# South Carolina's 7th congressional district

South Carolina's 7th congressional district is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in South Carolina, established in 2011 following apportionment of another seat to the state in the redistricting cycle following the 2010 census. It is located in the Pee Dee region, and includes all of Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, and Marlboro Counties and most of Florence County. The district is represented by Republican Russell Fry who was elected in 2022 and took office on January 3, 2023.

## History

The 7th congressional district of South Carolina existed in the 19th century, but was eliminated in 1853 as a result of the 1850 census. After the 1880 census, Congress apportioned the state another seat, and the state legislature re-established the district.
By that time, the Reconstruction era had ended and the state legislature was controlled by Democrats, who wrested control by a mixture of violence and fraud. They defined the boundaries of the 7th district, which was called the "shoestring district" because of its long, narrow shape that included many black precincts. In 1892 and 1894 the majority-black voters of the district elected George W. Murray to Congress; he was the only African American to serve in Congress in those sessions and, following disfranchisement and demographic changes, the last elected from the state until Jim Clyburn in 1992.
In 1895, the Democrat-dominated state legislature passed a new constitution, disfranchising black voters by changes to voter registration and electoral rules that were applied against them in a discriminatory way. For decades after 1896, only white Democrats were elected to Congress from the state. (Such disfranchisement occurred among all the states of the former Confederacy, and their use of poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, and white primaries survived several US Supreme Court challenges.)
During the first half of the 20th century, 6.5 million blacks in total left South Carolina and other southern states in the Great Migration to the North, Midwest and West. Following cumulative declines in state population, after the 1930 census, South Carolina lost a seat and the 7th district was eliminated in redistricting. It was last represented by Democrat Hampton P. Fulmer, who was redistricted into the 2nd district.
South Carolina had only six districts for the next 80 years. African Americans were effectively barred from voting until after passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Increases in population led to the state's receiving another congressional seat in the redistricting cycle following the 2010 census.
The 7th district is located in the rapidly developing area of northeastern South Carolina, including the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area (the Grand Strand) and the Pee Dee region. It is a white-majority district and its voters elected Republican Tom Rice as US Representative from the district in 2012; he took office in January 2013, when the 113th Congress convened. Due almost entirely to the presence of heavily Republican Horry County, which has as many people as the rest of the district combined, it tilts Republican.
The district boundaries are roughly similar to the configuration of the 6th congressional district before it was reconfigured after the 1990 census as a black-majority district.

## 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:
Chesterfield County (9)
    All 9 communities
Darlington County (8)
    All 8 communities
Dillon County (6)
    All 6 communities
Florence County (9)
    Coward, Danwood, Florence, Johnsonville, Olanta, Pamplico, Scranton, Timmonsville, Quinby
Georgetown County (7)
    All 7 communities
Horry County (20)
    All 20 communities
Marion County (8)
    All 8 communities
Marlboro County (7)
    All 7 communities

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 53% - 45% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 55% - 45% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 58% - 39% |
| 2016 | Senate | Scott 61% - 37% |
| 2018 | Governor | McMaster 57% - 43% |
| 2018 | Secretary of State | Hammond 59% - 41% |
| 2018 | Treasurer | Loftis 58% - 40% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Wilson 58% - 41% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 59% - 40% |
| 2020 | Senate | Graham 58% - 41% |
| 2022 | Senate | Scott 67% - 33% |
| 2022 | Governor | McMaster 63% - 36% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Hammond 67% - 33% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 63% - 36% |

## List of members representing the district

| Member (Residence) | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District established March 4, 1803 ||||||
| Thomas Moore (Prices Store) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1813 | 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th | Redistricted from the 6th 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 "Chester district" |
| Elias Earle (Centerville) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815 | 13th | Redistricted from the 8th district and re-elected in 1812. Lost re-election. | 1813–1823 "Pendleton district" |
| John Taylor (Pendleton) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817 | 14th | Elected in 1814. Lost re-election. | 1813–1823 "Pendleton district" |
| Elias Earle (Centerville) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1821 | 15th 16th | Elected in 1816. Re-elected in 1818. Retired. | 1813–1823 "Pendleton district" |
| John Wilson (Golden Grove) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823 | 17th | Elected in 1820. Redistricted to the 6th district. | 1813–1823 "Pendleton district" |
| Joseph Gist (Pinckneyville) | Jackson Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th 19th | Redistricted from the 8th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1824. Retired. | 1823–1833 "Chester district" |
| Joseph Gist (Pinckneyville) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 | 18th 19th | Redistricted from the 8th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1824. Retired. | 1823–1833 "Chester district" |
| William T. Nuckolls (Hancockville) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1833 | 20th 21st 22nd | Elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1830. Retired. | 1823–1833 "Chester district" |
| William K. Clowney (Union) | Nullifier | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | 23rd | Elected in 1833. Lost re-election. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| James Rogers (Yorkville) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 | 24th | Elected in 1834. Lost re-election. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| William K. Clowney (Union) | Nullifier | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | 25th | Elected in 1836. Retired. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| James Rogers (Maybinton) | Democratic | March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843 | 26th 27th | Elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Retired. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| Robert B. Rhett (Ashepoo) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849 | 28th 29th 30th | Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1844. Re-elected in 1846. Retired. | 1843–1853 [data missing] |
| William F. Colcock (Grahamville) | Democratic | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 | 31st 32nd | Elected in 1848. Re-elected in 1850. Retired. | 1843–1853 [data missing] |
| District dissolved March 3, 1853 ||||||
| District re-established March 4, 1883 ||||||
| Edmund W. M. Mackey (Berkeley) | Republican | March 4, 1883 – January 27, 1884 | 48th | Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1882. Died. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 27, 1884 – March 18, 1884 | 48th | | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| Robert Smalls (Beaufort) | Republican | March 18, 1884 – March 3, 1887 | 48th 49th | Elected to finish Mackey's term. Re-elected in 1884. Lost re-election. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| William Elliott (Beaufort) | Democratic | March 4, 1887 – September 23, 1890 | 50th 51st | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Lost election contest. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| Thomas E. Miller (Beaufort) | Republican | September 24, 1890 – March 3, 1891 | 51st | Won election contest. Lost re-election. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| William Elliott (Beaufort) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Elected in 1890. Retired. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| George W. Murray (Sumter) | Republican | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | 53rd | Elected in 1892. Redistricted to the 1st district. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| J. William Stokes (Orangeburg) | Democratic | March 4, 1895 – June 1, 1896 | 54th | Elected in 1894. Seat declared vacant while being contested because of Democratic election fraud. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 1, 1896 – November 3, 1896 | 54th | | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| J. William Stokes (Orangeburg) | Democratic | November 3, 1896 – July 6, 1901 | 54th 55th 56th 57th | Elected to finish his own term. Also elected in 1896 to the next term. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Died. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 6, 1901 – November 5, 1901 | 57th | | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| Asbury F. Lever (Lexington) | Democratic | November 5, 1901 – August 1, 1919 | 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected to finish Stokes's term. 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. Re-elected in 1918. Resigned to become member of Federal Farm Loan Board. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| 1903–1913 [data missing] | | | 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected to finish Stokes's term. 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. Re-elected in 1918. Resigned to become member of Federal Farm Loan Board. |
| 1913–1923 [data missing] | | | 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected to finish Stokes's term. 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. Re-elected in 1918. Resigned to become member of Federal Farm Loan Board. |
| 1913–1923 [data missing] | Vacant | Vacant | August 1, 1919 – October 7, 1919 | 66th |
| 1913–1923 [data missing] | Edward C. Mann (St. Matthews) | Democratic | October 7, 1919 – March 3, 1921 | 66th | Elected to finish Lever's term. Lost renomination. |
| 1913–1923 [data missing] | Hampton P. Fulmer (Orangeburg) | Democratic | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1933 | 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Redistricted to the 2nd district. |
| 1923–1933 [data missing] | | | | 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Redistricted to the 2nd district. |
| District dissolved March 3, 1933 ||||||
| District re-established January 3, 2013 ||||||
| Tom Rice (Myrtle Beach) | Republican | January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2023 | 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th | Elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Lost renomination. | 2013–2023 |
| Russell Fry (Murrells Inlet) | Republican | January 3, 2023 – present | 118th 119th | Elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–2033 |

## Past election results
### 2012

2012 South Carolina's 7th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Rice | 153,068 | 55.5 |
| | Democratic | Gloria Tinubu | 122,389 | 44.4 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 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) |

### 2014

2014 South Carolina's 7th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Rice (Incumbent) | 102,833 | 59.9 |
| | Democratic | Gloria Bromell-Tinubu | 68,576 | 40.0 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 115 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 171,524 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

2016 South Carolina's 7th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Rice (incumbent) | 176,468 | 61.0 |
| | Democratic | Mal Hyman | 112,744 | 38.9 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 251 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 289,463 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

2018 South Carolina's 7th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Rice (incumbent) | 142,681 | 59.6 |
| | Democratic | Robert Williams | 96,564 | 40.3 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 309 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 239,554 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

2020 South Carolina's 7th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Rice (incumbent) | 224,993 | 61.8 |
| | Democratic | Melissa Ward Watson | 138,863 | 38.1 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 235 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 364,091 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

2022 South Carolina's 7th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Russell Fry | 164,440 | 64.7 |
| | Democratic | Daryl W. Scott | 89,030 | 35.0 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 395 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 253,865 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |