1956 United States Senate election in South Carolina

The 1956 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 6, 1956 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina simultaneously with the special Senate election. Incumbent Democratic Senator Olin D. Johnston handily defeated Republican mayor of Clemson Leon P. Crawford.

1956 United States Senate election in South Carolina

November 6, 1956

Nominee Olin D. Johnston Leon P. Crawford Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 230,150 49,695 Percentage 82.21% 17.75%

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

U.S. senator before election Olin D. Johnston Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Olin D. Johnston Democratic

Democratic primary

Olin D. Johnston, the incumbent Senator, faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats and avoided a primary election.

Republican primary

Leon P. Crawford, the mayor of the town of Clemson in the Upstate, faced no opposition from South Carolina Republicans and avoided a primary election.

General election campaign

Crawford campaigned as a defender of states' rights and denounced Johnston for backing the New Deal and the Fair Deal. The state Republican Party believed that Crawford could have a chance in the election if he galvanized the 128,000 registered black voters, although they were weary of being labeled as the black party. In the end, Johnston remained highly popular with the voters who were still leery of the Republican party and he easily defeated Crawford in the general election.

Election results

South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Olin D. Johnston (incumbent)	230,150	82.21%	−17.72%
	Republican	Leon P. Crawford	49,695	17.75%	N/A
	No party	Write-Ins	124	0.04%	N/A
Majority			180,455	64.46%	−35.39%
Turnout			279,969	36.8
	Democratic hold

See also

• List of United States senators from South Carolina
• 1956 United States Senate elections
• 1956 United States Senate special election in South Carolina

References

• "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of South Carolina to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1957, pp. 8–9.
• Kalk, Bruce H. (2001). The Origins of the Southern Strategy: Two-Party Competition in South. Lexington Books. pp. 30, 33.