South Carolina's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in upstate South Carolina bordering North Carolina. It includes parts of Greenville and Spartanburg counties. The district includes the two major cities of Greenville and Spartanburg.

South Carolina's 4th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Population (2023)767,156[1]
Median household
income
$72,022[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+12[2]

The district is one of the most conservative in the state. In the late 20th century, it has been in Republican hands since 1979, aside from a six-year stint by Democrat Liz J. Patterson, the daughter of former Senator Olin Johnston. Even before the Republicans finally took control of the seat, the 4th had been a rather conservative district. Like in most of the state, the old-line Southern Democrats began splitting their tickets as early as the 1940s. However, this area's white conservatives became increasingly willing to support Republicans at the state and local level as early as the 1970s, well before the rest of the state swung Republican. The district is a major destination for presidential candidates in election years, as South Carolina is one of the first states to hold a presidential primary.

Republican William Timmons has represented the district since January 3, 2019. He succeeded Republican Trey Gowdy who did not seek reelection.

From 2003 to 2013, the district included all of Spartanburg and Union counties and parts of Greenville and Laurens counties.

Greenville and parts of Spartanburg counties are entirely within the district.

Election results from recent presidential races

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Year Office Result
2000 President Bush 64–33%
2004 President Bush 65–34%
2008 President McCain 60.6–37.7%
2012 President Romney 62.2–36.2%
2016 President Trump 60.2–34.5%
2020 President Trump 60.4–39.5%

List of members representing the district

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Member
(Residence)
Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District location
District established March 4, 1789
 
Thomas Sumter
(Stateburg)
Anti-Administration March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1793
1st
2nd
Elected in 1788.
Re-elected in 1790.
Retired.
1789–1793
"Camden district"
 
South Carolina congressional districts, 1789–1793
  1st district, Charleston
  2nd district, Beaufort-Orangeburg
  3rd district, Georgetown-Cheraw
  4th district, Camden
  5th district, Ninety-Six
Richard Winn
(Winnsboro)
Anti-Administration March 4, 1793 –
March 3, 1795
3rd
4th
Elected in 1793.
Re-elected in 1794.
Lost re-election.
1793–1797
"Camden district"
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1797
 
Thomas Sumter
(Stateburg)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1797 –
December 15, 1801
5th
6th
7th
Elected in 1796.
Re-elected in 1798.
Re-elected in 1800.
Resigned when elected U.S. senator.
1797–1803
"Camden district"
 
1796 election results by district
Vacant December 15, 1801 –
January 24, 1803
7th
Richard Winn
(Winnsboro)
Democratic-Republican January 24, 1803 –
March 3, 1803
Elected to finish Sumter's term.
Redistricted to the 5th district.
 
Wade Hampton
(Columbia)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1805
8th Elected in 1803.
Retired.
1803–1813
"Orangeburgh district"
O'Brien Smith
(Jacksonboro)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1805 –
March 3, 1807
9th Elected in 1804.
Retired.
 
John Taylor
(Columbia)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1807 –
December 30, 1810
10th
11th
Elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Lost re-election and resigned.
Vacant December 30, 1810 –
March 3, 1811
11th
 
William Lowndes
(Jacksonboro)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1811 –
March 3, 1813
12th Elected in 1810.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.
John J. Chappell
(Columbia)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1817
13th
14th
Elected in 1812.
Re-elected in 1814.
Lost re-election.
1813–1823
"Orangeburgh district"
Joseph Bellinger
(Barnwell)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1819
15th Elected in 1816.
Retired.
James Overstreet
(Kings Creek)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1819 –
May 24, 1822
16th
17th
Elected in 1818.
Re-elected in 1820.
Died.
Vacant May 24, 1822 –
December 4, 1822
17th
Andrew R. Govan
(Orangeburg)
Democratic-Republican[a] December 4, 1822 –
March 3, 1825
17th
18th
19th
Elected to finish Overstreet's term.
Re-elected in 1823.
Re-elected in 1824.
Lost re-election.
1823–1833
"Orangeburgh district":
Barnwell, Lexington, Orangeburgh, and Richland counties
Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1827
William D. Martin
(Barnwell)
Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –
March 3, 1831
20th
21st
Elected in 1826.
Re-elected in 1828.
Retired.
John M. Felder
(Orangeburg)
Jacksonian March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833
22nd
23rd
Elected in 1830.
Re-elected in 1833.
Retired.
Nullifier March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835
1833–1843
[data missing]
 
James H. Hammond
(Newberry)
Nullifier March 4, 1835 –
February 26, 1836
24th Elected in 1834.
Resigned.
Vacant February 26, 1836 –
December 10, 1836
 
Franklin H. Elmore
(Columbia)
Nullifier December 10, 1836 –
March 3, 1839
24th
25th
Elected October 10, 1836 to finish Hammond's term and seated December 19, 1836.
Elected the same day in 1836 to the next term.
Retired.
Sampson H. Butler
(Barnwell)
Democratic March 4, 1839 –
September 27, 1842
26th
27th
Elected in 1838.
Re-elected in 1840.
Resigned.
Vacant September 27, 1842 –
December 17, 1842
27th
Samuel W. Trotti
(Barnwell)
Democratic December 17, 1842 –
March 3, 1843
Elected to finish Butler's term.
Retired.
John Campbell
(Parnassus)
Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
28th Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1843.
Retired.
1843–1853
[data missing]
Alexander D. Sims
(Darlington)
Democratic March 4, 1845 –
November 22, 1848
29th
30th
Elected in 1844.
Re-elected in 1846.
Re-elected in 1848 but died before next term began.
Vacant November 22, 1848 –
February 12, 1849
30th
 
John McQueen
(Bennettsville)
Democratic February 12, 1849 –
March 3, 1853
30th
31st
32nd
Elected to finish Sims's term in the 30th Congress.
Elected to finish Sims's term win the 31st Congress.
Re-elected in 1850.
Redistricted to the 1st district.
 
Preston S. Brooks
(Ninety Six)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
July 15, 1856
33rd
34th
Elected in 1853.
Re-elected in 1854.
Resigned to gain constituents' support following the caning of Charles Sumner.
1853–1863
[data missing]
Vacant July 15, 1856 –
August 1, 1856
34th
 
Preston S. Brooks
(Ninety Six)
Democratic August 1, 1856 –
January 28, 1857
Re-elected to finish his vacant term.
Re-elected in 1856 but died before next term began.
Vacant January 28, 1857 –
May 5, 1857
 
Milledge L. Bonham
(Edgefield)
Democratic May 5, 1857 –
December 21, 1860
35th
36th
Elected to finish Brooks' term.
Re-elected in 1858.
Re-elected in 1860 but retired due to Civil War.
District inactive December 21, 1860 –
July 18, 1868
36th
37th
38th
39th
40th
Civil War and Reconstruction
 
James H. Goss
(Union)
Republican July 18, 1868 –
March 3, 1869
40th Elected in 1868.
Retired.
1868–1873
[data missing]
Vacant March 4, 1869 –
May 27, 1870
41st William D. Simpson (D) elected, but not seated.
 
Alexander S. Wallace
(Yorkville)
Republican May 27, 1870 –
March 3, 1877
41st
42nd
43rd
44th
Successfully contested election of William D. Simpson.
Re-elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
Lost re-election.
1873–1883
[data missing]
 
John H. Evins
(Spartanburg)
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
October 20, 1884
45th
46th
47th
48th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Died.
1883–1893
[data missing]
Vacant October 20, 1884 –
December 8, 1884
48th
 
John Bratton
(White Oak)
Democratic December 8, 1884 –
March 3, 1885
Elected to finish Evins's term.
Retired.
 
William H. Perry
(Greenville)
Democratic March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1891
49th
50th
51st
Elected in 1884.
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Retired.
 
George W. Shell
(Laurens)
Democratic March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1895
52nd
53rd
Elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Retired.
1893–1903
[data missing]
 
Stanyarne Wilson
(Spartanburg)
Democratic March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1901
54th
55th
56th
Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Retired.
 
Joseph T. Johnson
(Spartanburg)
Democratic March 4, 1901 –
April 19, 1915
57th
58th
59th
60th
61st
62nd
63rd
64th
Elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Resigned to accept a federal judgeship.
1903–1933
[data missing]
Vacant April 19, 1915 –
September 14, 1915
64th
 
Samuel J. Nicholls
(Spartanburg)
Democratic September 14, 1915 –
March 3, 1921
64th
65th
66th
Elected to finish Johnson's term.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Retired.
 
John J. McSwain
(Greenville)
Democratic March 4, 1921 –
August 6, 1936
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Died.
1933–1943
[data missing]
Vacant August 6, 1936 –
November 3, 1936
74th
 
Gabriel H. Mahon Jr.
(Greenville)
Democratic November 3, 1936 –
January 3, 1939
74th
75th
Elected to finish McSwain's term.
Also elected to the next full term.
Lost renomination.
 
Joseph R. Bryson
(Greenville)
Democratic January 3, 1939 –
March 10, 1953
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
Elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Died.
1943–1953
[data missing]
1953–1963
[data missing]
Vacant March 10, 1953 –
June 2, 1953
83rd
 
Robert T. Ashmore
(Greenville)
Democratic June 2, 1953 –
January 3, 1969
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
Elected to finish Bryson's term.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Retired.
1963–1973
[data missing]
 
James R. Mann
(Greenville)
Democratic January 3, 1969 –
January 3, 1979
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
Elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Retired.
1973–1983
[data missing]
 
Carroll A. Campbell Jr.
(Greenville)
Republican January 3, 1979 –
January 3, 1987
96th
97th
98th
99th
Elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Retired to run for governor of South Carolina
1983–1993
[data missing]
 
Liz J. Patterson
(Spartanburg)
Democratic January 3, 1987 –
January 3, 1993
100th
101st
102nd
Elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Lost re-election.
 
Bob Inglis
(Greenville)
Republican January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1999
103rd
104th
105th
Elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
1993–2003
[data missing]
 
Jim DeMint
(Greenville)
Republican January 3, 1999 –
January 3, 2005
106th
107th
108th
Elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
2003–2013
 
 
Bob Inglis
(Travelers Rest)
Republican January 3, 2005 –
January 3, 2011
109th
110th
111th
Elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Lost renomination.
 
Trey Gowdy
(Spartanburg)
Republican January 3, 2011 –
January 3, 2019
112th
113th
114th
115th
Elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Retired.
2013–2023
 
 
William Timmons
(Greenville)
Republican January 3, 2019 –
present
116th
117th
118th
Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
2023–2033
 

Past election results

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2012

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2012 South Carolina's 4th congressional district election[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Trey Gowdy (incumbent) 173,201 64.9
Democratic Deb Morrow 89,964 33.7
Green Jeff Sumerel 3,390 1.3
Write-in 329 0.1
Total votes 266,884 100.0
Republican hold

2014

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2014 South Carolina's 4th congressional district election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Trey Gowdy (incumbent) 126,452 84.8
Libertarian Curtis E. McLaughlin, Jr. 21,969 14.8
Write-in 628 0.4
Total votes 149,049 100.0
Republican hold

2016

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2016 South Carolina's 4th congressional district election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Trey Gowdy (incumbent) 198,648 67.2
Democratic Chris Fedalei 91,676 31.0
Constitution Michael Chandler 5,103 1.7
Write-in 243 0.1
Total votes 295,670 100.0
Republican hold

2018

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2018 South Carolina's 4th congressional district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William Timmons 145,321 59.6
Democratic Brandon Brown 89,182 36.6
American Guy Furay 9,203 3.8
Write-in 244 0.1
Total votes 243,950 100.0
Republican hold

2020

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2020 South Carolina's 4th congressional district election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William Timmons (incumbent) 222,126 61.6
Democratic Kim Nelson 133,023 36.9
Constitution Michael Chandler 5,090 1.4
Write-in 311 0.1
Total votes 360,550 100.0
Republican hold

2022

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2022 South Carolina's 4th congressional district election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William Timmons (incumbent) 165,607 90.81
Write-in 16,758 9.19
Total votes 182,365 100%
Republican hold

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Supported the Jackson faction in the 1824 United States presidential election.

References

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  1. ^ a b "My Congressional District". census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau Center for New Media and Promotion (CNMP).
  2. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "SC - Election Results". www.enr-scvotes.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  4. ^ The Democratic Party votes includes 28,614 votes cast for the Working Families Party. Democratic candidates in the 1st, 4th, 5th and 7th Districts also ran under this party banner.
  5. ^ "South Carolina Election Commission Official Results". West Virginia Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  6. ^ "2016 Statewide General Election official results". South Carolina State Election Commission. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  7. ^ "South Carolina House Election Results 2018". www.politico.com. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  8. ^ "2020 Statewide General Election Night Reporting - Results". South Carolina Election Commission. November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "2022 Statewide General Election". www.enr-scvotes.org. November 11, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.

Further reading

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34°56′N 82°11′W / 34.93°N 82.19°W / 34.93; -82.19