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The 1936 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 2, 1936 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator James F. Byrnes won the Democratic primary and defeated two Republican candidates in the general election to win another six year term.
[edit] Democratic primary
Senator James F. Byrnes was opposed in the Democratic primary by two unknown candidates and he easily won the primary election on August 25. Byrnes was criticized for his enthusiastic support of the President Roosevelt's New Deal, but he responded that it was needed to assist South Carolinians during the economic hardships of the Great Depression.
| Democratic Primary |
| Candidate |
Votes |
% |
| James F. Byrnes |
257,247 |
87.1 |
| Thomas Porcher Stoney |
25,627 |
8.7 |
| William Curry Harllee |
12,551 |
4.2 |
[edit] General election campaign
Since the end of Reconstruction in 1877, the Democratic Party dominated the politics of South Carolina and its statewide candidates were never seriously challenged. Byrnes did not campaign for the general election as there was no chance of defeat. The Republicans were split between two factions that wanted to control the spoils system should a Republican victory occur in the Presidential election. They did not compete against Byrnes, but were rather competing against each other to show the national Republican Party that they held more influence in the state.
[edit] General election results
1936 South Carolina U.S. Senate county map 65+% won by Byrnes
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962, p. 74.
- "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports of State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1937, p. 6.
- "Palmetto Stump", Time, 1936-08-24. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
- "Southern Send-Off", Time, 1936-09-07. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
