# 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

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The 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 5, 1872, to select five Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. The three incumbents who ran were re-elected and the two open seats were retained by the Republicans. The composition of the state delegation thus remained solely Republican.

## 1st congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Joseph Rainey of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1870, was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

### General election results

South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1872 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Joseph Rainey (incumbent) | 19,765 | 100.0 | +36.5 |
| | No party | Write-Ins | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,762 | 100.0 | +73.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,768 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## 2nd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Robert C. De Large of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1871, declined to run for re-election. Alonzo J. Ransier was nominated by the Republicans and defeated Independent Republican challenger William Gurney in the general election.

### General election results

South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1872 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Alonzo J. Ransier | 20,061 | 75.4 | −20.9 |
| | Independent Republican | William Gurney | 6,549 | 24.6 | +24.6 |
| | No party | Write-Ins | 11 | 0.0 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,512 | 50.8 | −47.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,621 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## 3rd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Robert B. Elliott of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1871, defeated two Democratic candidates in the general election.

### General election results

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1872 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert B. Elliott (incumbent) | 20,564 | 92.5 | +33.0 |
| | Democratic | W.H. McCaw | 1,094 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
| | Democratic | Samuel McGowan | 411 | 1.9 | +1.9 |
| | No party | Write-Ins | 166 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,893 | 87.6 | +68.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,235 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## 4th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Alexander S. Wallace of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1870, defeated Democratic challenger Benjamin Franklin Perry.

### General election results

South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1872 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Alexander S. Wallace (incumbent) | 14,590 | 53.1 | −2.2 |
| | Democratic | Benjamin Franklin Perry | 12,879 | 46.9 | +2.5 |
| | No party | Write-Ins | 3 | 0.0 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,711 | 6.2 | −4.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,472 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## At-large district

The state unsuccessfully applied to have a fifth member seated in 1871 in the House of Representatives. Following apportionment from the 1870 census, the state was granted an extra seat and an At-large election was used to decide the fifth member. Republican Richard H. Cain defeated Independent Republican L.E. Johnson in the election and became the only member from South Carolina to be elected from an At-large district.

### General election results

South Carolina's at-large congressional district election results, 1872 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Richard H. Cain | 71,321 | 72.0 | −28.0 |
| | Independent Republican | Lewis E. Johnson | 26,394 | 26.6 | +26.6 |
| | No party | Write-Ins | 1,404 | 1.4 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44,927 | 45.4 | +45.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 99,119 | | |
| | Republican gain | Republican gain | Republican gain | Republican gain | Republican gain |