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The 1896 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 3, 1896, to select seven Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. Five Democratic incumbents were re-elected, one Republican incumbent was defeated, and the open seat was retained by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation after the election was solely Democratic.

1st congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman George W. Murray of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1896, was defeated by Democratic challenger William Elliott.

General election results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1896
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic William Elliott 4,652 63.7 +4.6
Reorganized Republican George W. Murray (incumbent) 2,478 33.9 N/A
Republican W. Cecil Cohen 173 2.4 N/A
No party Write-Ins 2 0.0 0.0
Majority 2,174 29.8 +11.6
Turnout 7,305
Democratic gain from Republican

2nd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman W. Jasper Talbert of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1893, defeated Republican challenger B.P. Chatfield.

General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1896
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic W. Jasper Talbert (incumbent) 7,999 92.4 -7.1
Republican B.P. Chatfield 635 7.3 +7.3
No party Write-Ins 21 0.3 -0.2
Majority 7,364 85.1 -13.9
Turnout 8,655
Democratic hold

3rd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Asbury Latimer of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1893, won the Democratic primary and defeated two Republican candidates in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Asbury Latimer 9,136 67.7
William T. Wideman 1,955 14.5
Joseph L. Keitt 1,255 9.3
J.W. Bowden 1,152 8.5

General election results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1896
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Asbury Latimer (incumbent) 9,746 92.0 +10.7
Republican A.C. Merreck 659 6.2 N/A
Reorganized Republican Clarence Gray 192 1.8 N/A
Majority 9,087 85.8 +18.4
Turnout 10,597
Democratic hold

4th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Stanyarne Wilson of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1895, won the Democratic primary and defeated two Republican candidates in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Stanyarne Wilson 9,500 62.3
Joseph T. Johnson 5,694 37.3
Hugh L. Farley 63 0.4

General election results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1896
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stanyarne Wilson (incumbent) 11,230 92.2 +17.1
Republican P.S. Suber 507 4.2 N/A
Reorganized Republican D.T. Bounds 443 3.6 N/A
No party Write-Ins 1 0.0 -0.2
Majority 10,723 88.0 +37.6
Turnout 12,181
Democratic hold

5th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Thomas J. Strait of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1893, won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican John F. Jones in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Thomas J. Strait 5,362 46.7
David E. Finley 3,585 31.3
W.D. Trantham 2,520 22.0
Democratic primary runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
Thomas J. Strait 6,291 57.3 +10.6
David E. Finley 4,691 42.7 +11.4

General election results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1896
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thomas J. Strait (incumbent) 8,511 91.0 +23.4
Republican John F. Jones 838 9.0 -8.0
Majority 7,673 82.0 +31.4
Turnout 9,349
Democratic hold

6th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McLaurin of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1893, defeated two Republican candidates in the general election.

General election results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1896
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John L. McLaurin (incumbent) 9,725 87.7 +10.8
Republican J.E. Wilson 878 7.9 N/A
Reorganized Republican George Henry McKie 482 4.3 N/A
No party Write-Ins 9 0.1 +0.1
Majority 8,847 79.8 +26.0
Turnout 11,094
Democratic hold

7th congressional district special election

The seat for the 7th congressional district was declared vacant by the Republican controlled Congress in 1896. A special election was called to be held simultaneously with the regular election and J. William Stokes defeated two Republican candidates in the election.

General election results

South Carolina's 7th congressional district special election results, 1896
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic J. William Stokes 8,223 88.2 +15.2
Republican T.B. Johnson 1,068 11.5 N/A
Independent Republican D.A. Perrin 26 0.3 N/A
No party Write-Ins 1 0.0 -0.7
Majority 7,155 76.7 +30.0
Turnout 9,318
Democratic hold

7th congressional district

J. William Stokes, the winner of the previous election for the 7th congressional district, defeated Altamount Moses in the Democratic primary and two Republican candidates in the general election.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
J. William Stokes 3,302 53.6
Altamount Moses 2,855 46.4

General election results

South Carolina's 7th congressional district election results, 1896
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic J. William Stokes 8,065 85.6 -2.6
Republican T.B. Johnson 1,342 14.2 +2.7
Independent Republican D.A. Perrin 22 0.2 -0.1
Majority 6,723 71.4 -5.3
Turnout 9,429
Democratic hold

See also

References

  • Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 103–104, 109, 113, 122.
  • "Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina. Election Returns." Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina at the Regular Session Commencing January 12, 1897. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1897, pp. 4–7.