The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, and elected the seven U.S. representatives from the state of South Carolina. This was increase of one seat as a result of reapportionment due to the increase of population in South Carolina as reported in the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. The people of South Carolina elected six Republicans and one Democrat to represent the state in the 113th United States Congress.
Overview United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 2012The Democratic Party votes includes 28,614 votes cast for the Working Families Party. Democratic candidates in the 1st, 4th, 5th and 7th Districts also ran under this party banner.Party Votes Percentage Seats +/– Republican 1,026,129 56.92% 6 +1 Democratic 742,805 41.20% 1 — Green 16,310 0.90% 0 — Libertarian 6,334 0.35% 0 — Others 11,156 0.62% 0 — Totals 1,802,734 100.00% 7 +1
Redistricting On July 26, 2011, the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate passed a compromise redistricting bill which would place the new 7th district in the Pee Dee region. The bill was signed into law by Governor Nikki Haley on August 1.
Under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, South Carolina's congressional redistricting had to be pre-cleared by the U.S. Department of Justice or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia before it could be enacted. The Department of Justice precleared the map in October 2011; a subsequent lawsuit brought by six voters for discrimination under the new lines was dismissed by the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina in March 2012.
District 1
In redistricting, the 1st district was moved south along the coast to include Hilton Head and parts of Charleston County, and was expected to remain favorable to Republicans. Republican Tim Scott, who represented the 1st district since January 2011, sought re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tim Scott, incumbent U.S. Representative
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Bobbie Rose, former teacher and realtor
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 2
In redistricting, Hilton Head and surrounding areas as well as counties on the state's southern border were removed from the 2nd district, which afterwards included all of Aiken County. Republican Joe Wilson, who represented the 2nd district since 2001, sought re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Joe Wilson, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Phil Black, businessman and candidate for this seat in 2008 & 2010
Democratic primary No candidate filed to run on the Democratic side.
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 3
Redistricting added parts of Newberry and Greenville counties to the 3rd district as parts of Aiken County were removed. The district was expected to continue to favor Republicans. Republican Jeff Duncan, who represented the 3rd district since January 2011, sought re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jeff Duncan, incumbent U.S. Representative
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Brian Doyle, radio talk show host
Eliminated in primary Cason Gaither, former field Organizer for Vincent Sheheen's gubernatorial campaign in 2010
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 4
The redrawn 4th district maintained a balance between the counties of Greenville and Spartanburg, and was expected to continue to favor Republicans. Republican Trey Gowdy, who represented the 4th district since January 2011, sought re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Trey Gowdy, incumbent U.S. Representative
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Deb Morrow, retired computer system designer
Eliminated in primary Jimmy Tobias, businessman
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 5
The 5th district, which extended from the border of North Carolina to the outskirts of Sumter, was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting. Republican Mick Mulvaney, who represented the 5th district since January 2011, sought re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mick Mulvaney, incumbent U.S. Representative
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Joyce Knott, businesswoman
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 6
The 6th district was expected to continue to strongly favor Democrats. Democrat Jim Clyburn, the Assistant Democratic Leader of the U.S. House who represented the 6th district since 1993, faced no Republican opposition, although Green Party candidate Nammu Muhammad still ran against Clyburn.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jim Clyburn, incumbent U.S. Representative
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 7
The newly established 7th district contained most of the Pee Dee region, including the counties of Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, and Marlboro, along with a part of Florence County, and was expected to favor Republicans. Indeed, in 2013, the Cook Partisan Voting Index gave this district a rating of R+7.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gloria Bromell Tinubu, professor at Coastal Carolina University and former member of the Georgia General Assembly
Eliminated in primary Preston Brittain, attorney Parnell Diggs, attorney and president of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina Harry Pavilack, attorney
Withdrawn Ted Vick, South Carolina House of Representatives' minority whip
Declined Stephen Wukela, mayor of Florence
Campaign Ted Vick was considered to be the frontrunner until he was arrested in Columbia on the night of the May 14 on the Statehouse grounds and was charged with driving under the influence, speeding, and carrying a handgun without a permit. An officer had seen Vick stumbling as he walked into a parking garage, before getting into his car and hitting a cone before the officer could catch up. Vick smelled of alcohol but refused to take a breathalyzer test. Columbia Police Department officials indicated that Vick had been at a local bar prior to his arrest. A 21-year-old female USC student was in the car with Vick.
Vick would drop out of the race 10 days after his arrest.
Endorsements
Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of errorPrestonBrittainParnellDiggsHarryPavilackGloriaTinubuTedVickUndecidedFrancis Marion UniversityFrancis Marion University May 14–15, 2012 611 ±3.8% 6% 3% 3% 9% 15% 65%
Primary results
Runoff results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tom Rice, chairman of the Horry County Council
Eliminated in primary André Bauer, former lieutenant governor and candidate for Governor in 2010 Renée Culler, realtor Katherine Jenerette, Army veteran and candidate for South Carolina's 1st congressional district in 2010 Jay Jordan, attorney Jim Mader, businessman Chad Prosser, former director of South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Randal Wallace, Myrtle Beach city council-member Dick Withington, businessman and Democratic candidate for South Carolina's 1st congressional district in 2010
Withdrew Thad Viers, state representative Debbie Harwell, public relations firm owner Mande Wilkes, attorney and local television host
Declined Alan Clemmons, state representative
Primary results
Runoff results
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GloriaTinubu (D) TomRice (R) Other UndecidedWinthrop UniversityWinthrop University September 23–30, 2012 878 ±3.5% 36% 49% 2% 13%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
References
External links South Carolina State Election Commission United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 2012 at Ballotpedia South Carolina U.S. House at OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in South Carolina from OpenSecrets Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation