1903 United States Senate election in South Carolina

none March 2026 September 2023 1903 Democratic Senate primary runoff in South Carolina South Carolina presidential no 1898 United States Senate special election in South Carolina 1898 (special) 1908 United States Senate special election in South Carolina 1908 (special) September 9, 1902 x150px AsburyLatimer.jpg Asbury Latimer Democratic Party (United States) 53,890 59.7% John Gary Evans.jpg John Gary Evans Democratic Party (United States) 36,371 40.3% 1902 United States Senate Democratic primary runoff in South Carolina results map by county.svg 250px County resultsLatimer: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% #584CDE 70–80%Evans: #73BC84 50–60% #3FA457 60–70% U.S. Senator John L. McLaurin Democratic Party (United States) Asbury Latimer Democratic Party (United States) The 1903 South Carolina United States Senate election, held January 27, 1903 to select the U.S. senator from the state of South Carolina, was predetermined by the Democratic Party primary election held on August 26, 1902, and September 9. Democrats were so overwhelmingly dominant that their nomination was tantamount to the general election. Prior to the ratification of the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution, U.S. senators were elected by the state legislature and not through the direct election by the people of the state. However, the Democratic Party of South Carolina organized primary elections for the U.S. Senate beginning in 1896 and the General Assembly would confirm the choice of the Democratic voters. Tillmanite Democrat Asbury Latimer won the Democratic primary and was elected by the General Assembly for a six-year term. Democratic primary Candidates William Elliott, U.S. Representative from Beaufort John Gary Evans, former Governor of South Carolina John J. Hemphill, former U.S. Representative from Chester Dan S. Henderson George Johnstone, former U.S. Representative from Newberry County Asbury Latimer, U.S. Representative from Belton Campaign In the special election of 1897, the Conservatives were without a candidate so in 1902 four candidates vied for the support of Conservatives: Dan S. Henderson, William Elliott, George Johnstone and John J. Hemphill. The two remaining candidates in the race, Representative Asbury Latimer and former Governor John Gary Evans, were strong Tillmanites. However, they held strongly opposing views and a duel almost ensued between the two while campaigning at St. George on July 12. A fight did indeed break out between Latimer and Hemphill when they were campaigning in Gaffney on August 14. Latimer took offence to an accusation by Hemphill and struck him. Hemphill was unable to strike back because Latimer quickly left the scene. On August 26, Latimer and Evans emerged as the top two candidates in the field and were to face each other in a runoff election on September 9. The Conservative candidates had garnered more votes combined than the combined vote of Latimer and Evans, but their inability to coalesce around a single candidate prevented a Conservative from winning the election. Evans was widely disliked by Conservatives in the state so they threw their support behind Latimer and he easily won the runoff election. Results Democratic PrimaryCandidateVotes% Asbury Latimer 22,971 24.1 John Gary Evans 17,993 18.9 Dan S. Henderson 13,771 14.5 William Elliott 13,658 14.4 George Johnstone 13,556 14.2 John J. Hemphill 13,261 13.9 Democratic Primary RunoffCandidateVotes%±%Asbury Latimer 53,890 59.7 +35.6John Gary Evans 36,371 40.3 +21.4 See also List of United States senators from South Carolina 1902 and 1903 United States Senate elections 1902 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina 1902 South Carolina gubernatorial election References Jordan Frank E The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962 56–59 Candidates Use Threats New York Times 13 July 1902 2 Senatorial Candidates Indulge in Fisticuffs New York Times 15 August 1902 2 Latimer's Lucky Election New York Times 12 September 1902 2 Senate 1903 South Carolina