The 1998 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings won reelection to his sixth full term. As of 2021, this is the last time the Democrats won a U.S. Senate election in South Carolina.
Stephen Brown, Greenville County Republican Party Chairman
Bob Inglis, U.S. Representative
Elton Legrand
Results[]
South Carolina U.S. Senate Election Primary, 1998
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Bob Inglis
115,029
74.6%
Republican
Stephen Brown
33,530
21.7%
Republican
Elton Legrand
5,634
3.7%
General election[]
Candidates[]
Ernest Hollings (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
Bob Inglis (R), U.S. Representative
Richard T. Quillian (L)
Campaign[]
The race between Hollings and Inglis gave the voters a choice of two very different visions of and for South Carolina. Hollings was from the Lowcountry, a face of the Old New South, and secured a large amount of federal funds for the state. On the other hand, Inglis came from the Upstate, was a face of the New New South, and opposed to pork barrel spending. Hollings viciously attacked Inglis on the campaign trail as a "goddamn skunk" and when Inglis requested that Hollings sign a pledge for campaign courtesy, Hollings replied that Inglis could "kiss his fanny." Inglis tried to tie Hollings to President Clinton, who had been tainted by the Lewinsky scandal.
Ultimately, Hollings won the race for four crucial reasons. First, Inglis refused to accept PAC donations which allowed Hollings to enjoy a huge financial advantage and blanket the state with his television advertisements. Secondly, Inglis came from the Upstate which already provided GOP majorities whereas Hollings came from the Lowcountry which was a key tossup region in the state. Thirdly, the voters two years prior in the 1996 Senate election had rewarded Strom Thurmond for his long service to the state and it was unlikely that they would then deny re-election to Hollings. Finally, the 1998 South Carolina GOP ticket was dragged down with unpopular GovernorDavid Beasley at the top of the ticket who would go on to lose his re-election campaign to Jim Hodges.