The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 and elected the seven U.S. Representatives from the state of South Carolina, an increase of one seat as a result of reapportionment thanks to the continued strong growth found in South Carolina as reported in the 2010 United States Census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. The people of South Carolina elected six Republicans and one Democrat to represent the state in the 113th United States Congress.
United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 2012[1][2]
Party
Votes
Percentage
Seats
+/–
Republican
1,026,129
56.92%
6
+1
Democratic
742,805
41.20%
1
—
Green
16,310
0.90%
0
—
Libertarian
6,334
0.35%
0
—
Others
11,156
0.62%
0
—
Totals
1,802,734
100.00%
7
+1
Redistricting[]
On July 26, 2011, the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate passed a compromise redistricting bill which would place the new 7th district in the Pee Dee region.[3] The bill was signed into law by GovernorNikki Haley on August 1.[4]
Under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, South Carolina's congressional redistricting had to be pre-cleared by the U.S. Department of Justice or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia before it could be enacted.[5] The Department of Justice precleared the map in October 2011;[6] a subsequent lawsuit brought by six voters for discrimination under the new lines was dismissed by the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina in March 2012.[7]
In redistricting, the 1st district was moved south along the coast to include Hilton Head and parts of Charleston County, and is expected to remain favorable to Republicans.[5] Republican Tim Scott, who has represented the 1st district since January 2011, sought re-election.[8]
Bobbie Rose, a former teacher and realtor, will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Scott.[9]
General election[]
Results[]
South Carolina's 1st congressional district, 2012[10][11][12]
In redistricting, Hilton Head and its surrounding areas, and counties on the state's southern border were removed from the 2nd district, which now includes all of Aiken County.[5] Republican Joe Wilson, who has represented the 2nd district since 2001, sought re-election.[8]
No candidate filed to run on the Democratic side.[8]
Republican primary[]
Candidates[]
Phil Black, businessman and 2008 & 2010 candidate for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district
Joe Wilson, incumbent
Primary results[]
Republican primary results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Joe Wilson (incumbent)
23,062
80.6
Republican
Phil Black
5,557
19.4
Total votes
28,619
100.0
General election[]
Results[]
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district, 2012[10]
Redistricting added parts of Newberry and Greenville counties to the 3rd district; parts of Aiken County were removed. The district was expected to continue to favor Republicans.[5] Republican Jeff Duncan, who has represented the 3rd district since January 2011, sought re-election.[13]
The redrawn 4th district maintains a balance between Greenville and Spartanburg counties, and is expected to continue to favor Republicans.[5] Republican Trey Gowdy, who has represented the 4th district since January 2011, sought re-election.[15]
Greenville artist Jeff Sumerel is the nominee of the South Carolina Green Party.[16]
The 5th district, which extends from the North Carolina border to the outskirts of Sumter, was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting.[5] Republican Mick Mulvaney, who has represented the 5th district since January 2011, sought re-election. Joyce Knott, a businesswoman, sought the Democratic nomination to challenge Mulvaney.[19]
General election[]
Results[]
South Carolina's 5th congressional district, 2012[10][11]
The 6th district is expected to continue to strongly favor Democrats.[5] Democrat Jim Clyburn, the Assistant Democratic Leader of the U.S. House who has represented the 6th district since 1993, faced Green Party nominee Nammu Muhammad.[16]
General election[]
Results[]
South Carolina's 6th congressional district, 2012[10]
The new 7th district will represent most of the Pee Dee region, including Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, and Marlboro counties, along with a part of Florence County, and is expected to favor Republicans.[20]
^The Democratic Party votes includes 28,614 votes cast for the Working Families Party. Democratic candidates in the 1st, 4th, 5th and 7th Districts also ran under this party banner.
^ abcdThe votes for the Democratic candidate includes votes cast for the candidate who also ran under the Working Families Party ticket
^Tim Scott resigned his seat in the 112th and 113th Congresses effective January 2, 2013, in order to be appointed to the United States Senate in place of Senator Jim DeMint, who resigned. As a result, the seat for the 1st congressional district was vacant from the onset of the 113th Congress.