1941 United States Senate special election in South Carolina

The 1941 United States Senate special election in South Carolina was held on September 30, 1941^[1] to complete the unexpired term of Senator James F. Byrnes, who resigned on July 8. Interim Senator Alva Lumpkin died on August 1 and in turn was succeeded by Roger C. Peace, who did not run for re-election.

1941 U.S. Senate Democratic primary runoff in South Carolina

← 1936 September 16, 1941 1942 →

Nominee Burnet R. Maybank Olin D. Johnston Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 92,100 70,687 Percentage 56.58% 43.42%

County results Maybank:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Johnston:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Roger C. Peace Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Burnet R. Maybank Democratic

The election was won by Governor Burnet R. Maybank who defeated former Governor Olin D. Johnston after a run-off in the primary. He was unopposed in the general election.

Background

In 1937, Senator James F. Byrnes began a six-year term ending in 1943. On June 12, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Byrnes as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, and he was confirmed that same day.^[2][a] He resigned from the Senate on July 8, 1941.^[3]

To fill the vacancy until a successor could be duly elected, Governor of South Carolina Burnet R. Maybank appointed Judge Alva Lumpkin on July 22, 1941, but Lumpkin died on August 1, 1941. Maybank then appointed Roger C. Peace on August 5, 1941, to succeed Lumpkin. Peace did not run in the special election to complete the term.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on September 2, 1941.^[4] As no candidate won a majority of votes, a run-off was held between the top two candidates on September 16, 1941.^[5]

Candidates

• Joseph R. Bryson, incumbent U.S. Representative
• Olin D. Johnston, former Governor of South Carolina
• Burnet R. Maybank, incumbent Governor of South Carolina

Results

Democratic Primary[6][7]
Candidate	Votes	%
Burnet R. Maybank	59,017	47.4
Olin D. Johnston	40,296	32.3
Joseph R. Bryson	25,257	20.3

Runoff

Democratic Primary Runoff[6][8]
Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Burnet R. Maybank	92,100	56.6	+9.2
Olin D. Johnston	70,687	43.4	+11.1

General election

Results

1941 U.S. Senate special election in South Carolina^[9][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Burnet R. Maybank	13,264	100.00%
Turnout			13,264	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• List of United States senators from South Carolina
• 1941 United States Senate elections

Notes

1. Byrnes only joined the Court for 15 months; on October 3, 1942, between the 1942 primary and general elections, he resigned and was appointed as Roosevelt's Director of Economic Stabilization. He would later go on to serve as Director of War Mobilization and U.S. Secretary of State.

References

1. "Too Early to Consider Successor, Governor Says". Evening star. Washington, D.C. August 2, 1941. p. A-4. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
2. McMillion, Barry J. (January 28, 2022). Supreme Court Nominations, 1789 to 2020: Actions by the Senate, the Judiciary Committee, and the President (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
3. "BYRNES, James Francis, (1882 - 1972)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
4. "South Carolina Primary Today". The Wilmington morning star. Wilmington, N.C. September 2, 1941. p. 1. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
5. "Maybank and Johnston In Runoff Election Today". Evening star. Washington, D.C. September 16, 1941. p. A-4. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
6. Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. II. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2005. p. 1420. ISBN 9781568029818.
7. "SC US Senate, 1941 – Special D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
8. "SC US Senate, 1941 – Special D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
9. Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. II. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2005. p. 1350. ISBN 9781568029818.
10. "SC US Senate, 1941 – Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 6, 2024.