United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 1870

The 1870 South Carolina United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 1, 1870 to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The fifth and sixth seats were decided by an at-large election, but the House of Representatives refused to seat the two winners. The two incumbents who ran were re-elected and the two open seats were retained by the Republicans. The composition of the state delegation thus remained solely Republican.

1st Congressional District Special Election

The seat for the 1st congressional district became vacant following the resignation of Republican Benjamin F. Whittemore in February 1870. A special election was called to be held simultaneously with the regular election and Republican Joseph Rainey defeated Democrat C.W. Dudley to serve the remainder of the term for the 41st Congress.

General election results

South Carolina's 1st Congressional District Special Election Results, 1870
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joseph Rainey 20,385 86.5
Democratic C.W. Dudley 3,192 13.5
Majority 17,193 73.0
Turnout 23,577
  Republican hold

1st Congressional District

Republican Joseph Rainey defeated Democrat C.W. Dudley in the regular election for the 1st congressional district to win the term for the 42nd Congress.

General election results

South Carolina's 1st Congressional District Election Results, 1870
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joseph Rainey 20,221 63.5 -23.0
Democratic C.W. Dudley 11,628 36.5 +23.0
No party Write-Ins 9 0.0 0.0
Majority 8,593 27.0 -46.0
Turnout 31,858
  Republican hold

2nd Congressional District

Incumbent Republican Congressman Christopher C. Bowen of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1868, was defeated by black Republican Robert C. De Large in the general election.

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District Election Results, 1870
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert C. De Large 16,686 49.6
Republican Christopher C. Bowen (incumbent) 15,700 46.7
Union Reform Robert Seymour Symmes Tharin 862 2.6
No party Write-Ins 364 1.1
Majority 986 2.9
Turnout 33,612
  Republican hold

3rd Congressional District

Incumbent Republican Congressman Solomon L. Hoge of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1869, declined to run for re-election. Robert B. Elliott was nominated by the Republicans and defeated Union Reform challenger John E. Bacon in the general election.

General election results

South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District Election Results, 1870
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert B. Elliott 20,564 59.5
Union Reform John E. Bacon 13,997 40.5
No party Write-Ins 4 0.0
Majority 6,567 19.0
Turnout 34,565
  Republican hold

4th Congressional District

Incumbent Republican Congressman Alexander S. Wallace of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1870, defeated Democratic challenger Isaac G. McKissick.

General election results

South Carolina's 4th Congressional District Election Results, 1870
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Alexander S. Wallace (incumbent) 16,747 55.3
Democratic Isaac G. McKissick 13,442 44.4
No party Write-Ins 106 0.3
Majority 3,305 10.9
Turnout 30,295
  Republican hold

At-Large District

The state believed that it was entitled to two additional seats in the House of Representatives and elected these members from an At-large congressional district. The voters voted for two candidates and the top two vote getters would be sent to Washington, but there were only two candidates running in the at-large election. White Republican J.P.M. Epping and black Republican Lucius Wimbush won the election, but the House of Representatives refused to seat them.

General election results

South Carolina's At-large Congressional District Election Results, 1870
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican J.P.M. Epping 71,321 50.0
Republican Lucius Wimbush 71,262 50.0
Turnout 142,583
  Republican win

See also

References

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