South Carolina's 4th congressional district
South Carolina's 4th congressional district | |||
---|---|---|---|
Representative |
| ||
Population (2019) | 754,148[1] | ||
Median household income | $60,731[2] | ||
Ethnicity |
| ||
Cook PVI | R+14[3] |
The 4th congressional district of South Carolina is a congressional district in upstate South Carolina bordering North Carolina. It includes parts of Greenville and Spartanburg counties. The district is characterized by the two major cities of Greenville and Spartanburg.
The district is one of the most conservative in the state. In the late 20th century, it has been in Republican hands since 1979, aside from a six-year stint by Democrat Liz J. Patterson, the daughter of former Senator Olin Johnston. Even before the Republicans finally took control of the seat, the 4th had been a rather conservative district. Like in most of the state, the old-line Southern Democrats began splitting their tickets as early as the 1940s. However, this area's white conservatives became increasingly willing to support Republicans at the state and local level as early as the 1970s, well before the rest of the state swung Republican. The district is a major destination for presidential candidates in election years, as South Carolina is one of the first states to hold a presidential primary.
Republican William Timmons has represented the district since January 3, 2019. He succeeded Republican Trey Gowdy who did not seek reelection.
History[]
From 2003 to 2013 the district included all of Spartanburg and Union counties and parts of Greenville and Laurens counties.
Election results from recent presidential races[]
Year | Office | Result |
---|---|---|
2000 | President | Bush 64–33% |
2004 | President | Bush 65–34% |
2008 | President | McCain 60.6–37.7% |
2012 | President | Romney 62.2–36.2% |
2016 | President | Trump 60.2–34.5% |
2020 | President | Trump 60.4–39.5% |
List of members representing the district[]
Member (Residence) |
Party | Years | Cong ress |
Electoral history | District location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas Sumter (Stateburg) |
Anti-Administration | March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793 |
1st 2nd |
Elected in 1788. Re-elected in 1790. Retired. |
1789–1793 "Camden district" |
Richard Winn (Winnsboro) |
Anti-Administration | March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 |
3rd 4th |
Elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1794. Lost re-election. |
1793–1797 "Camden district" (Map unknown) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797 | ||||
Thomas Sumter (Stateburg) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1797 – December 15, 1801 |
5th 6th 7th |
Elected in 1796. Re-elected in 1798. Re-elected in 1800. Resigned when elected U.S. Senator. |
1797–1803 "Camden district" |
Vacant | December 15, 1801 – January 24, 1802 |
7th | |||
Richard Winn (Winnsboro) |
Democratic-Republican | January 24, 1802 – March 3, 1803 |
Elected to finish Sumter's term. Redistricted to the 5th district. | ||
Wade Hampton (Columbia) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805 |
8th | Elected in 1803. Retired. |
1803–1813 "Orangeburgh district" |
O'Brien Smith (Jacksonboro) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807 |
9th | Elected in 1804. Retired. | |
John Taylor (Columbia) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1807 – December 30, 1810 |
10th 11th |
Elected in 1806. Re-elected in 1808. Lost re-election and resigned. | |
Vacant | December 30, 1810 – March 3, 1811 |
11th | |||
William Lowndes (Charleston) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813 |
12th | Elected in 1810. Redistricted to the 2nd district. | |
John J. Chappell (Columbia) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817 |
13th 14th |
Elected in 1812. Re-elected in 1814. Lost re-election. |
1813–1823 "Orangeburgh district" |
Joseph Bellinger (Barnwell) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819 |
15th | Elected in 1816. Retired. | |
James Overstreet (Barnwell) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1819 – May 24, 1822 |
16th 17th |
Elected in 1818. Re-elected in 1820. Died. | |
Vacant | May 24, 1822 – December 4, 1822 |
17th | |||
Andrew R. Govan (Orangeburg) |
Democratic-Republican[a] | December 4, 1822 – March 3, 1825 |
17th 18th 19th |
Elected to finish Overstreet's term. Re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1824. Lost re-election. | |
1823–1833 "Orangeburgh district": Barnwell, Lexington, Orangeburgh, and Richland counties | |||||
Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 | ||||
William D. Martin (Coosawhatchie) |
Jacksonian | March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1831 |
20th 21st |
Elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Retired. | |
John M. Felder (Orangeburg) |
Jacksonian | March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 |
22nd 23rd |
Elected in 1830. Re-elected in 1833. Retired. | |
Nullifier | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 |
1833–1843 [data unknown/missing] | |||
James H. Hammond (Newberry) |
Nullifier | March 4, 1835 – February 26, 1836 |
24th | Elected in 1834. Resigned. | |
Vacant | February 26, 1836 – December 10, 1836 | ||||
Franklin H. Elmore (Walterboro) |
Nullifier | December 10, 1836 – March 3, 1839 |
24th 25th |
Elected October 10, 1836 to finish Hammond's term and seated December 19, 1836. Elected the same day in 1836 to the next term. Retired. | |
Sampson H. Butler (Charleston) |
Democratic | March 4, 1839 – September 27, 1842 |
26th 27th |
Elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Resigned. | |
Vacant | September 27, 1842 – December 17, 1842 |
27th | |||
Samuel W. Trotti (Old Buckhead) |
Democratic | December 17, 1842 – March 3, 1843 |
Elected to finish Butler's term. Retired. | ||
John Campbell (Parnassus) |
Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 |
28th | Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1843. Retired. |
1843–1853 [data unknown/missing] |
Alexander D. Sims (Darlington) |
Democratic | March 4, 1845 – November 22, 1848 |
29th 30th |
Elected in 1844. Re-elected in 1846. Re-elected in 1848 but died before next term began. | |
Vacant | November 22, 1848 – February 12, 1849 |
30th | |||
John McQueen (Society Hill) |
Democratic | February 12, 1849 – March 3, 1853 |
30th 31st 32nd |
Elected to finish Sims's term in the 30th Congress. Elected to finish Sims's term win the 31st Congress. Re-elected in 1850. Redistricted to the 1st district. | |
Preston S. Brooks (Edgefield) |
Democratic | March 4, 1853 – July 15, 1856 |
33rd 34th |
Elected in 1853. Re-elected in 1854. Resigned to gain constituent's support for Caning of Charles Sumner. |
1853–1863 [data unknown/missing] |
Vacant | July 15, 1856 – August 1, 1856 |
34th | |||
Preston S. Brooks (Edgefield) |
Democratic | August 1, 1856 – January 28, 1857 |
Re-elected to finish his vacant term. Re-elected in 1856 but died before next term began. | ||
Vacant | January 28, 1857 – May 5, 1857 | ||||
Milledge L. Bonham (Edgefield) |
Democratic | May 5, 1857 – December 21, 1860 |
35th 36th |
Elected to finish Brooks' term. Re-elected in 1858. Re-elected in 1860 but retired due to Civil War. | |
Inactive | December 21, 1860 – July 18, 1868 |
36th 37th 38th 39th 40th |
Civil War and Reconstruction | ||
James H. Goss (Union) |
Republican | July 18, 1868 – March 3, 1869 |
40th | Elected in 1868. Retired. |
1868–1873 [data unknown/missing] |
Vacant | March 4, 1869 – May 27, 1870 |
41st | William D. Simpson (D) elected, but not seated. | ||
Alexander S. Wallace (York) |
Republican | May 27, 1870 – March 3, 1877 |
41st 42nd 43rd 44th |
Successfully contested election of William D. Simpson. Re-elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Lost re-election. | |
1873–1883 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
John H. Evins (Spartanburg) |
Democratic | March 4, 1877 – October 20, 1884 |
45th 46th 47th 48th |
Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Died. | |
1883–1893 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Vacant | October 20, 1884 – December 8, 1884 |
48th | |||
John Bratton (Winnsboro) |
Democratic | December 8, 1884 – March 3, 1885 |
Elected to finish Evins's term. Retired. | ||
William H. Perry (Greenville) |
Democratic | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1891 |
49th 50th 51st |
Elected in 1884. Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Retired. | |
George W. Shell (Laurens) |
Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1895 |
52nd 53rd |
Elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Retired. | |
1893–1903 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Stanyarne Wilson (Spartanburg) |
Democratic | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901 |
54th 55th 56th |
Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Retired. | |
Joseph T. Johnson (Spartanburg) |
Democratic | March 4, 1901 – April 19, 1915 |
57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th |
Elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Resigned to accept a federal judgeship. | |
1903–1933 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Vacant | April 19, 1915 – September 14, 1915 |
64th | |||
Samuel J. Nicholls (Spartanburg) |
Democratic | September 14, 1915 – March 3, 1921 |
64th 65th 66th |
Elected to finish Johnson's term. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Retired. | |
John J. McSwain (Greenville) |
Democratic | March 4, 1921 – August 6, 1936 |
67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th |
Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Died. | |
1933–1943 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Vacant | August 6, 1936 – November 3, 1936 |
74th | |||
Gabriel H. Mahon Jr. (Greenville) |
Democratic | November 3, 1936 – January 3, 1939 |
74th 75th |
Elected to finish McSwain's term. Also elected to the next full term. Lost renomination. | |
Joseph R. Bryson (Greenville) |
Democratic | January 3, 1939 – March 10, 1953 |
76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd |
Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Died. | |
1943–1953 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
1953–1963 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Vacant | March 10, 1953 – June 2, 1953 |
83rd | |||
Robert T. Ashmore (Greenville) |
Democratic | June 2, 1953 – January 3, 1969 |
83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th |
Elected to finish Bryson's term. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Retired. | |
1963–1973 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
James R. Mann (Greenville) |
Democratic | January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1979 |
91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th |
Elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Retired. | |
1973–1983 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Carroll A. Campbell Jr. (Fountain Inn) |
Republican | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1987 |
96th 97th 98th 99th |
Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Retired to run for Governor of S.C.. | |
1983–1993 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Liz J. Patterson (Spartanburg) |
Democratic | January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1993 |
100th 101st 102nd |
Elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Lost re-election. | |
Bob Inglis (Greenville) |
Republican | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1999 |
103rd 104th 105th |
Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Retired to run for U.S. senator. |
1993–2003 [data unknown/missing] |
Jim DeMint (Greenville) |
Republican | January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2005 |
106th 107th 108th |
Elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
2003–2013 | |||||
Bob Inglis (Travelers Rest) |
Republican | January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2011 |
109th 110th 111th |
Elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Lost renomination. | |
Trey Gowdy (Spartanburg) |
Republican | January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019 |
112th 113th 114th 115th |
Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Retired. | |
2013–present | |||||
William Timmons (Greenville) |
Republican | January 3, 2019 – Present |
116th 117th |
Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. |
Recent election results[]
2012[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Trey Gowdy (incumbent) | 173,201 | 64.9 | |
Democratic | Deb Morrow | 89,964 | 33.7 | |
Green | Jeff Sumerel | 3,390 | 1.3 | |
n/a | Write-ins | 329 | 0.1 | |
Total votes | 266,884 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2014[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Trey Gowdy (incumbent) | 126,452 | 84.8 | |
Libertarian | Curtis E. McLaughlin, Jr. | 21,969 | 14.8 | |
n/a | Write-ins | 628 | 0.4 | |
Total votes | 149,049 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2016[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Trey Gowdy (incumbent) | 198,648 | 67.2 | |
Democratic | Chris Fedalei | 91,676 | 31.0 | |
Constitution | Michael Chandler | 5,103 | 1.7 | |
n/a | Write-ins | 243 | 0.1 | |
Total votes | 295,670 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2018[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | William Timmons | 145,321 | 59.6 | |
Democratic | Brandon Brown | 89,182 | 36.6 | |
American | Guy Furay | 9,203 | 3.8 | |
n/a | Write-ins | 244 | 0.1 | |
Total votes | 243,950 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2020[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | William Timmons (incumbent) | 222,126 | 61.6 | |
Democratic | Kim Nelson | 133,023 | 36.9 | |
Constitution | Michael Chandler | 5,090 | 1.4 | |
Write-in | 311 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 360,550 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
See also[]
- South Carolina's congressional districts
- List of United States congressional districts
Notes[]
- ^ Supported the Jackson faction in the 1824 United States presidential election.
References[]
- ^ "SC4 District 4 Profile" (PDF). US Census. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ "My Congressional District".
- ^ "Introducing the 2021 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index". The Cook Political Report. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ "SC - Election Results". www.enr-scvotes.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "South Carolina Election Commission Official Results". West Virginia Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "2016 Statewide General Election official results". South Carolina State Election Commission. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
- ^ "2020 Statewide General Election Night Reporting - Results". South Carolina Election Commission. November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
Further reading[]
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
Coordinates: 34°56′N 82°07′W / 34.93°N 82.12°W
- Congressional districts of South Carolina
- Greenville County, South Carolina
- Laurens County, South Carolina
- Spartanburg County, South Carolina
- Union County, South Carolina