The 1901 South Carolina 7th congressional district special election was held on November 5, 1901 to select a Representative for the 7th congressional district to serve out the remainder of the term for the 57th Congress. The special election resulted from the death of Representative J. William Stokes on July 6, 1901. Asbury Francis Lever, a former secretary to Stokes, won the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.
The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary in the summer of 1901. Five candidates entered the race and among those who sought the seat was future longtime U.S. Senator, Ellison D. Smith. Asbury Francis Lever emerged atop the first primary election and won the runoff election against Thomas F. Brantley, a candidate in the 1898 election. There was no opposition to the Democratic candidate in the general election so Lever was elected to serve out the remainder of the term.
Democratic Primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Asbury Francis Lever
2,540
31.0
Thomas F. Brantley
2,325
28.4
Madison P. Howell
2,044
24.9
Ellison D. Smith
820
10.0
O.W. Buchanan
468
5.7
Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Asbury Francis Lever
3,395
55.8
+24.8
Thomas F. Brantley
2,691
44.2
+15.8
General election results[]
South Carolina's 7th Congressional District Special Election Results, 1901
List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives in South Carolina
References[]
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. p. 122.
"Report of M.R. Cooper, Secretary of State, to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume II. Columbia, SC: The State Company, 1902, pp. 1995–1996.