1954 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

The 1954 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 2, 1954 to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The primary elections were held on July 13. All six incumbents were re-elected and the composition of the state delegation remained solely Democratic.

1954 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

← 1952 November 2, 1954 (1954-11-02)^[1] 1956 →
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 210,624 Percentage 98.73%
District results Democratic   90–100%

1st congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel Rivers of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1941, defeated Republican challenger Mrs. John E. Messervy.

General election results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent)	33,402	97.7	-2.3
	Republican	Mrs. John E. Messervy	769	2.3	+2.3
	No party	Write-Ins	1	0.0	0.0
Majority			32,633	95.4	-4.6
Turnout			34,172
	Democratic hold

2nd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John J. Riley of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1951, defeated Republican challenger I.S. Leevy.

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John J. Riley (incumbent)	44,484	97.7	-2.3
	Republican	I.S. Leevy	1,054	2.3	+2.3
	No party	Write-Ins	1	0.0	0.0
Majority			43,430	95.4	-4.6
Turnout			45,539
	Democratic hold

3rd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1951, defeated Republican challenger C.M. Smith.

General election results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William J.B. Dorn (incumbent)	30,790	99.3	+5.5
	Republican	C.M. Smith	199	0.6	-5.4
	No party	Write-Ins	24	0.1	-0.1
Majority			30,591	98.7
Turnout			31,013
	Democratic hold

4th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Robert T. Ashmore of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1953, defeated Republican challenger Lena Bellotte.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Robert T. Ashmore	30,182	62.4
Charles C. Moore	18,222	37.6

General election results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert T. Ashmore (incumbent)	43,857	99.2	-0.8
	Republican	Lena Bellotte	342	0.8	+0.8
Majority			43,515	98.4	-1.6
Turnout			44,199
	Democratic hold

5th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, defeated Wade S. Weatherford in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate	Votes	%
James P. Richards	35,019	65.4
Wade S. Weatherford	18,537	34.6

General election results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James P. Richards (incumbent)	26,950	100.0	+6.1
	No party	Write-Ins	1	0.0	0.0
Majority			26,949	100.0	+12.2
Turnout			26,951
	Democratic hold

6th congressional district

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

General election results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John L. McMillan (incumbent)	31,141	98.9	-1.1
	Republican	Vernon Johnson	347	1.1	+1.1
	No party	Write-Ins	4	0.0	0.0
Majority			30,794	97.8	-2.2
Turnout			31,492
	Democratic hold

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections, 1954
• United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1954
• South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1954
• South Carolina's congressional districts

References

1. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1954" (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. 112, 116.