1920 United States Senate election in South Carolina

The 1920 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 2, 1920 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator Ellison D. Smith won the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election to win another six-year term.

1920 South Carolina Democratic Senate primary runoff

September 14, 1920

Nominee Ellison D. Smith George Warren Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 65,880 42,735 Percentage 60.65% 39.35%

Smith:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Warren:      30–40%      40–50%      50-60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Pollock:      50-60% Irby:      30–40%

U.S. senator before election Ellison D. Smith Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Ellison D. Smith Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• W.C. Irby
• William P. Pollock, former interim U.S. Senator and State Representative from Cheraw
• Ellison D. Smith, incumbent Senator since 1909
• George Warren, resident of Hampton

Smith was the leader in the first primary election on August 31 and won the runoff election two weeks later on September 14. There was no opposition to the Democratic candidate in the general election so Smith was elected to another six-year term in the Senate.

Results

Democratic Primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Ellison D. Smith	57,423	48.7
George Warren	36,317	30.8
William P. Pollock	15,678	13.3
W.C. Irby	8,454	7.2

Runoff

Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Ellison D. Smith	65,880	60.7	+12.0
George Warren	42,735	39.3	+8.5

General election results

South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1920

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ellison D. Smith (incumbent)	64,388	100.00%	+0.27%
	No party	Write-Ins	1	0.00%	−0.27%
Majority			64,387	100.00%	+0.54%
Turnout			64,389
	Democratic hold

  65+% won by Smith

See also

• List of United States senators from South Carolina
• 1920 United States Senate elections
• 1920 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina
• 1920 South Carolina gubernatorial election

References

• Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 67–68.
• "Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina. Part II." Reports of State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1921, p. 62.