1878 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

none February 2026 September 2023 The 1878 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 5, 1878, to select five Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. Two Democratic incumbents were re-elected, two Republican incumbents were defeated and the open seat was picked up by the Democrats. The composition of the state delegation after the election was solely Democratic. Voter fraud South Carolina was one state rampant with voter fraud, particularly through the use of tissue ballots, thin ballots hidden in the normal ballot, typically 10 to 20 at a time. The almost statewide exclusion of Republicans as Commissioners of Elections, and the ensuing appointment of nearly all Democratic Managers of Elections, allowed to Democratic Managers to perpetrate this scheme. When the votes were counted and more votes than voters were found, the Managers removed and destroyed the Republican ballots resulting in the complete takeover of the state.The New York Times, November 16, 1878 - NYT Free ArchiveThe New York Times, February 5, 1879 - NYT Free ArchiveThe Life of James Abram Garfield, by William Ralston Balch, 1881 1st congressional district Incumbent Republican Congressman Joseph Rainey of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1870, was defeated by Democratic challenger John S. Richardson. General election results South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1878 Democratic Party (United States) John S. Richardson 22,707 61.7 +13.9 Republican Party (United States) Joseph Rainey (incumbent) 14,096 38.3 -13.9 8,611 23.4 +19.0 36,803 |- | Democratic Party (United States) | colspan=5 |Democratic gain from Republican |- 2nd congressional district Incumbent Republican Congressman Richard H. Cain of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1877, declined to seek re-election. Democrat Michael P. O'Connor, a contestant in the 1876 election, defeated Republican Edmund William McGregor Mackey in the general election. General election results South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1878 Democratic Party (United States) Michael P. O'Connor 20,568 60.9 +23.0 Republican Party (United States) Edmund W.M. Mackey 13,182 39.1 -23.0 No party Write-Ins 11 0.0 0.0 7,386 21.8 -2.4 33,761 |- | Democratic Party (United States) | colspan=5 |Democratic gain from Republican |- 3rd congressional district Incumbent Democratic Congressman D. Wyatt Aiken of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1877, defeated Republican challenger J.F. Ensor. General election results South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1878 Democratic Party (United States) D. Wyatt Aiken (incumbent) 24,533 79.1 +21.1 Republican Party (United States) J.F. Ensor 6,348 20.5 -21.5 No party Write-Ins 138 0.4 +0.4 18,185 58.6 +42.6 31,019 |- | Democratic Party (United States) | colspan=5 |Democratic hold |- 4th congressional district Incumbent Democratic Congressman John H. Evins of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1877, defeated Republican challenger Alexander S. Wallace. General election results South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1878 Democratic Party (United States) John H. Evins (incumbent) 22,702 96.8 +39.2 Republican Party (United States) Alexander S. Wallace 741 3.2 -39.2 21,961 93.6 -78.4 23,443 |- | Democratic Party (United States) | colspan=5 |Democratic hold |- 5th congressional district Incumbent Republican Congressman Robert Smalls of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1875, was defeated by Democratic challenger George D. Tillman. General election results South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1878 Democratic Party (United States) George D. Tillman 26,409 71.2 +23.1 Republican Party (United States) Robert Smalls (incumbent) 10,664 28.8 -23.1 No party Write-Ins 3 0.0 0.0 15,745 42.4 +38.6 37,076 |- | Democratic Party (United States) | colspan=5 |Democratic gain from Republican |- See also United States House of Representatives elections, 1878 South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1878 South Carolina's congressional districts References "Annual Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina at the Regular Session of 1878. Columbia, SC: Calvo and Patton, 1878, pp. 440–444. United States House of Representatives 1878 South Carolina