South Carolina's 2nd congressional district
- 61.1% White
- 24.9% Black
- 7.0% Hispanic
- 4.0% Two or more races
- 2.2% Asian
- 0.8% other
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district is in central and southwestern South Carolina. The district spans from Columbia to the South Carolina side of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.
From 1993 through 2012, it included all of Lexington, Jasper, Hampton, Allendale and Barnwell counties; most of Richland and Beaufort counties and parts of Aiken, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties.
It was made more compact in the 2010 round of redistricting, and now comprises all of Lexington, Aiken and Barnwell counties, most of Richland County, and part of Orangeburg County. Besides Columbia (60 percent of which is in the district), other major cities in the district include Aiken and North Augusta.
The district's current configuration dates from 1933, following South Carolina losing a seat in apportionment as a result of the 1930 Census showing that the state's population had declined. Before that time, much of its territory had been within the 6th district.
As a Columbia-based district from 1933 to the early 1990s, it was a fairly compact district in the central part of the state, which was largely coextensive with the Columbia metropolitan area. As a result of the 1990 census, the state legislature was required to draw a black-majority district. In a deal between Republicans and Democrats, the 6th district, previously located in the northeastern portion of the state, was reconfigured to incorporate most of the old 2nd's black residents. To make up for the loss in population, the 2nd was pushed as far west as the fringes of the Augusta suburbs and as far south as Beaufort/Hilton Head. As of 2019, the district was more than 69% white.[3]
Since 1965 the 2nd district has been held by the Republican Party, coinciding with the late 20th-century realignment of political parties in the South. In the decades after the Civil War and before disenfranchisement in 1895 under the new state constitution, members of the Republican Party in South Carolina and the South were mostly African Americans, including many freedmen enfranchised due to Republican support for amendments for emancipation, citizenship and the franchise. After white Democrats regained control of state governments across the South, in the late 19th century, they passed new constitutions from 1890 to 1908 to disenfranchise blacks, excluding them totally from the political process. The Republican Party was crippled in the region and nearly comatose.
As a result of the Civil Rights Movement, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which provided for federal enforcement of blacks' constitutional rights. That year, the 2nd district's second-term Democratic congressman, Albert Watson, resigned, then ran as a Republican in the ensuing special election and won, becoming the first Republican to represent South Carolina in the House since Reconstruction.
However, the district had begun shedding its Yellow Dog Democrat roots before then. Some of the old-line Democrats began splitting their tickets as early as the 1940s, and some counties in the district haven't supported the official Democratic candidate for president since the 1950s. The district swung hard to Strom Thurmond during his third-party bid for president in 1948, and gave an equally massive margin to Barry Goldwater in 1964. Since 1964, Jimmy Carter has been the only Democrat to come close to carrying it. However, conservative Democrats held most local offices well into the 1980s.
Watson gave up the seat to run for governor in 1970. His successor, state senator Floyd Spence, held the seat for more than 30 years. He was chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from 1995 to 2001, and died a few months after being elected to a 16th term. He was succeeded in a special election by one of his former aides, state senator Joe Wilson.
Wilson has since been reelected eleven times. In the most recent election, held on November 11, 2022, Wilson earned 60% of the vote against Democrat Judd Larkins.
Counties
Counties in the 2023–2033 district map:
Election results from presidential races
Year | Office | Result |
---|---|---|
2000 | President | Bush 58–39% |
2004 | President | Bush 60–39% |
2008 | President | McCain 60–39% |
2012 | President | Romney 59–39% |
2016 | President | Trump 56–39% |
2020 | President | Trump 56–44% |
List of members representing the district
Member (Residence) | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District established March 4, 1789 | |||||
![]() Aedanus Burke (Charleston) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1791 | 1st | Elected in 1788. Retired. | 1789–1793 "Beaufort-Orangeburg district" ![]() 1st district, Charleston 2nd district, Beaufort-Orangeburg 3rd district, Georgetown-Cheraw 4th district, Camden 5th district, Ninety-Six |
Robert Barnwell (Beaufort) | Pro-Administration | March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1793 | 2nd | Elected in 1790. Retired. | |
John Hunter (Newberry) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 | 3rd | Elected in 1793. Redistricted to the 5th district and lost re-election. | 1793–1797 "Beaufort-Orangeburg district" |
![]() Wade Hampton (Columbia) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797 | 4th | Elected January 19–20, 1795 to finish the term of member-elect Robert Barnwell, who had declined to serve. Retired. | |
![]() John Rutledge Jr. (Charleston) | Federalist | March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1803 | 5th 6th 7th | Elected in 1796. Re-elected in 1798. Re-elected in 1800. Lost re-election. | 1797–1803 "Beaufort district" |
William Butler (Saluda) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1813 | 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th | Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1803. Re-elected in 1804. Re-elected in 1806. Re-elected in 1808. Re-elected in 1810. Retired. | 1803–1813 "Beaufort and Edgefield district" |
![]() William Lowndes (Jacksonboro) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1813 – May 8, 1822 | 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1812. Re-elected in 1814. Re-elected in 1816. Re-elected in 1818. Re-elected in 1820. Resigned. | 1813–1833 "Beaufort district" |
Vacant | May 8, 1822 – December 13, 1822 | 17th | |||
![]() James Hamilton Jr. (Charleston) | Democratic-Republican[a] | December 13, 1822 – March 3, 1825 | 17th 18th 19th 20th | Elected to finish Lowndes's term. Re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Retired. | |
Jackson | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829 | ||||
![]() Robert W. Barnwell (Beaufort) | Jackson | March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831 | 21st 22nd | Elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1830. Retired. | |
Nullifier | March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 | ||||
![]() William J. Grayson (Beaufort) | Nullifier | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837 | 23rd 24th | Elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1834. Lost re-election. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
![]() Robert Rhett (Beaufort) | Democratic | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843 | 25th 26th 27th | Elected in 1836. Re-elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Redistricted to the 7th district. | |
Richard F. Simpson (Pendleton) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849 | 28th 29th 30th | Elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1844. Re-elected in 1846. Retired. | 1843–1853 [data missing] |
![]() James L. Orr (Anderson) | Democratic | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 | 31st 32nd | Elected in 1848. Re-elected in 1850. Redistricted to the 5th district. | |
![]() William Aiken Jr. (Charleston) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1857 | 33rd 34th | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1853. Re-elected in 1854. Retired. | 1853–1860 [data missing] |
![]() William P. Miles (Charleston) | Democratic | March 4, 1857 – December 24, 1860 | 35th 36th | Re-elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858. Re-elected in 1860 but retired due to Civil War. | |
District inactive | December 24, 1860 – July 20, 1868 | 36th 37th 38th 39th 40th | Civil War and Reconstruction | ||
![]() Christopher C. Bowen (Charleston) | Republican | July 20, 1868 – March 3, 1871 | 40th 41st | Elected to finish the short term. Also elected to the next term. Lost re-election. | 1868–1873 [data missing] |
![]() Robert C. De Large (Charleston) | Republican | March 4, 1871 – January 24, 1873 | 42nd | Elected in 1870. Seat declared vacant. | |
Vacant | January 24, 1873 – March 3, 1873 | ||||
![]() Alonzo J. Ransier (Charleston) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Elected in 1872. Retired. | 1873–1883 [data missing] |
![]() Edmund W.M. Mackey (Charleston) | Independent Republican | March 4, 1875 – July 19, 1876 | 44th | Elected in 1874. Seat declared vacant. | |
Vacant | July 19, 1876 – November 7, 1876 | ||||
![]() Charles W. Buttz (Charleston) | Republican | November 7, 1876 – March 3, 1877 | Elected to finish Mackey's term. Retired. | ||
![]() Richard H. Cain (Charleston) | Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879 | 45th | Elected in 1876. Retired. | |
![]() Michael P. O'Connor (Charleston) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – April 26, 1881 | 46th 47th | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Died pending an election contest. | |
Vacant | April 26, 1881 – June 9, 1881 | 47th | |||
![]() Samuel Dibble (Orangeburg) | Democratic | June 9, 1881 – May 31, 1882 | Elected to finish O'Connor's term. Lost the election contest. | ||
![]() Edmund W.M. Mackey (Charleston) | Republican | May 31, 1882 – March 3, 1883 | Won election contest. Redistricted to the 7th district. | ||
![]() George D. Tillman (Clarks Hill) | Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1893 | 48th 49th 50th 51st 52nd | Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Lost renomination. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
![]() W. Jasper Talbert (Parksville) | Democratic | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1903 | 53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Retired to run for governor of South Carolina. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
![]() George W. Croft (Aiken) | Democratic | March 4, 1903 – March 10, 1904 | 58th | Elected in 1902. Died. | 1903–1913 [data missing] |
Vacant | March 10, 1904 – May 17, 1904 | ||||
![]() Theodore G. Croft (Aiken) | Democratic | May 17, 1904 – March 3, 1905 | Elected to finish his father's term. Retired. | ||
![]() James O'H. Patterson (Barnwell) | Democratic | March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1911 | 59th 60th 61st | Elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Retired. | |
![]() James F. Byrnes (Aiken) | Democratic | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1925 | 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th | Elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
1913–1933 Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Edgefield, Hampton, Jasper, and Saluda counties[4] | |||||
![]() Butler B. Hare (Saluda) | Democratic | March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1933 | 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Retired. | |
![]() Hampton Fulmer (Orangeburg) | Democratic | March 4, 1933 – October 19, 1944 | 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th | Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Died. | 1933–1943 [data missing] |
1943–1953 [data missing] | |||||
Vacant | October 19, 1944 – November 7, 1944 | 78th | |||
![]() Willa L. Fulmer (Orangeburg) | Democratic | November 7, 1944 – January 3, 1945 | Elected to finish her husband's term. Retired. | ||
![]() John J. Riley (Sumter) | Democratic | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1949 | 79th 80th | Elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Lost renomination. | |
![]() Hugo S. Sims Jr. (Orangeburg) | Democratic | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1951 | 81st | Elected in 1948. Lost renomination. | |
![]() John J. Riley (Sumter) | Democratic | January 3, 1951 – January 1, 1962 | 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | Elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Died. | |
1953–1963 [data missing] | |||||
Vacant | January 1, 1962 – April 10, 1962 | 87th | |||
![]() Corinne Boyd Riley (Sumter) | Democratic | April 10, 1962 – January 3, 1963 | Elected to finish her husband's term. Retired. | ||
![]() Albert Watson (Columbia) | Democratic | January 3, 1963 – February 1, 1965 | 88th 89th | Elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Resigned to contest special election as a Republican. | 1963–1973 [data missing] |
Vacant | February 1, 1965 – June 15, 1965 | 89th | |||
![]() Albert Watson (Columbia) | Republican | June 15, 1965 – January 3, 1971 | 89th 90th 91st | Re-elected to finish his term as a Republican. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Retired to run for governor. | |
![]() Floyd Spence (Lexington) | Republican | January 3, 1971 – August 16, 2001 | 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th | Elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Died. | |
1973–1983: [data missing] | |||||
1983–1993: [data missing] | |||||
1993–2003 [data missing] | |||||
Vacant | August 16, 2001 – December 18, 2001 | 107th | |||
![]() Joe Wilson (Springdale) | Republican | December 18, 2001 – present | 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected to finish Spence's term. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. | |
2003–2013[5]![]() | |||||
2013–2023![]()
| |||||
2023–2033![]() |
Past election results
2012
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joe Wilson (incumbent) | 196,116 | 96.3 | |
Write-in | 7,602 | 3.7 | ||
Total votes | 203,718 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2014
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joe Wilson (incumbent) | 121,649 | 62.5 | |
Democratic | Phil Black | 68,719 | 35.3 | |
Labor | Harold Geddings III | 4,158 | 2.1 | |
Write-in | 282 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 194,808 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2016
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joe Wilson (incumbent) | 183,746 | 60.2 | |
Democratic | Arik Bjorn | 109,452 | 35.9 | |
American | Eddie McCain | 11,444 | 3.8 | |
Write-in | 354 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 304,996 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2018
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joe Wilson (incumbent) | 144,642 | 56.2 | |
Democratic | Sean Carrigan | 109,199 | 42.5 | |
American | Sonny Narang | 3,111 | 1.2 | |
Write-in | 187 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 257,139 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2020
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joe Wilson (incumbent) | 202,715 | 55.7 | |
Democratic | Adair Boroughs | 155,118 | 42.6 | |
Constitution | Kathleen Wright | 6,163 | 1.7 | |
Write-in | 219 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 364,215 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2022
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joe Wilson (incumbent) | 147,699 | 60.0 | |
Democratic | Judd Larkins | 98,081 | 39.8 | |
Write-in | 346 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 246,126 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
See also
Notes
- ^ Supported the Jackson faction in the 1824 United States presidential election.
References
- ^ a b "My Congressional District". census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau Center for New Media and Promotion (CNMP).
- ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "My Congressional District".
- ^ "South Carolina". Official congressional directory. p. 104. hdl:2027/uc1.l0075858456.
- ^ "The national atlas". nationalatlas.gov. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ^ "Election Statistics - US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". Karen Haas, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
- ^ "South Carolina Election Commission Official Results". West Virginia Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "2016 Statewide General Election official results". South Carolina State Election Commission. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
- ^ Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ "2020 Statewide General Election Night Reporting - Results". South Carolina Election Commission. November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ "2022 Statewide General Election". www.enr-scvotes.org. November 11, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
- Political Graveyard database of South Carolina congressmen
- v
- t
- e
- The 8th, 9th, and at-large districts are obsolete
- See also
- South Carolina's past and present representatives, senators, and delegations
33°38′N 81°21′W / 33.63°N 81.35°W / 33.63; -81.35