United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 1876

frame|300px|right|South Carolina Congressional Districts, 1874 to 1876

The 1876 South Carolina United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 7, 1876 to select five Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. Two incumbents were re-elected, one was defeated for re-election, and the Democrats picked up one of the two open seats from the Republicans. The composition of the state delegation after the election was three Republicans and two Democrats.

1st Congressional District

Incumbent Republican Congressman Joseph Rainey of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1870, defeated Democratic challenger John S. Richardson.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Joseph Rainey (incumbent)
votes = 18,180
percentage = 52.2
change = +0.8Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = John S. Richardson
votes = 16,661
percentage = 47.8
change = -0.8Election box candidate
party = "No party"
candidate = Write-Ins
votes = 1
percentage = 0.0
change = 0.0Election box majority
votes = 1,519
percentage = 4.4
change = +1.6Election box turnout
votes = 34,842
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Republican hold
-

2nd Congressional District Special Election

The Congress declared the seat for the 2nd congressional district vacant on July 19, 1876 after Charles W. Buttz successfully contested the 1874 election. A special election was called to be held simultaneously with the regular election. Charles W. Buttz was nominated by the Republicans and he defeated Democrat Michael P. O'Connor in the special election.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Charles W. Buttz
votes = 21,378
percentage = 62.1
change = +16.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Michael P. O'Connor
votes = 13,030
percentage = 37.9
change = +37.9Election box candidate
party = "No party"
candidate = Write-Ins
votes = 2
percentage = 0.0
change = 0.0Election box majority
votes = 8,348
percentage = 24.2
change = +16.0Election box turnout
votes = 34,410
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Republican gain from Independent Republican
-

2nd Congressional District

Richard H. Cain was nominated by the Republicans for the regular election of the 2nd congressional district and he defeated Democratic challenger Michael P. O'Connor.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Richard H. Cain
votes = 21,385
percentage = 62.1
change = 0.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Michael P. O'Connor
votes = 13,028
percentage = 37.9
change = 0.0Election box candidate
party = "No party"
candidate = Write-Ins
votes = 2
percentage = 0.0
change = 0.0Election box majority
votes = 8,357
percentage = 24.2
change = 0.0Election box turnout
votes = 34,415
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Republican hold
-

3rd Congressional District

Incumbent Republican Congressman Solomon L. Hoge of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1875, declined to seek re-election. D. Wyatt Aiken was nominated by the Democrats and he defeated Republican Lewis C. Carpenter.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = D. Wyatt Aiken
votes = 21,479
percentage = 58.0
change = +14.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Lewis C. Carpenter
votes = 15,553
percentage = 42.0
change = -14.1Election box majority
votes = 5,926
percentage = 16.0
change = +3.8Election box turnout
votes = 37,032
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Democratic gain from Republican
-

4th Congressional District

Incumbent Republican Congressman Alexander S. Wallace of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1870, was defeated by Democratic challenger John H. Evins.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = John H. Evins
votes = 21,875
percentage = 57.6
change = +10.8Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Alexander S. Wallace (incumbent)
votes = 16,071
percentage = 42.4
change = -10.8Election box majority
votes = 5,804
percentage = 15.2
change = +8.8Election box turnout
votes = 37,946
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Democratic gain from Republican
-

5th Congressional District

Incumbent Republican Congressman Robert Smalls of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1875, defeated Democratic challenger George D. Tillman.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Robert Smalls (incumbent)
votes = 19,954
percentage = 51.9
change = -27.5Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = George D. Tillman
votes = 18,516
percentage = 48.1
change = +48.1Election box candidate
party = "No party"
candidate = Write-Ins
votes = 2
percentage = 0.0
change = -0.7Election box majority
votes = 1,438
percentage = 3.8
change = -55.7Election box turnout
votes = 38,472
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Republican hold
-

ee also

*United States House of Representatives elections, 1876
*South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1876
*South Carolina's congressional districts

References

*"Annual Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." "Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina at the Regular Session, 1876-77". Columbia, SC: Republican Printing Company, 1877, pp. 217-219.