# 1970 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

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The 1970 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 3, 1970, to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The primary elections were held on June 9 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on June 23. All five incumbents who ran were re-elected and the open seat in the 2nd district was retained by the Republicans. The composition of the state delegation remained five Democrats and one Republican.

## 1st congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel Rivers of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1941, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

### General election results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent) | 63,891 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 63,891 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,891 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## 2nd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Albert Watson of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1963, chose to run for Governor instead of re-election. Floyd Spence, a Republican state senator who had unsuccessfully run for the seat in the 1962 elections, defeated Democratic challenger Heyward McDonald.

### General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Floyd Spence | 48,093 | 53.1 | −4.5 |
| | Democratic | Heyward McDonald | 42,005 | 46.4 | +4.0 |
| | Independent | Donald Cole | 486 | 0.5 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,088 | 6.7 | −8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 90,584 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## 3rd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1951, defeated Republican challenger Grady Ballard.

### General election results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | William J.B. Dorn (incumbent) | 60,708 | 75.2 | +9.1 |
| | Republican | Grady Ballard | 19,981 | 24.8 | −6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40,727 | 50.4 | +16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 80,689 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## 4th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman James R. Mann of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1969, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

### General election results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | James R. Mann (incumbent) | 52,175 | 100.0 | +38.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 52,175 | 100.0 | +77.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,175 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## 5th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Thomas S. Gettys of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1964, defeated Republican challenger B. Leonard Phillips.

### General election results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Thomas S. Gettys (incumbent) | 43,712 | 65.9 | −8.8 |
| | Republican | B. Leonard Phillips | 21,911 | 33.1 | +11.3 |
| | Independent | James B. Sumner | 688 | 1.0 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,801 | 32.8 | −20.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 66,311 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## 6th congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Edward B. Baskin in the general election.

### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| John L. McMillan | 26,192 | 49.6 |
| Claude L. Stephens | 11,534 | 21.8 |
| Bill R. Craig | 11,047 | 20.9 |
| Olin Sansbury Jr. | 4,042 | 7.7 |
Democratic primary runoff :
| Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| John L. McMillan | 46,030 | 71.2 | +21.6 |
| Claude L. Stephens | 18,620 | 28.8 | +7.0 |

### General election results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John L. McMillan (incumbent) | 46,926 | 64.1 | +5.8 |
| | Republican | Edward B. Baskin | 25,546 | 34.9 | −5.0 |
| | Independent | Charles H. Smith | 773 | 1.0 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,380 | 29.2 | +10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 73,245 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |