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 the last U.S. Senate election in South Carolina where Democrats won with a double-digit margin. McMaster later served as South Carolina’s lieutenant governor from 2011 to 2017 and has been the state’s governor following the resignation of Nikki Haley in 2017. McMaster also served South Carolina as its State Attorney General from 2003 to 2011.
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
Results
Republican PrimaryCandidateVotes% 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
| colspan=5 |Democratic hold
See also List of United States senators from South Carolina 1986 United States Senate elections 1986 South Carolina gubernatorial election
References