United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1948

The 1948 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 2, 1948 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator Burnet R. Maybank won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican challenger J. Bates Gerald in the general election to win another six year term.

Democratic primary

Senator Burnet R. Maybank was opposed in the Democratic primary by William Jennings Bryan Dorn and three other candidates. Maybank obtained over 50% in the primary election on August 10 to avoid a runoff election.

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. Maybank did not campaign for the general election as there was no chance of defeat.

General election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Burnet R. Maybank (incumbent)
votes = 135,998
percentage = 96.4
change = -3.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = J. Bates Gerald
votes = 5,008
percentage = 3.6
change = +3.6Election box majority
votes = 130,990
percentage = 92.8
change = -7.2Election box turnout
votes = 141,006
percentage =
change =
colspan=5 |Democratic hold
-

frame|300px|none|1948 South Carolina U.S. Senate county map

ee also

*List of United States Senators from South Carolina
*United States Senate elections, 1948
*United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 1948

References

*cite book | last = Jordan | first = Frank E | title = The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962 | pages = p. 79
*"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: 1949, p. 11.