South Carolina's 4th congressional district

South Carolina's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in upstate South Carolina bordering North Carolina. It includes parts of Greenville and Spartanburg counties. The district includes the two major cities of Greenville and Spartanburg.

The district is one of the most conservative in the state. In the late 20th century, it has been in Republican hands since 1979, aside from a six-year stint by Democrat Liz J. Patterson, the daughter of former Senator Olin Johnston. Even before the Republicans finally took control of the seat, the 4th had been a rather conservative district. Like in most of the state, the old-line Southern Democrats began splitting their tickets as early as the 1940s. However, this area's white conservatives became increasingly willing to support Republicans at the state and local level as early as the 1970s, well before the rest of the state swung Republican. The district is a major destination for presidential candidates in election years, as South Carolina is one of the first states to hold a presidential primary.

Republican William Timmons has represented the district since January 3, 2019. He succeeded Republican Trey Gowdy who did not seek reelection.

From 2003 to 2013, the district included all of Spartanburg and Union counties and parts of Greenville and Laurens counties.

Greenville and parts of Spartanburg counties are entirely within the district.

Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 60% - 38%2012 PresidentRomney 62% - 38%2016 PresidentTrump 59% - 35% SenateScott 66% - 31%2018 GovernorMcMaster 58% - 42% Secretary of StateHammond 62% - 38% TreasurerLoftis 61% - 36% Attorney GeneralWilson 60% - 38%2020 PresidentTrump 58% - 40% SenateGraham 58% - 41%2022 SenateScott 67% - 33% GovernorMcMaster 61% - 37% Secretary of StateHammond 67% - 33%2024 PresidentTrump 61% - 37%

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_SC04.pdf

Greenville County (21)

Berea, Caesars Head, The Cliffs Valley, Conestee, Duncan, Five Forks, Gantt, Golden Grove (part; also 3rd), Greenville, Greer (shared with Spartanburg County), Judson, Mauldin, Parker, Sans Souci, Simpsonville, Slater-Marietta, Taylors, Tigerville, Travelers Rest, Wade Hampton, Welcome

Spartanburg County (34)

Arcadia, Arkwright, Ben Avon, Boiling Springs (part; also 5th), Camp Croft, Campobello, Central Pacolet, Clifton, Converse (part; also 5th), Cross Anchor, Drayton, Duncan, Enoree, Fairforest, Glenn Springs, Gramling, Greer (shared with Greenville County), Hilltop, Inman, Inman Mills, Landrum, Lyman, Pacolet, Pauline, Reidville, Roebuck, Saxon, Southern Shops, Spartanburg, Startex, Valley Falls, Wellford, Whitney, Woodruff

List of members representing the district Member Party Years Congress Electoral history District location District established March 4, 1789 Thomas Sumter Anti-Administration March 4, 1789 –March 3, 1793 Elected in 1788.Re-elected in 1790.Retired. 1789–1793"Camden district" Richard Winn Anti-Administration March 4, 1793 –March 3, 1795 Elected in 1793.Re-elected in 1794.Lost re-election. 1793–1797"Camden district" Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –March 3, 1797 Thomas Sumter Democratic-Republican March 4, 1797 –December 15, 1801 Elected in 1796.Re-elected in 1798.Re-elected in 1800.Resigned when elected U.S. senator. 1797–1803"Camden district" Vacant December 15, 1801 –January 24, 1803 Richard Winn Democratic-Republican January 24, 1803 –March 3, 1803 Elected to finish Sumter's term.Redistricted to the . Wade Hampton Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –March 3, 1805 Elected in 1803.Retired. 1803–1813"Orangeburgh district" O'Brien Smith Democratic-Republican March 4, 1805 –March 3, 1807 Elected in 1804.Retired. John Taylor Democratic-Republican March 4, 1807 –December 30, 1810 Elected in 1806.Re-elected in 1808.Lost re-election and resigned. Vacant December 30, 1810 –March 3, 1811 William Lowndes Democratic-Republican March 4, 1811 –March 3, 1813 Elected in 1810.Redistricted to the . John J. Chappell Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –March 3, 1817 Elected in 1812.Re-elected in 1814.Lost re-election. 1813–1823"Orangeburgh district" Joseph Bellinger Democratic-Republican March 4, 1817 –March 3, 1819 Elected in 1816.Retired. James Overstreet Democratic-Republican March 4, 1819 –May 24, 1822 Elected in 1818.Re-elected in 1820.Died. Vacant May 24, 1822 –December 4, 1822 Andrew R. Govan Democratic-Republican December 4, 1822 –March 3, 1825 Elected to finish Overstreet's term.Re-elected in 1823.Re-elected in 1824.Lost re-election. 1823–1833"Orangeburgh district":Barnwell, Lexington, Orangeburgh, and Richland counties Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –March 3, 1827 William D. Martin Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –March 3, 1831 Elected in 1826.Re-elected in 1828.Retired. John M. Felder Jacksonian March 4, 1831 –March 3, 1833 Elected in 1830.Re-elected in 1833.Retired. Nullifier March 4, 1833 –March 3, 1835 1833–1843 James H. Hammond Nullifier March 4, 1835 –February 26, 1836 Elected in 1834.Resigned. Vacant February 26, 1836 –December 10, 1836 Franklin H. Elmore Nullifier December 10, 1836 –March 3, 1839 Elected October 10, 1836 to finish Hammond's term and seated December 19, 1836.Elected the same day in 1836 to the next term.Retired. Sampson H. Butler Democratic March 4, 1839 –September 27, 1842 Elected in 1838.Re-elected in 1840.Resigned. Vacant September 27, 1842 –December 17, 1842 Samuel W. Trotti Democratic December 17, 1842 –March 3, 1843 Elected to finish Butler's term.Retired. John Campbell Democratic March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1845 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1843.Retired. 1843–1853 Alexander D. Sims Democratic March 4, 1845 –November 22, 1848 Elected in 1844.Re-elected in 1846.Re-elected in 1848 but died before next term began. Vacant November 22, 1848 –February 12, 1849 John McQueen Democratic February 12, 1849 –March 3, 1853 Elected to finish Sims's term in the 30th Congress.Elected to finish Sims's term win the 31st Congress.Re-elected in 1850.Redistricted to the . Preston S. Brooks 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. 1853–1863 Vacant July 15, 1856 –August 1, 1856 Preston S. Brooks Democratic August 1, 1856 –January 28, 1857 Re-elected to finish his vacant term.Re-elected in 1856 but died before next term began. Vacant January 28, 1857 –May 5, 1857 Milledge L. Bonham Democratic May 5, 1857 –December 21, 1860 Elected to finish Brooks' term.Re-elected in 1858.Re-elected in 1860 but retired due to Civil War. District inactive December 21, 1860 –July 18, 1868 Civil War and Reconstruction James H. Goss Republican July 18, 1868 –March 3, 1869 Elected in 1868.Retired. 1868–1873 Vacant March 4, 1869 –May 27, 1870 William D. Simpson (D) elected, but not seated. Alexander S. Wallace Republican May 27, 1870 –March 3, 1877 Successfully contested election of William D. Simpson.Re-elected in 1870.Re-elected in 1872.Re-elected in 1874.Lost re-election. 1873–1883 John H. Evins Democratic March 4, 1877 –October 20, 1884 Elected in 1876.Re-elected in 1878.Re-elected in 1880.Re-elected in 1882.Died. 1883–1893 Vacant October 20, 1884 –December 8, 1884 John Bratton Democratic December 8, 1884 –March 3, 1885 Elected to finish Evins's term.Retired. William H. Perry Democratic March 4, 1885 –March 3, 1891 Elected in 1884.Elected in 1886.Re-elected in 1888.Retired. George W. Shell Democratic March 4, 1891 –March 3, 1895 Elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Retired. 1893–1903 Stanyarne Wilson Democratic March 4, 1895 –March 3, 1901 Elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Re-elected in 1898.Retired. Joseph T. Johnson Democratic March 4, 1901 –April 19, 1915 Elected in 1900.Re-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.Resigned to accept a federal judgeship. 1903–1933 Vacant April 19, 1915 –September 14, 1915 Samuel J. Nicholls Democratic September 14, 1915 –March 3, 1921 Elected to finish Johnson's term.Re-elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Retired. John J. McSwain Democratic March 4, 1921 –August 6, 1936 Elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Re-elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Died. 1933–1943 Vacant August 6, 1936 –November 3, 1936 Gabriel H. Mahon Jr. Democratic November 3, 1936 –January 3, 1939 Elected to finish McSwain's term.Also elected to the next full term.Lost renomination. Joseph R. Bryson Democratic January 3, 1939 –March 10, 1953 Elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Died. 1943–1953 1953–1963 Vacant March 10, 1953 –June 2, 1953 Robert T. Ashmore Democratic June 2, 1953 –January 3, 1969 Elected to finish Bryson's term.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.Retired. 1963–1973 James R. Mann Democratic January 3, 1969 –January 3, 1979 Elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Retired. 1973–1983 Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Republican January 3, 1979 –January 3, 1987 Elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Retired to run for governor of South Carolina 1983–1993 Liz J. Patterson Democratic January 3, 1987 –January 3, 1993 Elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Lost re-election. Bob Inglis Republican January 3, 1993 –January 3, 1999 Elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Retired to run for U.S. senator. 1993–2003 Jim DeMint Republican January 3, 1999 –January 3, 2005 Elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Retired to run for U.S. senator. 2003–2013 Bob Inglis Republican January 3, 2005 –January 3, 2011 Elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Lost renomination. Trey Gowdy Republican January 3, 2011 –January 3, 2019 Elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Retired. 2013–2023William Timmons Republican January 3, 2019 –present Elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024. 2023–2033

Past election results 2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

See also

List of United States congressional districts South Carolina's congressional districts

Notes

References

Further reading

Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present