1966 United States Senate election in South Carolina

none the Class II general election to the United States Senate the Class III special election of the completion of the unexpired term of Olin D. Johnston 1966 United States Senate special election in South Carolina March 2026 September 2023 1966 United States Senate election in South Carolina South Carolina presidential no 1960 United States Senate election in South Carolina 1960 1972 United States Senate election in South Carolina 1972 November 8, 1966 File:Strom Thurmond 1967 cropped1.png 150x150px Strom Thurmond Republican Party (United States) 271,297 62.19% 3x4.svg Bradley Morrah Democratic Party (United States) 164,955 37.81% 1966 United States Senate election in South Carolina results map by county.svg 220px County resultsThurmond: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%Morrah: #7996e2 50–60% U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond Republican Party (United States) Strom Thurmond Republican Party (United States) The 1966 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 8, 1966, to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina simultaneously with the special election to fill out the remainder of Olin D. Johnston's term. Incumbent Senator Strom Thurmond, who had switched parties from Democratic to Republican in 1964, easily defeated state senator Bradley Morrah in the general election. This was the first time South Carolina popularly elected a Republican senator, and the first time since 1877 that a Republican won this seat. Democratic primary The two Democrats who could have defeated Thurmond competed against each other in the special election to serve the remaining two years of Olin D. Johnston's six-year term. As a result, little-known state senator Bradley Morrah of Greenville won the South Carolina Democratic Party primary election on June 14 against John Bolt Culbertson to become the nominee in the general election. Democratic Primary Democratic Party (United States) Bradley Morrah 167,401 55.94% Democratic Party (United States) John Bolt Culbertson 131,870 44.06% 299,271 100.00% Republican primary Senator Strom Thurmond faced no opposition from South Carolina Republicans and avoided a primary election. General election Morrah faced an uphill struggle against Senator Thurmond because the Democratic resources were primarily poured into the special election to help Fritz Hollings and in the gubernatorial contest for Robert Evander McNair. Furthermore, Thurmond refused to debate Morrah and Thurmond boasted of the endorsements he received from Southern Democratic Senators Richard Russell, Jr., John C. Stennis, and Herman Talmadge. Morrah was easily dispatched by Thurmond in the general election and he also lost re-election to his state senate seat. He would never again hold public office, which was a routine occurrence for Thurmond's opponents. Results South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1966 Republican Party (United States) Strom Thurmond (incumbent) 271,297 62.19% N/A Democratic Party (United States) Bradley Morrah 164,955 37.81% -62.16% 436,252 100.00% 106,342 24.38% -75.56% 436,252 49.1% -6.3% |- | Republican Party (United States) | colspan=5 |Republican hold |- See also List of United States senators from South Carolina 1966 United States Senate elections 1966 United States Senate special election in South Carolina 1966 South Carolina gubernatorial election 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 II. Columbia, SC: 1967, pp. 16, 41. Bass Jack Jack Bass Marilyn W. Thompson Marilyn W. Thompson Ol' Strom: An Unauthorized Biography of Strom Thurmond 1998 Longstreet 222–223 South Carolina 1966 United States Senate Category:Strom Thurmond