The 1980 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 4, 1980, 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 for the Democrats and the

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 ...

were held on June 10 and the runoff elections were held two

week A week is a unit of time equal to seven days. It is the standard time period used for short cycles of days in most parts of the world. The days are often used to indicate common work days and rest days, as well as days of worship. Weeks are ofte ...

s later on June 24. Three incumbents were re-elected, but

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 ...

of the 6th congressional district was defeated in his bid for re-election and the open seat in the 1st congressional district was taken by the Republicans from the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation after the elections was four Republicans and two Democrats.

1st congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Mendel Jackson Davis of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1971, opted to retire. Tommy Hartnett, a Republican

state senator A state senator is a member of a State legislature (United States), state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. History There are typically fewer state senators than there ...

from Charleston, defeated Thomas G. Moore in the Republican primary and Democrat Charles D. Ravenel in the general election.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election results

, - , , colspan=5 , Republican gain from Democratic , -

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, defeated Democratic challenger

Tom Turnipseed George Thomas Turnipseed (August 27, 1936 – March 6, 2020) was an attorney and Democratic member of the South Carolina State Senate known for his liberal activism. Beginning in the late 1970s, he became active within the civil rights movem ...

Democratic primary

General election results

, - , , colspan=5 , Republican hold , -

3rd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Butler Derrick of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1975, defeated Republican challenger Marshall Parker.

General election results

, - , , colspan=5 , Democratic hold , -

4th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1979, defeated Libertarian challenger Thomas P. Waldenfels.

General election results

, - , , colspan=5 , Republican hold , -

5th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman

Kenneth Lamar Holland Kenneth Lamar Holland (November 24, 1934 – February 27, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who as the Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina between 1975 until 1983. Early life Hollan ...

of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1975, defeated Libertarian challenger Thomas Campbell.

General election results

, - , , colspan=5 , Democratic hold , -

6th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman

of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1975, was defeated in his bid for re-election by Republican

John Light Napier John Light Napier (born May 16, 1947) is an American lawyer, jurist, and politician who served one term in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1983. He later served as a judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims fro ...

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election results

, - , , colspan=5 , Republican gain from Democratic , -

References

{{United States elections, 1980

1980 Events January * January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a United States grain embargo against the Soviet Union, grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. * January 6 – Global Positioning Sys ...

United States House of Representatives elections Elections in the United States are held for government officials at the federal, state, and local levels. At the federal level, the nation's head of state, the president, is elected indirectly by the people of each state, through an Electora ...

1st congressional district

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election results

2nd congressional district

Democratic primary

General election results

3rd congressional district

General election results

4th congressional district

General election results

5th congressional district

General election results

6th congressional district

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election results

See also

References