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
South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
. The
primary election
Primary elections or primaries are elections held to determine which candidates will run in an upcoming general election. In a partisan primary, a political party selects a candidate. Depending on the state and/or party, there may be an "open pr ...
s 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
Edward Lunn Young (September 7, 1920 – May 9, 2017) was an American politician. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives representing Florence County, South Carolina, Florence County from 1958 to 1960 as a member of the Democrati ...
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
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
.
1st congressional district
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
General election results
, -
,
, colspan=5 ,
Democratic hold
, -
2nd congressional district
Incumbent Republican Congressman
Floyd Spence
Floyd Davidson Spence (April 9, 1928 – August 16, 2001) was an American attorney and a politician from the U.S. state of South Carolina. Elected for three terms to the South Carolina House of Representatives from Lexington County as a Democra ...
of the
2nd congressional district, in office since 1971, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results
, -
,
, colspan=5 ,
Republican hold
, -
3rd congressional district
Incumbent Democratic Congressman
William Jennings Bryan Dorn
William Jennings Bryan Dorn (April 14, 1916 – August 13, 2005) was a United States politician from South Carolina who represented the western part of the state in the United States House of Representatives from 1947 to 1949 and from 1951 to 197 ...
of the
3rd congressional district, in office since 1951, defeated Republican challenger Ray Ethridge.
General election results
, -
,
, colspan=5 ,
Democratic hold
, -
4th congressional district
Incumbent Democratic Congressman
James R. Mann of the
4th congressional district, in office since 1969, defeated Republican challenger Wayne N. Whatley.
General election results
, -
,
, colspan=5 ,
Democratic hold
, -
5th congressional district
Incumbent Democratic Congressman
Thomas S. Gettys
Thomas Smithwick Gettys (June 19, 1912 – June 8, 2003) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina.
Born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Gettys was educated in the Rock Hill public schools.
He attended Clemson College.
Erskine College, A.B., ...
of the
5th congressional district, in office since 1964, defeated Republican challenger B. Leonard Phillips.
General election results
, -
,
, colspan=5 ,
Democratic hold
, -
6th congressional district
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
Edward Lunn Young (September 7, 1920 – May 9, 2017) was an American politician. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives representing Florence County, South Carolina, Florence County from 1958 to 1960 as a member of the Democrati ...
defeated Democrat
John Jenrette
John Wilson Jenrette Jr. (May 19, 1936 – March 17, 2023) was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from South Carolina, best known for being willing to take a bribe and being caught by Abscam and for being the husband of actress and m ...
in the general election.
Democratic primary
General election results
, -
,
, colspan=5 ,
Republican gain from
Democratic
, -
See also
*
United States House elections, 1972
The 1972 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 7, 1972, to elect United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representatives to serve in the 93rd United States Congress. This was the first election held after the ...
*
United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1972
The 1972 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 7, 1972 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Republican Senator Strom Thurmond easily defeated Democratic challenger Eugene ...
*
South Carolina's congressional districts
There are currently seven United States congressional districts in South Carolina. There have been as few as four and as many as nine congressional districts in South Carolina. The and the were lost after the 1840 United States census, 1840 ce ...
References
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:United States House Of Representatives Elections In South Carolina, 1972
South Carolina
South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...
1972 South Carolina elections