1878 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina
| Elections in South Carolina |
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The1878 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolinawere held on November 5, 1878 to select fiveRepresentativesfor two-year terms from the state ofSouth Carolina.TwoDemocraticincumbents were re-elected, twoRepublicanincumbents were defeated and the open seat was picked up by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation after the election was solely Democratic.
Voter fraud[edit]
South Carolina was one state rampant with voter fraud, particularly through the use oftissue ballots,thin ballots hidden in the normal ballot, typically 10 to 20 at a time. The almost statewide exclusion of Republicans as Commissioners of Elections, and the ensuing appointment of nearly all Democratic Managers of Elections, allowed to Democratic Managers to perpetrate this scheme. When the votes were counted and more votes than voters were found, the Managers removed and destroyed the Republican ballots resulting in the complete takeover of the state.[1][2][3]
1st congressional district[edit]
Incumbent Republican CongressmanJoseph Raineyof the1st congressional district,in office since 1870, was defeated by Democratic challengerJohn S. Richardson.
General election results[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John S. Richardson | 22,707 | 61.7 | +13.9 | |
| Republican | Joseph Rainey(incumbent) | 14,096 | 38.3 | -13.9 | |
| Majority | 8,611 | 23.4 | +19.0 | ||
| Turnout | 36,803 | ||||
| DemocraticgainfromRepublican | |||||
2nd congressional district[edit]
Incumbent Republican CongressmanRichard H. Cainof the2nd congressional district,in office since 1877, declined to seek re-election. DemocratMichael P. O'Connor,a contestant in the1876 election,defeated RepublicanEdmund William McGregor Mackeyin the general election.
General election results[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael P. O'Connor | 20,568 | 60.9 | +23.0 | |
| Republican | Edmund W.M. Mackey | 13,182 | 39.1 | -23.0 | |
| No party | Write-Ins | 11 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Majority | 7,386 | 21.8 | -2.4 | ||
| Turnout | 33,761 | ||||
| DemocraticgainfromRepublican | |||||
3rd congressional district[edit]
Incumbent Democratic CongressmanD. Wyatt Aikenof the3rd congressional district,in office since 1877, defeated Republican challenger J.F. Ensor.
General election results[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | D. Wyatt Aiken(incumbent) | 24,533 | 79.1 | +21.1 | |
| Republican | J.F. Ensor | 6,348 | 20.5 | -21.5 | |
| No party | Write-Ins | 138 | 0.4 | +0.4 | |
| Majority | 18,185 | 58.6 | +42.6 | ||
| Turnout | 31,019 | ||||
| Democratichold | |||||
4th congressional district[edit]
Incumbent Democratic CongressmanJohn H. Evinsof the4th congressional district,in office since 1877, defeated Republican challengerAlexander S. Wallace.
General election results[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John H. Evins(incumbent) | 22,702 | 96.8 | +39.2 | |
| Republican | Alexander S. Wallace | 741 | 3.2 | -39.2 | |
| Majority | 21,961 | 93.6 | -78.4 | ||
| Turnout | 23,443 | ||||
| Democratichold | |||||
5th congressional district[edit]
Incumbent Republican CongressmanRobert Smallsof the5th congressional district,in office since 1875, was defeated by Democratic challengerGeorge D. Tillman.
General election results[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | George D. Tillman | 26,409 | 71.2 | +23.1 | |
| Republican | Robert Smalls(incumbent) | 10,664 | 28.8 | -23.1 | |
| No party | Write-Ins | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Majority | 15,745 | 42.4 | +38.6 | ||
| Turnout | 37,076 | ||||
| DemocraticgainfromRepublican | |||||
See also[edit]
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1878
- South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1878
- South Carolina's congressional districts
References[edit]
- ^The New York Times, November 16, 1878 -NYT Free Archive
- ^The New York Times, February 5, 1879 -NYT Free Archive
- ^The Life of James Abram Garfield, by William Ralston Balch, 1881
- "Annual Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina."Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina at the Regular Session of 1878.Columbia, SC: Calvo and Patton, 1878, pp. 440–444.