South Carolina congressional districts, 1962 to 1970
1st district
2nd district
3rd district
4th district
5th district
6th district
The 1962 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 6, 1962 to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The primary elections were held on June 12 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on June 26. All five incumbents who ran were re-elected and the open seat in the 2nd 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, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent)
39,176
100.0
0.0
Majority
39,176
100.0
0.0
Turnout
39,176
Democratichold
2nd congressional district special election[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John J. Riley of the 2nd congressional district died on January 1, 1962. A special election was called and his widow, Corinne Boyd Riley, won the Democratic primary on February 13 and the special election on April 10 to serve out the remainder of the term.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Corinne Boyd Riley
10,277
69.0
Martha Fitzgerald
4,607
31.0
General election results[]
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district special election results, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Corinne Boyd Riley
3,626
99.9
-0.1
No party
Write-Ins
2
0.1
+0.1
Majority
3,624
99.8
-0.2
Turnout
3,628
Democratichold
2nd congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Corinne Boyd Riley of the 2nd congressional district succeeded her husband, John J. Riley, in office upon his death in 1962. She did not seek re-election and Democratic state RepresentativeAlbert Watson won the open seat against Republican Floyd Spence.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Albert Watson
21,137
33.9
Frank C. Owens
15,531
24.9
Leonard A. Williamson
13,899
22.3
Al Cook
9,947
15.9
Gerard Hartzog
1,849
3.0
Democratic primary runoff
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Albert Watson
17,644
51.8
+17.9
Frank C. Owens
16,398
48.2
+23.3
General election results[]
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Albert Watson
39,149
52.8
-47.1
Republican
Floyd Spence
34,947
47.2
+47.2
Majority
4,202
5.6
-94.2
Turnout
74,096
Democratichold
3rd congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1951, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
William J.B. Dorn (incumbent)
34,545
100.0
0.0
No party
Write-Ins
11
0.0
0.0
Majority
34,534
100.0
0.0
Turnout
34,556
Democratichold
4th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Robert T. Ashmore of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1953, won the Democratic primary was unopposed in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
Robert T. Ashmore
39,334
70.8
James Workman
14,131
25.4
Marion Tyus
2,089
3.8
General election results[]
South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Robert T. Ashmore (incumbent)
47,044
100.0
0.0
Majority
47,044
100.0
0.0
Turnout
47,044
Democratichold
5th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Robert W. Hemphill of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1957, defeated Republican challenger Robert M. Doster.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Robert W. Hemphill (incumbent)
28,989
93.9
-6.1
Republican
Robert M. Doster
1,861
6.0
+6.0
No party
Write-Ins
18
0.1
+0.1
Majority
27,128
87.9
-12.1
Turnout
30,868
Democratichold
6th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated G. Stanley Bryant in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
John L. McMillan
46,726
81.4
G. Stanley Bryant
10,655
18.6
General election results[]
South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
John L. McMillan (incumbent)
36,811
100.0
0.0
No party
Write-Ins
3
0.0
0.0
Majority
36,808
100.0
0.0
Turnout
36,814
Democratichold
See also[]
United States House elections, 1962
United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1962
Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 112, 121, 125–126.
"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 II. Columbia, SC: 1963, p. 149.
"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 II. Columbia, SC: 1963, pp. 16–17.