# South Carolina's 5th congressional district

South Carolina's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in northern South Carolina bordering North Carolina. The district includes all of Cherokee, Chester, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Union and York counties and parts of Newberry, Spartanburg and Sumter counties. The bulk of its population lives on the South Carolina side of the Charlotte metropolitan area, including the rapidly growing cities of Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Lake Wylie. Outside the Charlotte suburbs, the district is mostly rural and agricultural. The district borders were contracted from some of the easternmost counties in the 2012 redistricting.
The district's character is very similar to other mostly rural districts in the South. Democrats still hold most offices outside Republican-dominated York County. However, few of the area's Democrats can be described as liberal by national standards; most are fairly conservative on social issues, but less so on economics. The largest blocs of Republican voters are in the fast-growing Charlotte suburbs, as well as Cherokee County, which shares the Republican tilt of most of the rest of the Upstate. York County is by far the largest county in the district, with almost one-third of its population, and its increasingly Republican bent has pushed the district as a whole into the Republican column in recent years.
In November 2010, the Republican Mick Mulvaney defeated longtime Congressman John Spratt and became the first Republican since Robert Smalls and the end of Reconstruction to represent the district. Following Mulvaney's confirmation as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, a special election was held in 2017 to determine his successor. Republican Ralph Norman narrowly won the special election against Archie Parnell.
From 2003 to 2013 the district included all of Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Marlboro, Newberry and York counties and parts of Florence, Lee and Sumter counties.

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Cherokee County (6)
    All 6 communities
Chester County (7)
    All 7 communities
Fairfield County (5)
    All 5 communities
Kershaw County (7)
    All 7 communities
Lancaster County (10)
    All 10 communities
Lee County (8)
    All 8 communities
Spartanburg County (6)
    Boiling Springs (part; also 4th), Chesnee, Converse (part; also 4th), Cowpens, Fingerville, Mayo
Sumter County (13)
    Cane Savannah, Cherryvale, Dalzell, East Sumter (part; also 6th), Mulberry, Oakland, Oswego, Pinewood, Privateer, Rembert, Stateburg, Sumter (part; also 6th), Wedgefield
Union County (6)
    All 6 communities
York County (16)
    All 16 communities

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 55% - 43% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 57% - 43% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 58% - 38% |
| 2016 | Senate | Scott 60% - 37% |
| 2018 | Governor | McMaster 58% - 42% |
| 2018 | Secretary of State | Hammond 60% - 40% |
| 2018 | Treasurer | Loftis 58% - 39% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Wilson 58% - 40% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 58% - 40% |
| 2020 | Senate | Graham 57% - 41% |
| 2022 | Senate | Scott 65% - 35% |
| 2022 | Governor | McMaster 62% - 37% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Hammond 66% - 34% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 61% - 38% |

## List of members representing the district

| Member (Residence) | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District established March 4, 1789 ||||||
| Thomas Tudor Tucker (Charleston) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793 | 1st 2nd | Elected in 1788. Re-elected in 1790. Retired. | 1789–1793 "Ninety-Six district" South Carolina congressional districts 1st district, "Charleston" 2nd district, "Beaufort-Orangeburg" 3rd district, "Georgetown-Cheraw" 4th district, "Camden" 5th district, "Ninety-Six" |
| Alexander Gillon (Charleston) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1793 – October 6, 1794 | 3rd | Elected in 1793. Died. | 1793–1797 "Ninety-Six district" |
| Vacant | Vacant | October 6, 1794 – February 9, 1795 | 3rd | | 1793–1797 "Ninety-Six district" |
| Robert Goodloe Harper (Charleston) | Pro-Administration | February 9, 1795 – March 3, 1795 | 3rd 4th 5th 6th | Elected October 13–14, 1794 to finish Gillon's term and elected the same day to the next term. Re-elected in 1796. Re-elected in 1798. Retired. | 1793–1797 "Ninety-Six district" |
| Robert Goodloe Harper (Charleston) | Federalist | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1801 | 3rd 4th 5th 6th | Elected October 13–14, 1794 to finish Gillon's term and elected the same day to the next term. Re-elected in 1796. Re-elected in 1798. Retired. | 1793–1797 "Ninety-Six district" |
| Robert Goodloe Harper (Charleston) | Federalist | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1801 | 3rd 4th 5th 6th | Elected October 13–14, 1794 to finish Gillon's term and elected the same day to the next term. Re-elected in 1796. Re-elected in 1798. Retired. | 1797–1803 "Ninety-Six district" 1796 election results by district |
| William Butler (Mount Willing) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803 | 7th | Elected in 1800. Redistricted to the 2nd district. | 1797–1803 "Ninety-Six district" 1796 election results by district |
| Richard Winn (Winnsboro) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1813 | 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th | Redistricted from the 4th 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 "Sumter district" |
| David R. Evans (Winnsboro) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815 | 13th | Elected in 1812. Retired. | 1813–1823 "Newberry district" |
| William Woodward (Monticello) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817 | 14th | Elected in 1814. Lost re-election. | 1813–1823 "Newberry district" |
| Starling Tucker (Mountain Shoals) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1823 | 15th 16th 17th | Elected in 1816. Re-elected in 1818. Re-elected in 1818. Re-elected in 1820. Redistricted to the 9th district. | 1813–1823 "Newberry district" |
| George McDuffie (Willington) | Democratic-Republican (Jackson) | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1830. Re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1834. Resigned to become Governor of South Carolina. | 1823–1833 "Edgefield district" |
| George McDuffie (Willington) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1831 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1830. Re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1834. Resigned to become Governor of South Carolina. | 1823–1833 "Edgefield district" |
| George McDuffie (Willington) | Nullifier | March 4, 1831 – 1834 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1830. Re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1834. Resigned to become Governor of South Carolina. | 1823–1833 "Edgefield district" |
| George McDuffie (Willington) | Nullifier | March 4, 1831 – 1834 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1830. Re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1834. Resigned to become Governor of South Carolina. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | 1834 – December 8, 1834 | 23rd | | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| Francis W. Pickens (Edgefield) | Nullifier | December 8, 1834 – March 3, 1839 | 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th | Elected to finish McDuffie's term. Also elected to the next full term. Re-elected in 1836. Re-elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Retired. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| Francis W. Pickens (Edgefield) | Democratic | March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843 | 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th | Elected to finish McDuffie's term. Also elected to the next full term. Re-elected in 1836. Re-elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Retired. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| Armistead Burt (Willington) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1853 | 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd | Elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1844. Re-elected in 1846. Re-elected in 1848. Re-elected in 1850. Retired. | 1843–1853 [data missing] |
| James L. Orr (Anderson) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1859 | 33rd 34th 35th | Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1853. Re-elected in 1854. Re-elected in 1856 Retired. | 1853–1860 [data missing] |
| John D. Ashmore (Anderson) | Democratic | March 4, 1859 – December 21, 1860 | 36th | Elected in 1858. Re-elected in 1860 but resigned due to Civil War. | 1853–1860 [data missing] |
| District inactive | District inactive | December 21, 1860 – March 3, 1863 | 36th 37th | Civil War | Civil War |
| District dissolved March 4, 1863 ||||||
| District re-established March 4, 1875 ||||||
| Robert Smalls (Beaufort) | Republican | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | 44th 45th | Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Lost re-election. | 1875–1883 [data missing] |
| George D. Tillman (Edgefield) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – July 19, 1882 | 46th 47th | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Lost contested election. | 1875–1883 [data missing] |
| Robert Smalls (Beaufort) | Republican | July 19, 1882 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Won contested election. Retired. | 1875–1883 [data missing] |
| John J. Hemphill (Chester) | 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] |
| Thomas J. Strait (Lancaster) | Democratic | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1899 | 53rd 54th 55th | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Lost renomination. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| David E. Finley (Yorkville) | Democratic | March 4, 1899 – January 26, 1917 | 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916 but died before next term began. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| 1903–1913 [data missing] | | | 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916 but died before next term began. |
| 1913–1923 [data missing] | | | 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916 but died before next term began. |
| 1913–1923 [data missing] | Vacant | Vacant | January 26, 1917 – February 21, 1917 | 64th |
| 1913–1923 [data missing] | Paul G. McCorkle (Yorkville) | Democratic | February 21, 1917 – March 3, 1917 | 64th | Elected to finish Finley's term in the 64th Congress. Retired. |
| 1913–1923 [data missing] | William F. Stevenson (Cheraw) | Democratic | March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1933 | 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected to finish Finley's term in the 65th Congress. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Lost renomination. |
| 1923–1933 [data missing] | | | | 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected to finish Finley's term in the 65th Congress. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Lost renomination. |
| James P. Richards (Lancaster) | Democratic | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1957 | 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th | Elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Retired. | 1933–1943 [data missing] |
| 1943–1953 [data missing] | | | 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th | Elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Retired. |
| 1953–1963 [data missing] | | | 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th | Elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Retired. |
| 1953–1963 [data missing] | Robert W. Hemphill (Chester) | Democratic | January 3, 1957 – May 1, 1964 | 85th 86th 87th 88th | Elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Resigned to become Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. |
| 1963–1973 [data missing] | | | | 85th 86th 87th 88th | Elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Resigned to become Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. |
| 1963–1973 [data missing] | Vacant | Vacant | May 1, 1964 – November 3, 1964 | 88th |
| 1963–1973 [data missing] | Thomas S. Gettys (Rock Hill) | Democratic | November 3, 1964 – December 31, 1974 | 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd | Elected to finish Hemphill's term. Also elected to the next full term. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Retired and resigned before next term began. |
| 1973–1983 [data missing] | | | | 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd | Elected to finish Hemphill's term. Also elected to the next full term. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Retired and resigned before next term began. |
| 1973–1983 [data missing] | Kenneth L. Holland (Gaffney) | Democratic | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1983 | 94th 95th 96th 97th | Elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Retired. |
| John Spratt (York) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2011 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th | 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. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Lost re-election. | 1983–1993 [data missing] |
| 1993–2003 [data missing] | | | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th | 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. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Lost re-election. |
| 2003–20132003 - 2013 | | | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th | 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. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Lost re-election. |
| 2003–20132003 - 2013 | Mick Mulvaney (Lancaster) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – February 16, 2017 | 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Resigned to become director of the Office of Management and Budget. |
| 2013–2023Static map of 2013-23 congressional district | | | | 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Resigned to become director of the Office of Management and Budget. |
| 2013–2023Static map of 2013-23 congressional district | Vacant | Vacant | February 16, 2017 – June 20, 2017 | 115th |
| 2013–2023Static map of 2013-23 congressional district | Ralph Norman (Rock Hill) | Republican | June 20, 2017 – present | 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish Mulvaney's term. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |
| 2023–2033 | Ralph Norman (Rock Hill) | Republican | June 20, 2017 – present | 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish Mulvaney's term. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Past election results
### 2012

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

### 2014

2014 South Carolina's 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mick Mulvaney (incumbent) | 103,078 | 58.9 |
| | Democratic | Tom Adams | 71,985 | 41.1 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 82 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 175,145 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

2016 South Carolina's 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mick Mulvaney (incumbent) | 161,669 | 59.2 |
| | Democratic | Fran Person | 105,772 | 38.7 |
| | American | Rudy Barnes Jr | 5,388 | 2.0 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 177 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 273,006 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2017 special election

2017 South Carolina's 5th congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Norman | 45,076 | 51.05% |
| | Democratic | Archie Parnell | 42,341 | 47.94% |
| | American | Josh Thornton | 319 | 0.36% |
| | Libertarian | Victor Kocher | 273 | 0.31% |
| | Green | David Kulma | 242 | 0.27% |
| | Write-In | Write-in | 65 | 0.07% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 88,316 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

2018 South Carolina's 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Norman (incumbent) | 141,757 | 57.0 |
| | Democratic | Archie Parnell | 103,129 | 41.5 |
| | Constitution | Michael Chandler | 3,443 | 1.4 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 250 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 248,579 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

2020 South Carolina's 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Norman (incumbent) | 220,006 | 60.1 |
| | Democratic | Moe Brown | 145,979 | 39.9 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 273 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 366,258 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

2022 South Carolina's 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Norman (incumbent) | 154,725 | 64.01 |
| | Democratic | Evangeline Hundley | 83,299 | 34.46 |
| | Green | Larry Gaither | 3,547 | 1.47 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 136 | 0.06 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 241,707 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## In popular culture

In the first season of House of Cards, protagonist Frank Underwood represents the district in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat between 1991 and 2013.