South Carolina's 2nd congressional district

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district is in central and southwestern South Carolina. The district spans from Columbia to the South Carolina side of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
  Joe Wilson
RSpringdale
Distribution
  • 60% urban
  • 40% rural
Population (2022)750,640[1]
Median household
income
$71,562[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+8[2]
Created1789

From 1993 through 2012, it included all of Lexington, Jasper, Hampton, Allendale and Barnwell counties; most of Richland and Beaufort counties and parts of Aiken, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties.

It was made more compact in the 2010 round of redistricting, and now comprises all of Lexington, Aiken and Barnwell counties, most of Richland County, and part of Orangeburg County. Besides Columbia (60 percent of which is in the district), other major cities in the district include Aiken and North Augusta.

The district's current configuration dates from 1933, following South Carolina losing a seat in apportionment as a result of the 1930 Census showing that the state's population had declined. Before that time, much of its territory had been within the 6th district.

As a Columbia-based district from 1933 to the early 1990s, it was a fairly compact district in the central part of the state, which was largely coextensive with the Columbia metropolitan area. As a result of the 1990 census, the state legislature was required to draw a black-majority district. In a deal between Republicans and Democrats, the 6th district, previously located in the northeastern portion of the state, was reconfigured to incorporate most of the old 2nd's black residents. To make up for the loss in population, the 2nd was pushed as far west as the fringes of the Augusta suburbs and as far south as Beaufort/Hilton Head. As of 2019, the district was more than 69% white.[3]

Since 1965 the 2nd district has been held by the Republican Party, coinciding with the late 20th-century realignment of political parties in the South. In the decades after the Civil War and before disenfranchisement in 1895 under the new state constitution, members of the Republican Party in South Carolina and the South were mostly African Americans, including many freedmen enfranchised due to Republican support for amendments for emancipation, citizenship and the franchise. After white Democrats regained control of state governments across the South, in the late 19th century, they passed new constitutions from 1890 to 1908 to disenfranchise blacks, excluding them totally from the political process. The Republican Party was crippled in the region and nearly comatose.

As a result of the Civil Rights Movement, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which provided for federal enforcement of blacks' constitutional rights. That year, the 2nd district's second-term Democratic congressman, Albert Watson, resigned, then ran as a Republican in the ensuing special election and won, becoming the first Republican to represent South Carolina in the House since Reconstruction.

However, the district had begun shedding its Yellow Dog Democrat roots before then. Some of the old-line Democrats began splitting their tickets as early as the 1940s, and some counties in the district haven't supported the official Democratic candidate for president since the 1950s. The district swung hard to Strom Thurmond during his third-party bid for president in 1948, and gave an equally massive margin to Barry Goldwater in 1964. Since 1964, Jimmy Carter has been the only Democrat to come close to carrying it. However, conservative Democrats held most local offices well into the 1980s.

Watson gave up the seat to run for governor in 1970. His successor, state senator Floyd Spence, held the seat for more than 30 years. He was chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from 1995 to 2001, and died a few months after being elected to a 16th term. He was succeeded in a special election by one of his former aides, state senator Joe Wilson.

Wilson has since been reelected eleven times. In the most recent election, held on November 11, 2022, Wilson earned 60% of the vote against Democrat Judd Larkins.

Counties

Counties in the 2023–2033 congressional district map:

Election results from presidential races

Year Office Result
2000 President Bush 58–39%
2004 President Bush 60–39%
2008 President McCain 60–39%
2012 President Romney 59–39%
2016 President Trump 56–39%
2020 President Trump 56–44%

List of members representing the district

Member
(Residence)
Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District location
District established March 4, 1789

Aedanus Burke
Anti-Administration March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1791
1st Elected in 1788.
Retired.
1789–1793
"Beaufort-Orangeburg district"
South Carolina congressional districts, 1789–1793
  1st district, Charleston
  2nd district, Beaufort-Orangeburg
  3rd district, Georgetown-Cheraw
  4th district, Camden
  5th district, Ninety-Six
Robert Barnwell Pro-Administration March 4, 1791 –
March 3, 1793
2nd Elected in 1790.
Retired.
John Hunter Anti-Administration March 4, 1793 –
March 3, 1795
3rd Elected in 1793.
Redistricted to the 5th district and lost re-election.
1793–1797
"Beaufort-Orangeburg district"

Wade Hampton
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1797
4th Elected January 19–20, 1795 to finish the term of member-elect Robert Barnwell, who had declined to serve.
Retired.

John Rutledge Jr.
Federalist March 4, 1797 –
March 3, 1803
5th
6th
7th
Elected in 1796.
Re-elected in 1798.
Re-elected in 1800.
Lost re-election.
1797–1803
"Beaufort district"
1796 election results by district
William Butler Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1813
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1803.
Re-elected in 1804.
Re-elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Re-elected in 1810.
Retired.
1803–1813
"Beaufort and Edgefield district"

William Lowndes
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –
May 8, 1822
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1812.
Re-elected in 1814.
Re-elected in 1816.
Re-elected in 1818.
Re-elected in 1820.
Resigned.
1813–1833
"Beaufort district"
Vacant May 8, 1822 –
December 13, 1822
17th

James Hamilton Jr.
Democratic-Republican[lower-alpha 1] December 13, 1822 –
March 3, 1825
17th
18th
19th
20th
Elected to finish Lowndes's term.
Re-elected in 1823.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1826.
Retired.
Jackson March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1829

Robert W. Barnwell
Jackson March 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1831
21st
22nd
Elected in 1828.
Re-elected in 1830.
Retired.
Nullifier March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833

William J. Grayson
Nullifier March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1837
23rd
24th
Elected in 1833.
Re-elected in 1834.
Lost re-election.
1833–1843
[data missing]

Robert Rhett
Democratic March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1843
25th
26th
27th
Elected in 1836.
Re-elected in 1838.
Re-elected in 1840.
Redistricted to the 7th district.
Richard F. Simpson Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1849
28th
29th
30th
Elected in 1843.
Re-elected in 1844.
Re-elected in 1846.
Retired.
1843–1853
[data missing]

James L. Orr
Democratic March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1853
31st
32nd
Elected in 1848.
Re-elected in 1850.
Redistricted to the 5th district.

William Aiken Jr.
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1857
33rd
34th
Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1853.
Re-elected in 1854.
Retired.
1853–1860
[data missing]

William P. Miles
Democratic March 4, 1857 –
December 24, 1860
35th
36th
Re-elected in 1856.
Re-elected in 1858.
Re-elected in 1860 but retired due to Civil War.
District inactive December 24, 1860 –
July 20, 1868
36th
37th
38th
39th
40th
Civil War and Reconstruction

Christopher C. Bowen
Republican July 20, 1868 –
March 3, 1871
40th
41st
Elected to finish the short term.
Also elected to the next term.
Lost re-election.
1868–1873
[data missing]

Robert C. De Large
Republican March 4, 1871 –
January 24, 1873
42nd Elected in 1870.
Seat declared vacant.
Vacant January 24, 1873 –
March 3, 1873

Alonzo J. Ransier
Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Elected in 1872.
Retired.
1873–1883
[data missing]

Edmund W.M. Mackey
Independent Republican March 4, 1875 –
July 19, 1876
44th Elected in 1874.
Seat declared vacant.
Vacant July 19, 1876 –
November 7, 1876

Charles W. Buttz
Republican November 7, 1876 –
March 3, 1877
Elected to finish Mackey's term.
Retired.

Richard H. Cain
Republican March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1879
45th Elected in 1876.
Retired.

Michael P. O'Connor
Democratic March 4, 1879 –
April 26, 1881
46th
47th
Elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Died pending an election contest.
Vacant April 26, 1881 –
June 9, 1881
47th

Samuel Dibble
Democratic June 9, 1881 –
May 31, 1882
Elected to finish O'Connor's term.
Lost the election contest.

Edmund W.M. Mackey
Republican May 31, 1882 –
March 3, 1883
Won election contest.
Redistricted to the 7th district.

George D. Tillman
Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1893
48th
49th
50th
51st
52nd
Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Lost renomination.
1883–1893
[data missing]

W. Jasper Talbert
Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1903
53rd
54th
55th
56th
57th
Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Retired to run for governor of South Carolina.
1893–1903
[data missing]

George W. Croft
Democratic March 4, 1903 –
March 10, 1904
58th Elected in 1902.
Died.
1903–1913
[data missing]
Vacant March 10, 1904 –
May 17, 1904

Theodore G. Croft
Democratic May 17, 1904 –
March 3, 1905
Elected to finish his father's term.
Retired.

James O'H. Patterson
Democratic March 4, 1905 –
March 3, 1911
59th
60th
61st
Elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Retired.

James F. Byrnes
Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1925
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
Elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
1913–1933
Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Edgefield, Hampton, Jasper, and Saluda counties[4]

Butler B. Hare
Democratic March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1933
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Retired.

Hampton Fulmer
Democratic March 4, 1933 –
October 19, 1944
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Died.
1933–1943
[data missing]
1943–1953
[data missing]
Vacant October 19, 1944 –
November 7, 1944
78th

Willa L. Fulmer
Democratic November 7, 1944 –
January 3, 1945
Elected to finish her husband's term.
Retired.

John J. Riley
Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1949
79th
80th
Elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Lost renomination.

Hugo S. Sims Jr.
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1951
81st Elected in 1948.
Lost renomination.

John J. Riley
Democratic January 3, 1951 –
January 1, 1962
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
Elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Died.
1953–1963
[data missing]
Vacant January 1, 1962 –
April 10, 1962
87th

Corinne Boyd Riley
Democratic April 10, 1962 –
January 3, 1963
Elected to finish her husband's term.
Retired.

Albert Watson
Democratic January 3, 1963 –
February 1, 1965
88th
89th
Elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Resigned to contest special election as a Republican.
1963–1973
[data missing]
Vacant February 1, 1965 –
June 15, 1965
89th

Albert Watson
Republican June 15, 1965 –
January 3, 1971
89th
90th
91st
Re-elected to finish his term as a Republican.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Retired to run for governor.

Floyd Spence
Republican January 3, 1971 –
August 16, 2001
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
Elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Died.
1973–1983:
[data missing]
1983–1993:
[data missing]
1993–2003
[data missing]
Vacant August 16, 2001 –
December 18, 2001
107th

Joe Wilson
Republican December 18, 2001 –
present
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
Elected to finish Spence's term.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
2003–2013[5]
2013–2023


2023–2033

Past election results

2012

2012 South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Wilson (incumbent) 196,116 96.3
Write-in 7,602 3.7
Total votes 203,718 100.0
Republican hold

2014

2014 South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Wilson (incumbent) 121,649 62.5
Democratic Phil Black 68,719 35.3
Labor Harold Geddings III 4,158 2.1
Write-in 282 0.1
Total votes 194,808 100.0
Republican hold

2016

2016 South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Wilson (incumbent) 183,746 60.2
Democratic Arik Bjorn 109,452 35.9
American Eddie McCain 11,444 3.8
Write-in 354 0.1
Total votes 304,996 100.0
Republican hold

2018

2018 South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Wilson (incumbent) 144,642 56.2
Democratic Sean Carrigan 109,199 42.5
American Sonny Narang 3,111 1.2
Write-in 187 0.1
Total votes 257,139 100.0
Republican hold

2020

2020 South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Wilson (incumbent) 202,715 55.7
Democratic Adair Boroughs 155,118 42.6
Constitution Kathleen Wright 6,163 1.7
Write-in 219 0.1
Total votes 364,215 100.0
Republican hold

2022

2022 South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Wilson (incumbent) 147,699 60.0
Democratic Judd Larkins 98,081 39.8
Write-in 346 0.1
Total votes 246,126 100.0
Republican hold

See also

Notes

  1. Supported the Jackson faction in the 1824 United States presidential election.

References

  1. "My Congressional District".
  2. "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. "My Congressional District".
  4. "South Carolina". Official congressional directory. p. 104. hdl:2027/uc1.l0075858456.
  5. "The national atlas". nationalatlas.gov. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  6. "Election Statistics - US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". Karen Haas, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  7. "South Carolina Election Commission Official Results". West Virginia Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  8. "2016 Statewide General Election official results". South Carolina State Election Commission. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  9. Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  10. "2020 Statewide General Election Night Reporting - Results". South Carolina Election Commission. November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  11. "2022 Statewide General Election". www.enr-scvotes.org. November 11, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.

33.43°N 81.30°W / 33.43; -81.30

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