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1972 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

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1972 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

← 1970 November 7, 1972 (1972-11-07)[1] 1974 →

All 6 South Carolina seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 5 1
Seats won 4 2
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 328,860 301,695
Percentage 52.15% 47.84%
Swing Decrease 20.34% Increase 20.78%

District results

The 1972 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 7, 1972, to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The primary elections were held on August 29 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on September 12. Five incumbents were re-elected and the only change was in the 6th district where Republican Edward Lunn Young succeeded Democrat John L. McMillan, who was defeated in the Democratic primary. The composition of the state delegation after the elections was four Democrats and two Republicans.

1st congressional district

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman Mendel Jackson Davis of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1971, won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Sidi Limehouse in the general election.

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Mendel Jackson Davis 37,493 72.3
Benjamin Frasier 11,247 21.7
Milton L. Dukes 3,093 6.0

General election results

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South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1972
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mendel J. Davis (incumbent) 61,376 54.3 +6.0
Republican Sidi Limehouse 51,728 45.7 +4.3
Majority 9,648 8.6 +1.7
Turnout 113,104
Democratic hold

2nd congressional district

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Incumbent Republican Congressman Floyd Spence of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1971, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

General election results

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South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1972
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Floyd Spence (incumbent) 79,667 100.0 +46.9
Majority 79,667 100.0 +93.3
Turnout 79,667
Republican hold

3rd congressional district

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

General election results

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South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1972
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic William J.B. Dorn (incumbent) 82,579 75.2 0.0
Republican Ray Ethridge 27,173 24.8 0.0
Majority 55,406 50.4 0.0
Turnout 109,752
Democratic hold

4th congressional district

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman James R. Mann of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1969, defeated Republican challenger Wayne N. Whatley.

General election results

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South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1972
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James R. Mann (incumbent) 64,989 66.1 −33.9
Republican Wayne N. Whatley 33,363 33.9 +33.9
Majority 31,626 32.2 −67.8
Turnout 98,352
Democratic hold

5th congressional district

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman Thomas S. Gettys of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1964, defeated Republican challenger B. Leonard Phillips.

General election results

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South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1972
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thomas S. Gettys (incumbent) 66,343 60.9 −5.0
Republican B. Leonard Phillips 42,620 39.1 +6.0
Majority 23,723 21.8 −11.0
Turnout 108,963
Democratic hold

6th congressional district

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, was defeated in the Democratic primary. Republican Edward Lunn Young defeated Democrat John Jenrette in the general election.

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
John L. McMillan 38,542 43.9
John Jenrette 25,730 29.3
Bill R. Craig 23,476 26.8
Democratic primary runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
John Jenrette 36,057 50.6 +21.3
John L. McMillan 35,212 49.4 +5.5

General election results

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South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1972
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Edward Lunn Young 60,766 53.4 +18.5
Democratic John Jenrette 53,085 46.6 −17.5
Majority 7,681 6.8 −22.4
Turnout 113,851
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). clerk.house.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  • State Election Commission (1973). Report of the South Carolina State Election Commission. Columbia, SC: State Election Commission. pp. 575, 583.