The 1940 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 5, 1940 to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. All five incumbents who ran were re-elected and the open seat in the 1st congressional district was retained by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation thus remained solely Democratic.
Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Clara G. McMillan of the 1st congressional district succeeded her husband, Thomas S. McMillan, in office upon his death in 1939. She did not seek re-election and L. Mendel Rivers defeated in the Democratic primary and Republican Mrs. John E. Messervy in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
L. Mendel Rivers
18,253
54.2
15,413
45.8
General election results[]
South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1940
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
L. Mendel Rivers
16,626
98.3
+0.1
Republican
Mrs. John E. Messervy
278
1.6
-0.2
No party
Write-Ins
14
0.1
+0.1
Majority
16,348
96.7
+0.3
Turnout
16,918
Democratichold
2nd congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Hampton P. Fulmer of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1921, defeated former Lieutenant Governor in the Democratic primary and Republican M.B. Cross in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Hampton P. Fulmer
39,945
76.8
12,078
23.2
General election results[]
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1940
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Hampton P. Fulmer (incumbent)
14,920
98.6
-0.2
Republican
M.B. Cross
206
1.4
+1.1
Majority
14,714
97.2
-1.3
Turnout
15,126
Democratichold
3rd congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Butler B. Hare of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated former Representative John C. Taylor in the Democratic primary and Republican A.F. Ernest in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Butler B. Hare
44,713
67.2
John C. Taylor
21,787
32.8
General election results[]
South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1940
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Butler B. Hare (incumbent)
15,977
99.3
-0.3
Republican
A.F. Ernest
108
0.7
+0.3
Majority
15,869
98.6
-0.6
Turnout
16,085
Democratichold
4th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Joseph R. Bryson of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Virgil Evans in the Democratic primary and Republican J.D. McCullough in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Joseph R. Bryson
65,812
85.7
Virgil Evans
10,971
14.3
General election results[]
South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1940
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Joseph R. Bryson (incumbent)
23,825
97.3
-2.1
Republican
J.D. McCullough
657
2.7
+2.1
Majority
23,168
94.6
-4.2
Turnout
24,482
Democratichold
5th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, defeated Roy C. Cobb in the Democratic primary and Republican C.F. Pendleton in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
James P. Richards
33,262
72.3
Roy C. Cobb
12,748
27.7
General election results[]
South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1940
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
James P. Richards (incumbent)
14,754
99.2
-0.6
Republican
C.F. Pendleton
120
0.8
+0.6
No party
Write-Ins
4
0.0
0.0
Majority
14,634
98.4
-1.2
Turnout
14,878
Democratichold
6th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated James P. "Spot" Mozingo in the Democratic primary and Republican C.B. Ruffin in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
John L. McMillan
34,969
65.3
James P. "Spot" Mozingo
18,576
34.7
General election results[]
South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1940
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
John L. McMillan (incumbent)
12,074
99.0
-0.2
Republican
C.B. Ruffin
123
1.0
+0.2
Majority
11,951
98.0
-0.4
Turnout
12,197
Democratichold
See also[]
United States House of Representatives elections, 1940
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 99, 106, 111, 116, 120, 125.
"Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Report of the State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1941, pp. 7–9.
