1986 United States Senate election in South Carolina

1986 United States Senate election in South Carolina

← 1980 November 4, 1986 1992 →
 
Nominee Ernest Hollings Henry McMaster
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 463,354 261,394
Percentage 63.07% 35.63%

County results
Hollings:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
McMaster:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

The 1986 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 4, 1986 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Henry McMaster to win his fifth (his fourth full) term. This is also the last US Senate election in South Carolina where the Democrat won with a double-digit margin. McMaster would much later be elected Governor in 2018.

Republican primary

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The Republican primary campaign pitted U.S. Attorney Henry McMaster against Henry Jordan, a social conservative supported by televangelist Pat Robertson and many Christian activists.[1]

Candidates

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  • Henry Jordan, surgeon
  • Henry McMaster, U.S. Attorney and future state Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor

Results

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McMaster
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   >90%
Jordan
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   80–90%
  •   >90%
Tie
  •   50%
Republican Primary
Candidate Votes %
Henry McMaster 27,695 53.4%
Henry Jordan 24,164 46.6%

General election

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Candidates

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Campaign

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The race was not seriously contested and was not a target by the Republicans. With little financial assistance, McMaster was unable to mount a credible challenge to Hollings' re-election in what became a difficult year for Republicans.

Results

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South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1986
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Fritz Hollings (incumbent) 465,511 63.07% −7.29%
Republican Henry McMaster 262,976 35.63% +6.00%
Libertarian Steven B. Vandervelde 4,788 0.65% N/A
American Ray Hillyard 4,588 0.62% N/A
No party Write-Ins 199 0.03% N/A
Majority 202,535 27.44% −13.29%
Turnout 738,062 56.6% −13.9%
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Broder, David S. (June 11, 1986). "Maine, South Carolina Pick Candidates". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  • State Election Commission (1987). South Carolina Election Commission Annual Report 1986-1987. Columbia, SC. pp. 14, 22.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)