,136
percentage = 85.6
change = -14.4Election box turnout
votes = 16,517
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Democratic hold
-

2nd Congressional District Special Election

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Hampton P. Fulmer of the 2nd congressional district died on October 19, 1944 and a special election was called for November 7 to be held simultaneously with the regular election. Fulmer's widow, Willa L. Fulmer, was unnopposed in the special election to serve out the remainder of the term.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Willa L. Fulmer
votes = 7,943
percentage = 100.0
change = 0.0Election box majority
votes = 7,943
percentage = 100.0
change = 0.0Election box turnout
votes = 7,943
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Democratic hold
-

2nd Congressional District

Willa L. Fulmer, who ran in the special election for the 2nd congressional district, was not also a contestant for the regular election to the 79th Congress. John J. Riley won the Democratic primary on November 1 and defeated Republican H.G. Willingham in the general election.

Democratic primary

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = John J. Riley
votes = 19,342
percentage = 98.0
change = -2.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = H.G. Willingham
votes = 398
percentage = 2.0
change = +2.0Election box candidate
party = "No party"
candidate = Write-Ins
votes = 1
percentage = 0.0
change = 0.0Election box majority
votes = 18,944
percentage = 96.0
change = -4.0Election box turnout
votes = 19,741
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Democratic hold
-

3rd Congressional District

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Butler B. Hare of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1939, won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican D.F. Merrill in the general election.

Democratic primary

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Butler B. Hare (incumbent)
votes = 13,105
percentage = 97.0
change = -3.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = D.F. Merrill
votes = 404
percentage = 3.0
change = +3.0Election box candidate
party = "No party"
candidate = Write-Ins
votes = 3
percentage = 0.0
change = 0.0Election box majority
votes = 12,701
percentage = 94.0
change = -6.0Election box turnout
votes = 13,512
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Democratic hold
-

4th Congressional District

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Joseph R. Bryson of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Republican challenger J.G. Jones.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Joseph R. Bryson (incumbent)
votes = 20,988
percentage = 95.7
change = -4.3Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = J.G. Jones
votes = 934
percentage = 4.3
change = +4.3Election box majority
votes = 20,054
percentage = 91.4
change = -8.6Election box turnout
votes = 21,922
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Democratic hold
-

5th Congressional District

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, defeated Republican challenger W.I. Bost.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = James P. Richards (incumbent)
votes = 14,435
percentage = 98.1
change = -1.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = W.I. Bost
votes = 278
percentage = 1.9
change = +1.9Election box majority
votes = 14,157
percentage = 96.2
change = -3.8Election box turnout
votes = 14,713
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Democratic hold
-

6th Congressional District

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Republican challenger C.B. Ruffin.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = John L. McMillan (incumbent)
votes = 14,164
percentage = 98.0
change = -2.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = C.B. Ruffin
votes = 291
percentage = 2.0
change = +2.0Election box candidate
party = "No party"
candidate = Write-Ins
votes = 2
percentage = 0.0
change = 0.0Election box majority
votes = 13,873
percentage = 96.0
change = -4.0Election box turnout
votes = 14,457
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Democratic hold
-

ee also

*United States House of Representatives elections, 1944
*United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1944
*South Carolina's congressional districts

References

*cite book | last = Jordan | first = Frank E | title = The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962 | pages = pp. 107, 125
*"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: 1945, pp. 11-13, 36.