The 1946 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 5, 1946 to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. Five incumbents were re-elected, but Butler B. Hare of the 3rd congressional district was defeated in the Democratic primary by W.J. Bryan Dorn. The seat remained with the Democrats and the composition of the state delegation remained solely Democratic.
Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel Rivers of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1941, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1946
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent)
5,354
99.5
+6.7
No party
Write-Ins
26
0.5
+0.5
Majority
5,328
99.0
+13.4
Turnout
5,380
Democratichold
2nd congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John J. Riley of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1945, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1946
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
John J. Riley (incumbent)
4,795
98.6
+0.6
No party
Write-Ins
67
1.4
+1.4
Majority
4,728
97.2
+1.2
Turnout
4,862
Democratichold
3rd congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Butler B. Hare of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1939, was defeated in the Democratic primary by W.J. Bryan Dorn who was unopposed in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
W.J. Bryan Dorn
31,164
61.6
Butler B. Hare
19,423
38.4
General election results[]
South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1946
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
W.J. Bryan Dorn
3,527
99.9
+2.9
No party
Write-Ins
3
0.1
+0.1
Majority
3,524
99.8
+5.8
Turnout
3,530
Democratichold
4th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Joseph R. Bryson of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Charles C. Moore in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Joseph R. Bryson
28,232
58.3
Charles C. Moore
20,208
41.7
General election results[]
South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1946
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Joseph R. Bryson (incumbent)
3,363
99.6
+3.9
No party
Write-Ins
13
0.4
+0.4
Majority
3,350
99.2
+7.8
Turnout
3,376
Democratichold
5th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1946
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
James P. Richards (incumbent)
3,357
100.0
+1.9
Majority
3,357
100.0
+3.8
Turnout
3,357
Democratichold
6th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, won the Democratic primary and defeated Progressive Party candidate James E. Prioleau in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
John L. McMillan
35,494
68.4
G. Stanley Bryant
14,307
27.5
Wendell J. Holbert
2,117
4.1
General election results[]
South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1946
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
John L. McMillan (incumbent)
5,670
96.9
-1.1
Progressive Democratic
James E. Prioleau
141
2.4
+2.4
Independent
Leroy Dimery
41
0.7
+0.7
Majority
5,529
94.5
-1.5
Turnout
5,852
Democratichold
See also[]
United States House of Representatives elections, 1946
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 107, 111, 121.
"Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of South Carolina to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1947, pp. 5–7.