South Carolina congressional districts, 1962 to 1970
1st district
2nd district
3rd district
4th district
5th district
6th district
The 1970 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 3, 1970 to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The primary elections were held on June 9 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on June 23. All five incumbents who ran were re-elected and the open seat in the 2nd district was retained by the Republicans. The composition of the state delegation remained five Democrats and one Republican.
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, 1970
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent)
63,891
100.0
0.0
Majority
63,891
100.0
0.0
Turnout
63,891
Democratichold
2nd congressional district[]
Incumbent Republican Congressman Albert Watson of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1963, chose to run for Governor instead of re-election. Floyd Spence, a Republican state senator who had unsuccessfully run for the seat in the 1962 elections, defeated Democratic challenger Heyward McDonald.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1970
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Floyd Spence
48,093
53.1
-4.5
Democratic
Heyward McDonald
42,005
46.4
+4.0
Independent
Donald Cole
486
0.5
+0.5
Majority
6,088
6.7
-8.5
Turnout
90,584
Republicanhold
3rd congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1951, defeated Republican challenger Grady Ballard.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1970
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
William J.B. Dorn (incumbent)
60,708
75.2
+9.1
Republican
Grady Ballard
19,981
24.8
-6.9
Majority
40,727
50.4
+16.0
Turnout
80,689
Democratichold
4th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman James R. Mann of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1969, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1970
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
James R. Mann (incumbent)
52,175
100.0
+38.8
Majority
52,175
100.0
+77.6
Turnout
52,175
Democratichold
5th congressional district[]
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Thomas S. Gettys of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1964, defeated Republican challenger B. Leonard Phillips.
General election results[]
South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1970
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Thomas S. Gettys (incumbent)
43,712
65.9
-8.8
Republican
B. Leonard Phillips
21,911
33.1
+11.3
Independent
James B. Sumner
688
1.0
-2.5
Majority
21,801
32.8
-20.1
Turnout
66,311
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 Republican Edward B. Baskin in the general election.
Democratic primary[]
Democratic primary
Candidate
Votes
%
John L. McMillan
26,192
49.6
Claude L. Stephens
11,534
21.8
Bill R. Craig
11,047
20.9
Olin Sansbury, Jr.
4,042
7.7
Democratic primary runoff
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
John L. McMillan
46,030
71.2
+21.6
Claude L. Stephens
18,620
28.8
+7.0
General election results[]
South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1970