The 1956 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 6, 1956 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 5th congressional district was retained by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation thus 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, 1956
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent)
31,112
100.0
+2.3
No party
Write-Ins
2
0.0
0.0
Majority
31,110
100.0
+4.6
Turnout
31,114
Democratichold
2nd congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John J. Riley of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1951, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1956
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
John J. Riley (incumbent)
49,284
100.0
+2.3
No party
Write-Ins
3
0.0
0.0
Majority
49,281
100.0
+4.6
Turnout
49,287
Democratichold
3rd congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1951, defeated Republican challenger Maka Knox.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1956
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
William J.B. Dorn (incumbent)
39,270
92.9
-6.4
Republican
Maka Knox
2,885
6.8
+6.2
No party
Write-Ins
127
0.3
+0.2
Majority
36,385
86.1
-12.6
Turnout
42,282
Democratichold
4th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Robert T. Ashmore of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1953, defeated Republican challenger Dan H. Wallace, Jr.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1956
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Robert T. Ashmore (incumbent)
53,722
85.1
-14.1
Republican
Dan H. Wallace, Jr.
9,393
14.9
+14.1
Majority
44,329
70.2
-28.2
Turnout
63,115
Democratichold
5th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, opted to retire. Robert W. Hemphill defeated Thomas S. Gettys in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Robert W. Hemphill
28,424
59.0
Thomas S. Gettys
19,760
41.0
General election results[]
South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1956
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Robert W. Hemphill
36,454
100.0
0.0
Majority
36,454
100.0
0.0
Turnout
36,454
Democratichold
6th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1956
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
John L. McMillan (incumbent)
39,749
100.0
+1.1
No party
Write-Ins
3
0.0
0.0
Majority
39,746
100.0
+2.2
Turnout
39,752
Democratichold
See also[]
United States House of Representatives elections, 1956
United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1956
United States Senate special election in South Carolina, 1956
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. p. 116.
"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: 1957, pp. 10–12.