The 1948 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 2, 1948 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator Burnet R. Maybank won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican challenger J. Bates Gerald in the general election to win another six-year term.
William Jennings Bryan Dorn, U.S. Representative from Greenwood
Alan Johnstone
Burnet R. Maybank, incumbent Senator since 1941
Marcus A. Stone
Results[]
Senator Maybank narrowly achieved a majority of the primary vote, avoiding a potential run-off election against Dorn.
Democratic Primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Burnet R. Maybank
161,608
51.5
W.J. Bryan Dorn
76,749
24.4
Neville Bennett
43,068
13.7
Alan Johnstone
17,689
5.6
Marcus A. Stone
14,904
4.8
General election[]
Campaign[]
Since the end of Reconstruction in 1877, the Democratic Party dominated the politics of South Carolina and its statewide candidates were never seriously challenged. Maybank did not campaign for the general election as there was no chance of defeat.
Results[]
1948 U.S. Senate election in South Carolina
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Burnet R. Maybank (incumbent)
135,998
96.4
-3.6
Republican
J. Bates Gerald
5,008
3.6
+3.6
Majority
130,990
92.8
-7.2
Turnout
141,006
Democratichold
65+% won by Maybank
See also[]
List of United States senators from South Carolina
United States Senate elections, 1948 and 1949
United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 1948
References[]
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. p. 79.
"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: 1949, p. 11.