1974 United States Senate election in South Carolina

The 1974 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 5, 1974 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Gwen Bush to win his second full term.

1974 United States Senate election in South Carolina

November 5, 1974
 
Nominee Ernest Hollings Gwen Bush
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 355,107 146,649
Percentage 69.4% 28.7%

Results by county
Hollings:      50-59%      60-69%      70-79%      80-89%

U.S. senator before election

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

Primaries

Both Fritz Hollings and Gwen Bush faced no opposition in their party's primaries which allowed both candidates to concentrate solely on the general election.

General election campaign

The Watergate scandal caused the Republicans to perform poorly nationwide in 1974 and Gwen Bush was little more than a sacrificial lamb. The main focus of the voters in South Carolina was on the competitive gubernatorial contest and Fritz Hollings easily cruised to a comfortable re-election.

General election results

South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1974
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Fritz Hollings 355,107 69.4% +7.5%
Republican Gwen Bush 146,649 28.7% -9.4%
Independent Harold Hough 9,624 1.9% +1.9%
Majority 208,458 40.7% +16.9%
Turnout 511,380 51.3% -25.2%
Democratic hold

See also

  • List of United States Senators from South Carolina
  • United States Senate elections, 1974 and 1975
  • United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 1974
  • South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1974

References

  • State Election Commission (1975). Report of the South Carolina State Election Commission. Columbia, SC: State Election Commission. p. 37.
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