1986 United States Senate election in South Carolina

The 1986 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 4, 1986 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Henry McMaster to win his fifth (his fourth full) term. This is also the last US Senate election in South Carolina where the Democrat won with a double-digit margin. McMaster would much later be elected Governor in 2018.

1986 United States Senate election in South Carolina

November 4, 1986

Nominee Ernest Hollings Henry McMaster Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 463,354 261,394 Percentage 63.07% 35.63%

County results Hollings:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% McMaster:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Ernest Hollings Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Ernest Hollings Democratic

Republican primary

The Republican primary campaign pitted U.S. Attorney Henry McMaster against Henry Jordan, a social conservative supported by televangelist Pat Robertson and many Christian activists.

Candidates

• Henry Jordan, surgeon
• Henry McMaster, U.S. Attorney and future state Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor

Results

McMaster

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%
•   >90%

Jordan

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   80–90%
•   >90%

Tie

•   50%

Republican Primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Henry McMaster	27,695	53.4%
Henry Jordan	24,164	46.6%

General election

Candidates

• Ray Hillyard (A)
• Fritz Hollings (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
• Henry McMaster (R), U.S. Attorney
• Steven Vandervelde (L)

Campaign

The race was not seriously contested and was not a target by the Republicans. With little financial assistance, McMaster was unable to mount a credible challenge to Hollings' re-election in what became a difficult year for Republicans.

Results

South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Fritz Hollings (incumbent)	465,511	63.07%	−7.29%
	Republican	Henry McMaster	262,976	35.63%	+6.00%
	Libertarian	Steven B. Vandervelde	4,788	0.65%	N/A
	American	Ray Hillyard	4,588	0.62%	N/A
	No party	Write-Ins	199	0.03%	N/A
Majority			202,535	27.44%	−13.29%
Turnout			738,062	56.6%	−13.9%
	Democratic hold

See also

• List of United States senators from South Carolina
• 1986 United States Senate elections
• 1986 South Carolina gubernatorial election

References

• State Election Commission (1987). South Carolina Election Commission Annual Report 1986-1987. Columbia, SC. pp. 14, 22.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)