1938 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

The 1938 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 8, 1938, to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The primary elections were held on August 30 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on September 13. Three incumbents were re-elected, but two incumbents were defeated in the Democratic primary. The three open seats were retained by the Democrats and the composition of the state delegation thus remained solely Democratic.

Elections in South Carolina
Federal government
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
State offices
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
State Senate elections
State House elections
Ballot measures

1st congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Thomas S. McMillan of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1925, defeated A. Russell McGowan in the Democratic primary and Republican B.L. Hendrix in the general election.

Democratic primary
Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Thomas S. McMillan 29,173 62.8
A. Russell McGowan 17,255 37.2

General election results
South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1938
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thomas S. McMillan (incumbent) 7,649 98.2 +1.3
Republican B.L. Hendrix 136 1.8 -1.3
No party Write-Ins 3 0.0 0.0
Majority 7,513 96.4 +1.4
Turnout 7,788
Democratic hold

2nd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Hampton P. Fulmer of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1921, defeated former Lieutenant Governor Andrew J. Bethea in the Democratic primary and Republican S.J. Leaphart in the general election.

Democratic primary
Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Hampton P. Fulmer 42,058 71.4
Andrew J. Bethea 16,868 28.6

General election results
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1938
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hampton P. Fulmer (incumbent) 7,236 98.8 +0.5
Republican S.J. Leaphart 26 0.3 -1.4
No party Write-Ins 63 0.9 +0.9
Majority 7,210 98.5 +1.3
Turnout 7,325
Democratic hold

3rd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John C. Taylor of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1933, was defeated in the Democratic primary by Butler B. Hare who defeated Republican O.B. Menees in the general election.

Democratic primary
Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
John C. Taylor 22,164 40.6
Butler B. Hare 18,556 34.0
Theo H. Vaughn 10,407 19.1
Robert E. McCaslan 3,445 6.3
Democratic primary runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
Butler B. Hare 29,852 55.7 +21.7
John C. Taylor 23,732 44.3 +3.7

General election results
South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1938
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Butler B. Hare 10,028 99.6 +0.6
Republican O.B. Menees 43 0.4 -0.6
Majority 9,985 99.2 +0.8
Turnout 10,071
Democratic hold

4th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Gabriel H. Mahon, Jr. of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1937, was defeated in the Democratic primary by Joseph R. Bryson who defeated Republican H.A. Costner in the general election. The first primary had the two candidates only separated by 8 votes so the South Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee ordered a new race instead of a recount, which Bryson clearly won.

Democratic primary
1st Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Joseph R. Bryson 31,634 50.0
Gabriel H. Mahon, Jr. 31,626 50.0
2nd Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Joseph R. Bryson 35,948 54.5
Gabriel H. Mahon, Jr. 29,967 45.5

General election results
South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1938
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joseph R. Bryson 8,995 99.4 +0.5
Republican H.A. Costner 58 0.6 -0.5
Majority 8,937 98.8 +0.5
Turnout 9,053
Democratic hold

5th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, defeated Republican challenger A.B. McCraw.

General election results
South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1938
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James P. Richards (incumbent) 6,191 99.8 +0.6
Republican A.B. McCraw 13 0.2 -0.6
Majority 6,178 99.6 +1.1
Turnout 6,204
Democratic hold

6th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Elizabeth Hawley Gasque of the 6th congressional district succeeded her husband, Allard H. Gasque, in office upon his death in 1938 and she did not seek re-election. John L. McMillan won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican W.S. Thompson in the general election.

Democratic primary
Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Lloyd Ford 19,581 35.3
John L. McMillan 15,578 28.1
James R. Turner 7,183 12.9
Jerome P. Pate 5,771 10.4
Earl Ellerbe 4,809 8.7
D.F. Hogan 2,558 4.6
Democratic primary runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
John L. McMillan 27,083 51.9 +23.8
Lloyd Ford 25,068 48.1 +12.8

General election results
South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1938
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John L. McMillan 5,707 99.2 -0.1
Republican W.S. Thompson 48 0.8 +0.1
Majority 5,659 98.4 -0.4
Turnout 5,755
Democratic hold

See also

References
  • Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 99, 106, 111, 120, 124.
  • "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Report of the State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1939, pp. 7–9.
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