United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 1956
Encyclopedia
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. All five incumbents who ran were re-elected and the open seat in the 5th congressional district
South Carolina's 5th congressional district
The 5th Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in northern South Carolina bordering North Carolina. It includes all of Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Marlboro, Newberry and York counties and parts of Florence, Lee...
was retained by the Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The composition of the state delegation thus remained solely Democratic.
1st Congressional District
Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel RiversL. Mendel Rivers
Lucius Mendel Rivers was a Democratic U.S. Representative from South Carolina, representing the Charleston based 1st congressional district for nearly thirty years...
of the 1st congressional district
South Carolina's 1st congressional district
The 1st Congressional District of South Carolina is a coastal congressional district in South Carolina. It stretches from Seabrook Island in the south to the North Carolina border and includes parts of Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Georgetown counties and all of Horry county...
, in office since 1941, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results
| colspan=5 |DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
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2nd Congressional District
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John J. RileyJohn J. Riley
John Jacob Riley was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, husband of Corinne Boyd Riley.Born on a farm near Orangeburg, South Carolina, Riley attended the public schools in Orangeburg County....
of the 2nd congressional district
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district
The 2nd Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in central and eastern South Carolina. It includes all of Lexington, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Allendale and Barnwell counties; most of Richland County and parts of Aiken, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties...
, in office since 1951, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results
| colspan=5 |DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
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3rd Congressional District
Incumbent Democratic Congressman William Jennings Bryan DornWilliam Jennings Bryan Dorn
William Jennings Bryan Dorn was a United States politician from South Carolina who represented the state in the United States House of Representatives from 1947 to 1949 and from 1951 to 1975 as a Democrat....
of the 3rd congressional district
South Carolina's 3rd congressional district
The 3rd Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in western South Carolina bordering both Georgia and North Carolina. It includes all of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens and Saluda counties and approximately half of Aiken...
, in office since 1951, defeated Republican challenger Maka Knox.
General election results
| colspan=5 |DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
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4th Congressional District
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Robert T. AshmoreRobert T. Ashmore
Robert Thomas Ashmore was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, cousin of John D. Ashmore.Born on a farm near Greenville, South Carolina, Ashmore attended the public schools of Greenville. He graduated from Furman University Law School, Greenville, South Carolina, in 1927...
of the 4th congressional district
South Carolina's 4th congressional district
The 4th Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in upstate South Carolina bordering North Carolina. It includes all of Greenville, Spartanburg and Union counties and a part of Laurens county. The district is characterized by the two major cities of Greenville and...
, in office since 1953, defeated Republican challenger Dan H. Wallace, Jr.
General election results
| colspan=5 |DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
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5th Congressional District
Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. RichardsJames P. Richards
James Prioleau "Dick" Richards was a lawyer, judge, and Democrat U.S. Representative from South Carolina between 1933 and 1957. He later served as a special ambassador under Republican President Eisenhower....
of the 5th congressional district
South Carolina's 5th congressional district
The 5th Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in northern South Carolina bordering North Carolina. It includes all of Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Marlboro, Newberry and York counties and parts of Florence, Lee...
, in office since 1933, opted to retire. Robert W. Hemphill
Robert W. Hemphill
Robert Witherspoon Hemphill was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, and later a long-serving United States federal judge. He was the great-great-nephew of Senator John Hemphill, great-nephew of John J...
defeated Thomas S. Gettys
Thomas S. Gettys
Thomas Smithwick Gettys 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., 1933....
in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.
Democratic primary
| Democratic Primary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % |
General election results
| colspan=5 |DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
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6th Congressional District
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillanJohn L. McMillan
John Lanneau McMillan was a United States Representative from South Carolina. Born on a farm near Mullins, he was educated at Mullins High School, the University of North Carolina, as well as the University of South Carolina Law School and National Law School in Washington, D.C...
of the 6th congressional district
South Carolina's 6th congressional district
The 6th Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in central South Carolina. It includes all of Bamberg, Clarendon, Colleton, Marion and Williamsburg counties and parts of Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Lee, Orangeburg, Richland and...
, in office since 1939, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results
| colspan=5 |DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
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See also
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1956
- United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1956United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1956The 1956 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 6, 1956 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina simultaneously with the special senate election. Incumbent Democratic Senator Olin D. Johnston handily defeated Republican mayor of Clemson Leon P....
- United States Senate special election in South Carolina, 1956United States Senate special election in South Carolina, 1956The 1956 South Carolina United States Senate special election was held on November 6, 1956 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina simultaneously with the regular senate election. The election resulted from the resignation of Senator Strom Thurmond on April 4, 1956, who was...
- South Carolina's congressional districts