1918 United States Senate special election in South Carolina

William P. Pollock

The 1918 South Carolina United States Senate special election was held on November 5, 1918, simultaneously with the regular senate election to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina to serve the remainder of the term for the 65th Congress. The election resulted from the death of Senator Benjamin Tillman on July 3, 1918. William P. Pollock won the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election to win the remaining four months of the term.

Democratic primary

The South Carolina Democratic Party held the primary on August 27 and William P. Pollock had a slight lead, but did not garner over 50% of the vote and was forced into a runoff election against Thomas H. Peeples. On September 10, Pollock won the runoff and was thereby elected for the short term in the Senate because there was no opposition to the Democratic candidate in the general election.

Democratic Primary
Candidate	Votes	%
William P. Pollock	38,816	34.9%
Thomas H. Peeples	37,567	33.8%
Christie Benet	34,807	31.3%

Democratic Primary Runoff
Candidate	Votes	%	±%
William P. Pollock	49,920	62.4%	+27.5%
Thomas H. Peeples	30,044	37.6%	+3.8%

General election results

South Carolina U.S. Senate Special Election, 1918

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William P. Pollock	25,733	100.00%	N/A
Majority			25,733	100.00%	N/A
Turnout			25,733
	Democratic hold

See also

• List of United States senators from South Carolina
• 1918 United States Senate elections
• 1918 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina
• 1918 South Carolina gubernatorial election

References

• Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 64–66.
• "Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina. Part II." Reports of State Officers Boards and Committees to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume II. Columbia, SC: 1919, p. 43.