1950 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

The 1950 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 7, 1950 to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. Four incumbents were re-elected, but Hugo S. Sims, Jr. of the 2nd congressional district and James Butler Hare of the 3rd congressional district were defeated in the Democratic primaries. The seats were retained by the Democrats and the composition of the state delegation remained solely Democratic.

1950 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

← 1948 November 7, 1950 (1950-11-07)^[1] 1952 →
All 6 South Carolina seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party   Party Democratic Last election 6 Seats won 6 Seat change Popular vote 50,371 Percentage 99.96%
District results Democratic   90–100%

1st congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel Rivers of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1941, defeated A.J. Clement in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
L. Mendel Rivers	44,474	85.8
A.J. Clement	7,376	14.2

General election results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1950

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent)	6,753	100.0	+10.9
	No party	Write-Ins	3	0.0	0.0
Majority			6,750	100.0	+21.8
Turnout			6,756
	Democratic hold

2nd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Hugo S. Sims, Jr. of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1949, was defeated in the Democratic primary by John J. Riley who was unopposed in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
John J. Riley	29,066	46.0
Hugo S. Sims, Jr.	28,722	45.4
Sam B. Doughton	5,443	8.6

Democratic primary runoff
Candidate	Votes	%	±%
John J. Riley	28,864	60.3	+14.3
Hugo S. Sims, Jr.	19,041	39.7	-5.7

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1950

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John J. Riley	9,747	100.0	+3.6
	No party	Write-Ins	3	0.0	0.0
Majority			9,744	100.0	+7.2
Turnout			9,750
	Democratic hold

3rd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James Butler Hare of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1949, was defeated in the Democratic primary by W.J. Bryan Dorn who was unopposed in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
W.J. Bryan Dorn	24,010	44.8
James Butler Hare	22,837	42.6
Theo H. Vaughn	4,806	9.0
S.T. Heyward	1,923	3.6

Democratic primary runoff
Candidate	Votes	%	±%
W.J. Bryan Dorn	23,581	54.3	+9.5
James Butler Hare	19,840	45.7	+3.1

General election results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1950

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	W.J. Bryan Dorn	8,126	100.0	+2.2
	No party	Write-Ins	4	0.0	0.0
Majority			8,122	100.0	+4.4
Turnout			8,130
	Democratic hold

4th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Joseph R. Bryson of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Matthew Poliakoff in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Joseph R. Bryson	48,000	73.1
Matthew Poliakoff	17,668	26.9

General election results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1950

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Joseph R. Bryson (incumbent)	7,976	99.9	+5.0
	No party	Write-Ins	5	0.1	+0.1
Majority			7,971	99.8	+10.0
Turnout			7,981
	Democratic hold

5th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

General election results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1950

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James P. Richards (incumbent)	10,648	100.0	+2.9
	No party	Write-Ins	1	0.0	0.0
Majority			10,647	100.0	+5.8
Turnout			10,649
	Democratic hold

6th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

General election results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1950

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John L. McMillan (incumbent)	7,131	100.0	+2.9
	No party	Write-Ins	3	0.0	0.0
Majority			7,128	100.0	+5.8
Turnout			7,134
	Democratic hold

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections, 1950
• United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1950
• South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1950
• South Carolina's congressional districts

References

1. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1950" (PDF). clerk.house.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2024.

• Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 99, 107, 112, 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. Columbia, SC: 1951, pp. 8–10.