United States Senate special election in South Carolina, 1918

William P. Pollock

The 1918 South Carolina United States Senate special election was held on November 5, 1918 simultaneously with the regular senate election to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina to serve the remainder of the term for the 65th Congress. The election resulted from the death of Senator Benjamin Tillman on July 3, 1918. William P. Pollock won the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election to win the remaining four months of the term.

Democratic primary

The South Carolina Democratic Party held the primary on August 27 and William P. Pollock had a slight lead, but did not garner over 50% of the vote and was forced into a runoff election against Thomas H. Peeples. On September 10, Pollock won the runoff and was thereby elected for the short term in the Senate because there was no opposition to the Democratic candidate in the general election.

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
William P. Pollock 38,816 34.9
Thomas H. Peeples 37,567 33.8
Christie Benet 34,807 31.3
Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
William P. Pollock 49,920 62.4 +27.5
Thomas H. Peeples 30,044 37.6 +3.8

General election results

South Carolina U.S. Senate Special Election, 1918
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic William P. Pollock 25,733 100.0 N/A
Majority 25,733 100.0 N/A
Turnout 25,733
  Democratic hold

See also

References