1984 United States Senate election in South Carolina

none March 2026 September 2023 1984 United States Senate election in South Carolina South Carolina presidential no 1978 United States Senate election in South Carolina 1978 1990 United States Senate election in South Carolina 1990 November 6, 1984 125x136px Strom Thurmond.jpg Strom Thurmond Republican Party (United States) 644,814 66.79% 3x4.svg Melvin Purvis Democratic Party (United States) 306,982 31.80% 1984 United States Senate election in South Carolina results map by county.svg 220px County resultsThurmond: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90% Purvis: #a5b0ff 40–50% U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond Republican Party (United States) Strom Thurmond Republican Party (United States) The 1984 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 6, 1984, to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Republican Senator Strom Thurmond cruised to re-election against Democratic challenger Melvin Purvis. Democratic primary The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary on June 12, 1984. Melvin Purvis, a minister and the son of famous FBI agent Melvin Purvis, won a close race against photographer Cecil J. Williams. The closeness of the race and the fact that the black candidate did not win propelled Jesse Jackson to request a Justice Department investigation into the primary and he also considered an independent bid for the seat. Governor Richard Riley and 3rd district Representative Butler Derrick flirted with running, but backed down when Thurmond received endorsements from prominent Democrats in South Carolina. thumb|center| Purvis #ff7644 50–60% #dc6134 60–70% Williams #b380ff 50–60% #9955ff 60–70% Democratic Primary Democratic Party (United States) Melvin Purvis 149,730 50.19% Democratic Party (United States) Cecil J. Williams 148,586 49.81% 298,316 100.00% Republican primary The South Carolina Republican Party held their primary on June 12, 1984. Senator Strom Thurmond easily defeated Bob Cunningham to advance to the general election. Republican Primary Republican Party (United States) Strom Thurmond (incumbent) 44,662 94.31% Republican Party (United States) Bob Cunningham 2,693 5.69% 47,355 100.00% General election campaign Thurmond received endorsements from former Democratic governor Robert Evander McNair, Charleston mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., and an assortment of black mayors in the state. He did not face a serious challenge and spent almost $1.5 million on the race whereas Purvis spent less than $10,000. An ironic footnote to the election is the fact that Purvis used Thurmond's age as an issue in the campaign. He claimed Thurmond was too old, yet Purvis died less than two years after the election of a heart attack at age 46.2016-08-04 OnPolitics -- Political Junkie The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/junkie/archive/junkie022301.htm 2023-08-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20160804015407/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/junkie/archive/junkie022301.htm August 4, 2016 General election results South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1984 Republican Party (United States) Strom Thurmond (incumbent) 644,814 66.79% +11.23% Democratic Party (United States) Melvin Purvis 306,982 31.80% -12.60% Libertarian Party (United States) Stephen Davis 13,323 1.38% N/A 335 0.03% N/A 965,454 100.00% 337,832 34.99% +23.84% 965,454 68.7% +11.0% |- | Republican Party (United States) | colspan=5 |Republican hold |- See also 1984 United States Senate elections List of United States senators from South Carolina References State Election Commission Report of the South Carolina State Election Commission 1984-1985 1985 State Election Commission Columbia, SC 62 Bass Jack Jack Bass Marilyn W. Thompson Marilyn W. Thompson Ol' Strom: An Unauthorized Biography of Strom Thurmond https://archive.org/details/olstromunauthori00bass registration 1998 Longstreet 302 South Carolina 1984 Category:1984 South Carolina elections Category:Strom Thurmond