South Carolina's 1st congressional district

The 1st Congressional District of South Carolina is a coastal congressional district in South Carolina. It stretches from Seabrook Island in the south to the North Carolina border and includes parts of Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Georgetown counties and all of Horry county. The district has historically been based in Charleston, and it currently also includes the major tourist destination of Myrtle Beach.

The district was once a Democratic stronghold, but has always had a somewhat conservative slant due to the heavy presence of the military (especially the Navy) in the region. After the end of Reconstruction era a Republican did not serve a full term in this district until Tommy Hartnett was swept in by Reagan's coattails in 1981. Most of Charleston's African-American majority areas were shifted to the 6th District in 1992, seemingly making this district unwinnable for the Democrats. However, in 2008, Linda Ketner came within two points of shifting this district back to the Democrats.

Tim Scott, a Republican from Charleston, is the district's current representative. Representative Scott is one of two African American Republicans (the other being Allen West of Florida) to represent their respective states since Reconstruction.

List of representatives

References

• 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