South Carolina's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in western South Carolina bordering both Georgia and North Carolina. It includes all of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, and Saluda counties and portions of Greenville and Newberry counties. The district is mostly rural, but much of the economy revolves around the manufacturing centers of Anderson and Greenwood. Clemson University, the state's second largest by enrollment, is also in the district.
With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+21, it is the most Republican district in South Carolina.
History Historically, the district was a Democratic stronghold, and Democrats continued to hold most local offices well into the 1990s. However, most residents share the socially conservative views of their counterparts in the 4th district and the district has elected Republicans since 1994. Republicans now dominate the district's politics at all levels, usually scoring margins rivaling those in the 4th. Indeed, no Democrat has cleared the 40 percent mark in the district in almost a quarter-century.
A former South Carolina senior Senator, Lindsey Graham, held this seat from 1995 to 2003. He was succeeded by J. Gresham Barrett, who gave up the seat in order to run for governor. State Rep. Jeff Duncan won the seat in 2010.
From 2003 to 2013, the district included all of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens and Saluda counties and most of Aiken and Laurens counties.
Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST45/CD118_SC03.pdf
Abbeville County (9)
All 9 communities
Anderson County (19)
All 19 communities
Edgefield County (5)
All 5 communities
Greenville County (4)
Fountain Inn (shared with Laurens County), Golden Grove (part; also 4th), Piedmont (shared with Anderson County), Ware Place
Greenwood County (9)
All 9 communities
Laurens County (11)
All 11 communities
McCormick County (7)
All 7 communities
Newberry County (8)
All 8 communities
Oconee County (13)
All 13 communities
Pickens County (11)
All 11 communities
Saluda County (5)
All 5 communities
Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 63% - 35%2012 PresidentRomney 66% - 34%2016 PresidentTrump 67% - 29% SenateScott 71% - 27%2018 GovernorMcMaster 66% - 33% Secretary of StateHammond 69% - 30% TreasurerLoftis 68% - 29% Attorney GeneralWilson 68% - 30%2020 PresidentTrump 68% - 31% SenateGraham 67% - 31%2022 SenateScott 75% - 25% GovernorMcMaster 71% - 28% Secretary of StateHammond 75% - 25%2024 PresidentTrump 71% - 28%
List of members representing the district Member Party Years Congress Electoral history District location District established March 4, 1789 Daniel Huger Pro-Administration March 4, 1789 –March 3, 1793 Elected in 1788.Re-elected in 1790.Retired. 1789–1793"Georgetown-Cheraw district" Lemuel Benton Anti-Administration March 4, 1793 –March 3, 1795 Elected in 1793.Re-elected in 1794.Re-elected in 1796.Lost re-election. 1793–1795"Georgetown-Cheraw district" Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –March 3, 1799 1795–1799"Georgetown district" Benjamin Huger Federalist March 4, 1799 –March 3, 1805 Elected in 1798.Re-elected in 1800.Re-elected in 1803.Retired. 1799–1833"Georgetown district" David R. Williams Democratic-Republican March 4, 1805 –March 3, 1809 Elected in 1804.Re-elected in 1806.Retired. Robert Witherspoon Democratic-Republican March 4, 1809 –March 3, 1811 Elected in 1808.Retired. David R. Williams Democratic-Republican March 4, 1811 –March 3, 1813 Elected in 1810.Retired. Theodore Gourdin Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –March 3, 1815 Elected in 1812.Lost re-election. Benjamin Huger Federalist March 4, 1815 –March 3, 1817 Elected in 1814.Lost re-election. James Ervin Democratic-Republican March 4, 1817 –March 3, 1821 Elected in 1816.Re-elected in 1818.Retired. Thomas R. Mitchell Democratic-Republican March 4, 1821 –March 3, 1823 Elected in 1820.Lost re-election. Robert B. Campbell Democratic-Republican March 4, 1823 –March 3, 1825 Elected in 1823.Retired. Thomas R. Mitchell Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –March 3, 1829 Elected in 1824.Re-elected in 1826.Lost re-election. John Campbell Jacksonian March 4, 1829 –March 3, 1831 Elected in 1828.Lost re-election. Thomas R. Mitchell Jacksonian March 4, 1831 –March 3, 1833 Elected in 1830.Lost re-election. Thomas Singleton Nullifier March 4, 1833 –November 25, 1833 Elected in 1833.Died. 1833–1843 Vacant November 25, 1833 –February 27, 1834 Robert B. Campbell Nullifier February 27, 1834 –March 3, 1837 Elected to finish Singleton's term.Re-elected in 1834.Retired. John Campbell Nullifier March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1839 Elected in 1836.Re-elected in 1838.Re-elected in 1840.Redistricted to the . Democratic March 4, 1839 –March 3, 1843 Joseph A. Woodward Democratic March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1853 Elected in 1843.Re-elected in 1844.Re-elected in 1846.Re-elected in 1848.Re-elected in 1850.Retired. 1843–1853 Laurence M. Keitt Democratic March 4, 1853 –July 15, 1856 Elected in 1853.Re-elected in 1854.Resigned to gain constituents' support following the caning of Charles Sumner. 1853–1860 Vacant July 15, 1856 –August 6, 1856 Laurence M. Keitt Democratic August 6, 1856 –December 1860 Re-elected to finish his own term.Re-elected in 1856.Re-elected in 1858.Retired early due to Civil War. District inactive December 1860 –July 25, 1868 Civil War and Reconstruction Manuel S. Corley Republican July 25, 1868 –March 3, 1869 Elected to finish the short term.Retired. 1868–1873 Solomon L. Hoge Republican April 8, 1869 –March 3, 1871 Elected in 1868 (Successfully contested election of J.P. Reed).Retired. Robert B. Elliott Republican March 4, 1871 –November 1, 1874 Elected in 1870.Re-elected in 1872.Resigned to become sheriff. 1873–1883 Vacant November 1, 1874 –November 3, 1874 Lewis C. Carpenter Republican November 3, 1874 –March 3, 1875 Elected to finish Elliott's term.Retired. Solomon L. Hoge Republican March 4, 1875 –March 3, 1877 Elected in 1874.Retired. D. Wyatt Aiken Democratic March 4, 1877 –March 3, 1887 Elected in 1876.Re-elected in 1878.Re-elected in 1880.Re-elected in 1882.Re-elected in 1884.Retired. 1883–1893 James S. Cothran Democratic March 4, 1887 –March 3, 1891 Elected in 1886.Re-elected in 1888.Retired. George Johnstone Democratic March 4, 1891 –March 3, 1893 Elected in 1890.Lost renomination. Asbury C. Latimer Democratic March 4, 1893 –March 3, 1903 Elected in 1892.Re-elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Re-elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Retired. 1893–1903 Wyatt Aiken Democratic March 4, 1903 –March 3, 1917 Elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Re-elected in 1912.Re-elected in 1914.Lost renomination. 1903–1913 1913–1933Abbeville, Anderson, Greenwood, Newberry, Oconee, and Pickens counties. Frederick H. Dominick Democratic March 4, 1917 –March 3, 1933 Elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Lost renomination. John C. Taylor Democratic March 4, 1933 –January 3, 1939 Elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Lost renomination. 1933–1943 Butler B. Hare Democratic January 3, 1939 –January 3, 1947 Elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Retired. 1943–1953 W.J. Bryan Dorn Democratic January 3, 1947 –January 3, 1949 Elected in 1946.Retired to run for U.S. senator. James Butler Hare Democratic January 3, 1949 –January 3, 1951 Elected in 1948.Lost renomination. W.J. Bryan Dorn Democratic January 3, 1951 –December 31, 1974 Elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Retired to run for governor and resigned following defeat. 1953–1963 1963–1973 1973–1983 Vacant December 31, 1974 –January 3, 1975 Butler Derrick Democratic January 3, 1975 –January 3, 1995 Elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Re-elected in 1992.Retired. 1983–1993 1993–2003 Lindsey Graham Republican January 3, 1995 –January 3, 2003 Elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Retired to run for U.S. senator. Gresham Barrett Republican January 3, 2003 –January 3, 2011 Elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Retired to run for governor. 2003–2013All of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens and Saluda counties and most of Aiken and Laurens counties. Jeff Duncan Republican January 3, 2011 –January 3, 2025 Elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Retired. 2013–2023 2023–2033Sheri Biggs RepublicanJanuary 3, 2025 –presentElected in 2024.
Past election results 2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
See also
List of United States congressional districts South Carolina's congressional districts
References
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present