The 1992 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 3, 1992, to elect the six U.S. representatives from the state of South Carolina, one from each of the state's six congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 1992 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.
Primary elections were held on August 25. In the general election, four incumbents were re-elected; however, incumbent Democrat Liz J. Patterson of the was defeated in her bid for a fourth term by Republican challenger Bob Inglis. Additionally, control of the open seat was retained by Democratic newcomer Jim Clyburn following the retirement of five-term incumbent Robin Tallon after the district's racial composition was significantly altered in redistricting. As of 2023, this is the last time South Carolina's congressional delegation comprised an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, and the last time Democrats would receive over 40% of the vote in U.S. House elections in the state until 2006.
Redistricting Following the 1990 United States census and subsequent redistricting cycle, South Carolina's congressional districts were redrawn by a federal court after the state legislature failed to produce their own map. The court's plan, which was issued on May 1, 1992, shifted the boundaries of each of the state's six congressional districts substantially; in the 1980s, South Carolina's districts were largely made up of whole counties, with only one (Berkeley County) being split between two districts. In contrast, the court-drawn lines split a total of 13 counties, 11 of which were divided and dispersed to create the new 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th districts. This splitting of counties was done largely to shift the 6th district, then-consisting of a predominantly white electorate, into a majority-minority seat that would allow the state's large black population to elect an African American to Congress.
Overview DistrictRepublicanDemocraticOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % 121,938 66.07% 59,908 32.46% 2,703 1.46% 184,549 100.0% Republican Hold 148,667 87.62% 0 0.00% 21,003 12.38% 169,670 100.0% Republican Hold 75,660 38.83% 119,119 61.13% 85 0.04% 194,864 100.0% Democratic Hold 99,879 50.34% 94,182 47.47% 4,349 2.19% 198,410 100.0% Republican Gain 70,866 38.71% 112,031 61.19% 189 0.10% 183,086 100.0% Democratic Hold 64,149 34.70% 120,647 65.26% 75 0.04% 184,871 100.0% Democratic HoldTotal 581,159 52.10% 505,887 45.35% 28,404 2.55% 1,115,450 100.0%
District 1
The 1st district stretches from the coastal regions of the Pee Dee into the upper parts of the Lowcountry, including all of Georgetown and Horry counties, and taking in a sizable portion of Berkeley County; due to redistricting, the 1st lost a significant amount of its share of Charleston and Dorchester counties, in addition to all of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. The incumbent was Republican Arthur Ravenel Jr., who was re-elected with 65.5% of the vote in 1990.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Arthur Ravenel Jr., incumbent U.S. representative
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Bill Oberst Jr., former Georgetown Chamber of Commerce executive director
General election Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 1992Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on handArthur Ravenel Jr. (R)$282,816$561,793$0Bill Oberst Jr. (D)$56,972$56,902$69Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
District 2
The 2nd district extends from the Midlands down to the Lowcountry, taking in all of Allendale, Barnwell, Hampton, Jasper, and Lexington counties, as well as parts of Aiken, Beaufort, Calhoun, Colleton, Orangeburg, and Richland counties; redistricting shifted the 2nd from a Midlands-centric seat into one which stretches along South Carolina's border with Georgia and includes a relatively large portion of the state's coastline. The incumbent was Republican Floyd Spence, who was re-elected with 88.9% of the vote in 1990.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Floyd Spence, incumbent U.S. representative
General election Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 1992Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on handFloyd Spence (R)$169,036$179,539$51,688Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
District 3
The 3rd district is based in both the Upstate and Midlands, encompassing all of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, and Saluda counties, and parts of Aiken and Laurens counties; following redistricting, the 3rd became much more Upstate-oriented as it lost Allendale and Barnwell counties, as well as some of Aiken County, while gaining most of Laurens County. The incumbent was Democrat Butler Derrick, who was re-elected with 62.1% of the vote of in 1990.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Butler Derrick, incumbent U.S. representative
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jim Bland, Aiken County councilman
General election Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 1992Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on handButler Derrick (D)$681,632$673,677$114,145Jim Bland (R)$17,536$17,339$194Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
District 4
The 4th District is located solely in the Upstate and includes all of Greenville, Spartanburg, and Union counties; additionally, the 4th gained parts of Laurens County in redistricting. The incumbent was Democrat Liz J. Patterson, who was re-elected with 61.4% of the vote in 1990.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Liz J. Patterson, incumbent U.S. representative
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Bob Inglis, lawyer
Eliminated in primary Jerry L. Fowler, architect Bill McCuen, general contractor
Primary results
General election Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 1992Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on handBob Inglis (R)$226,577$215,364$11,214Liz J. Patterson (D)$409,337$406,015$6,052Jo Jorgensen (L)$9,301$9,300$0Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
District 5
The 5th district comprises portions of the Upstate, Midlands, and Pee Dee, including all of Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Dillon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Marlboro, Newberry, and York counties, along with parts of Darlington, Lee, and Sumter counties; the 5th was shifted away from the Upstate and towards the Pee Dee during redistricting and resulting lost Laurens County. The incumbent was Democrat John Spratt, who was re-elected unopposed in 1990.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee John Spratt, incumbent U.S. representative
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Bill Horne, businessman and former aide to Governor Richard Riley
Eliminated in primary Earnest Archer, Winthrop University professor
Primary results
General election Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 1992Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on handJohn Spratt (D)$281,855$381,942$52,937Bill Horne (R)$102,751$102,728$22Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
District 6
The 6th district is centrally located and largely made up of split counties from the Pee Dee, Midlands, and Lowcountry; incorporating parts of Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Lee, Orangeburg, Richland, and Sumter counties, it also includes all of Bamberg, Clarendon, Florence, Marion, and Williamsburg counties. During redistricting, there was bipartisan support from Republicans and black Democrats to transform the 6th into a majority-minority seat. The incumbent was Democrat Robin Tallon, who was re-elected unopposed in 1990.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jim Clyburn, former state human affairs commissioner
Eliminated in primary Herbert Fielding, state senator Frank Gilbert, state senator John Roy Harper II, civil rights activist Ken Mosely, South Carolina State University professor
Withdrawn Robin Tallon, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Chase, Florence city councilman
Eliminated in primary Delores DaCosta, former congressional aide Toney Graham, member of the state Department of Health and Environmental Control board
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 1992Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on handJim Clyburn (D)$422,978$422,229$795John Chase (R)$115,338$114,289$1,048Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
See also 1992 United States Senate election in South Carolina South Carolina's congressional districts
References