United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1986

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fritz Hollings
Fritz Hollings

The 1986 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 4, 1986 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Henry McMaster.

Contents

[edit] Democratic primary

Fritz Hollings, the incumbent Senator, faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats and avoided a primary election.

[edit] Republican primary

The South Carolina Republican Party held their primary on June 10, 1986. Henry McMaster defeated Henry Jordan in the primary to become the Republican nominee in the general election.

Republican Primary
Candidate Votes %
Henry McMaster 27,695 53.4
Henry Jordan 24,164 46.6


[edit] General election campaign

The race was not seriously contested and was not a target by the Republicans. With little financial assistance, McMaster was unable to mount a credible challenge to Hollings' re-election in what became a difficult year for Republicans.

[edit] Election results

South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1986
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Fritz Hollings 465,511 63.1 -7.3
Republican Henry McMaster 262,976 35.6 +6.0
Libertarian Steven B. Vandervelde 4,788 0.7 +0.7
American Ray Hillyard 4,588 0.6 +0.6
No party Write-Ins 199 0.0 0.0
Majority 202,535 27.5 -13.3
Turnout 738,062 56.6 -13.9
  Democratic hold
1986 South Carolina U.S. Senate election map, by percentile by county.      65+% won by Hollings      60%-64% won by Hollings      55%-59% won by Hollings      50%-54% won by Hollings      50%-54% won by McMaster
1986 South Carolina U.S. Senate election map, by percentile by county.      65+% won by Hollings      60%-64% won by Hollings      55%-59% won by Hollings      50%-54% won by Hollings      50%-54% won by McMaster

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • State Election Commission (1987). South Carolina Election Commission Annual Report 1986-1987, pp. 14, 22.