American Psephology

The 1788 House Elections in South Carolina

On November 24 and 25, 1788, South Carolina elected five representatives from single-member districts to serve in the House of Representatives.

By District

The first district is the only one for which any returns survive (though they are still missing from three parishes). They are as follows:

	William L. Smith	Alexander Gillon	David Ramsay
	Federalist	Antifederalist	Federalist
St. Michael and St. Philip	349	169	146
Christ Church	17	6	18
St. Andrew's	28	24	8
St. Bartholomew's	70	150	0
St. James Goose Creek	34	3	4
St. John's Berkeley	12	11	10
St. John's Colleton	32	4	5
St. Paul's	30	19	0
St. Dennis and St. Thomas	28	0	0
Total	600 (50.98%)	386 (32.80%)	191 (16.23%)

Aedanus Burke (antifederalist), won against Robert Barnwell (federalist), John Bull, and John Kean in the second district with a margin of 422 votes.

Daniel Huger (federalist), won against Joseph Page in the third district with a margin of 496 votes.

Thomas Sumter (antifederalist), won in the fourth district with a margin of 507 votes. There was no return from Chester.

Thomas T. Tucker (antifederalist), won against Henry Pendleton (who declined to be a candidate) in the fifth district with a margin of 759 votes.

Overview

Three antifederalists and two federalists were elected. More votes appear to have been cast for antifederalists in the state overall, as well, with a margin of perhaps 787, though no clear total can be ascertained due to the lack of proper party competition or returns throughout the state.