# 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

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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, an increase of one seat as a result of reapportionment thanks to the continued strong growth found 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, 2012 :
| Party | 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 | 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 is expected to remain favorable to Republicans. Republican Tim Scott, who has 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

Organizations
* Campaign for Working Families
* Huck PAC
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* International Association of Fire Fighters
* United Steelworkers
Organizations
* Alliance for Retired Americans
* Working Families Party
Individuals
* Claudia J. Kennedy, retired Army Lieutenant general

#### Results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tim Scott (incumbent) | 179,908 | 62.0 |
| | Democratic | Bobbie G. Rose | 103,557 | 35.7 |
| | Libertarian | Keith Blandford | 6,334 | 2.2 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 214 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 290,013 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

In redistricting, Hilton Head and its surrounding areas, and counties on the state's southern border were removed from the 2nd district, which now includes all of Aiken County. Republican Joe Wilson, who has 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

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Wilson (incumbent) | 23,062 | 80.6 |
| | Republican | Phil Black | 5,557 | 19.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,619 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* Campaign for Working Families
* Huck PAC
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce

#### Results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Wilson (incumbent) | 196,116 | 96.3 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 7,602 | 3.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 203,718 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 3

Redistricting added parts of Newberry and Greenville counties to the 3rd district; parts of Aiken County were removed. The district was expected to continue to favor Republicans. Republican Jeff Duncan, who has 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

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Brian Doyle | 4,782 | 66.0 |
| | Democratic | Cason Gaither | 2,464 | 34.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,246 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* Campaign for Working Families
* Huck PAC
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce

#### Results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jeff Duncan (incumbent) | 169,512 | 66.5 |
| | Democratic | Bryan Ryan B. Doyle | 84,735 | 33.3 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 516 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 254,763 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 4

The redrawn 4th district maintains a balance between Greenville and Spartanburg counties, and is expected to continue to favor Republicans. Republican Trey Gowdy, who has represented the 4th district since January 2011, sought re-election. Greenville artist Jeff Sumerel is the nominee of the South Carolina Green Party.

### 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

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Deb Morrow | 3,678 | 70.6 |
| | Democratic | Jimmy Tobias | 1,528 | 29.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,206 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* Campaign for Working Families
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce

#### Results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Trey Gowdy (incumbent) | 173,201 | 64.9 |
| | Democratic | Deb Morrow | 89,964 | 33.7 |
| | Green | Jeff Sumerel | 3,390 | 1.3 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 329 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 266,884 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 5

The 5th district, which extends from the North Carolina border to the outskirts of Sumter, was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting. Republican Mick Mulvaney, who has 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

Organizations
* Campaign for Working Families
* Huck PAC
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
Organizations
* Working Families Party

#### Results

South Carolina's 5th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mick Mulvaney (incumbent) | 154,324 | 55.5 |
| | Democratic | Joyce Knott | 123,443 | 44.4 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 236 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 278,003 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 6

The 6th district is expected to continue to strongly favor Democrats. Democrat Jim Clyburn, the Assistant Democratic Leader of the U.S. House who has represented the 6th district since 1993, faced Green Party nominee Nammu Muhammad.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jim Clyburn, incumbent U.S. Representative

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* National Association of Letter Carriers
* National Education Association
* United Steelworkers
Organizations
* Planned Parenthood Action Fund
* Sierra Club

#### Results

South Carolina's 6th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Clyburn (incumbent) | 218,717 | 93.6 |
| | Green | Nammu Y. Muhammad | 12,920 | 5.5 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 1,978 | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 233,615 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 7

The new 7th district will represent most of the Pee Dee region, including Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, and Marlboro counties, along with a part of Florence County, and is expected to favor Republicans.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Gloria Bromell Tinubu, professor at Coastal Carolina University and former member of the Georgia state representative

##### 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

Local officials
* Stephen Wukela, Mayor of Florence
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
U.S. Representatives
* John Spratt, Representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district (1983–2011)
State legislators
* Vincent Sheheen, state senator and nominee for Governor in 2010
Organizations
* Blue Dog Coalition

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Preston Brittain | Parnell Diggs | Harry Pavilack | Gloria Tinubu | Ted Vick | Undecided |
| Francis Marion University | May 14–15, 2012 | 611 | ±3.8% | 6% | 3% | 3% | 9% | 15% | 65% |

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gloria Tinubu | 16,404 | 48.7 |
| | Democratic | Preston Brittain | 12,347 | 36.7 |
| | Democratic | Ted Vick | 2,375 | 7.0 |
| | Democratic | Parnell Diggs | 1,408 | 4.2 |
| | Democratic | Harry Pavilack | 1,132 | 3.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,666 | 100.0 |

#### Runoff results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gloria Tinubu | 17,930 | 72.7 |
| | Democratic | Preston Brittain | 6,733 | 27.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,663 | 100.0 |

### 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

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andre Bauer | 12,037 | 32.1 |
| | Republican | Tom Rice | 10,252 | 27.4 |
| | Republican | Jay Jordan | 8,107 | 21.6 |
| | Republican | Chad Prosser | 3,824 | 10.2 |
| | Republican | Katherine Jenerette | 1,457 | 3.9 |
| | Republican | Randal Wallace | 691 | 1.8 |
| | Republican | Dick Withington | 641 | 1.7 |
| | Republican | Renee Culler | 279 | 0.7 |
| | Republican | Jim Mader | 180 | 0.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,468 | 100.0 |

#### Runoff results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Rice | 16,844 | 56.1 |
| | Republican | Andre Bauer | 13,173 | 43.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,017 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* United Steel Workers
Organizations
* National Organization for Women
* Working Families Party
Organizations
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Gloria Tinubu (D) | Tom Rice (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Winthrop University | September 23–30, 2012 | 878 | ±3.5% | 36% | 49% | 2% | 13% |

#### Results

South Carolina's 7th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Rice | 153,068 | 55.5 |
| | Democratic | Gloria Bromell Tinubu | 122,389 | 44.4 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 281 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 275,738 | 100.0 |
| | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) |