United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1984

November 6, 1984



Nominee	Strom Thurmond	Melvin Purvis
Party	Republican	Democratic
Popular vote	644,814	306,982
Percentage	66.8%	31.8%

Senator before election

Strom Thurmond
Republican

Elected Senator

Strom Thurmond
Republican

Elections in South Carolina

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Ballot measures

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 white minister and the son of famous FBI agent Melvin Purvis, won a close race against black 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.

Democratic Primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Melvin Purvis	149,730	50.2
Cecil J. Williams	148,586	49.8

Republican Primary

The South Carolina Republican Party held their primary on June 12, 1984. Senator Strom Thurmond easily defeated Robert Cunningham to advance to the general election.

Republican Primary
Candidate	Votes	%
Strom Thurmond	44,662	94.3
Robert H. Cunningham	2,693	5.7

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.

Election results

South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1984
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Strom Thurmond	644,814	66.8	+11.2
	Democratic	Melvin Purvis	306,982	31.8	-12.6
	Libertarian	Stephen Davis	13,323	1.4	+1.4
	No party	Write-Ins	335	0.0	0.0
Majority			337,832	35.0	+23.8
Turnout			965,454	68.7	+11.0
	Republican hold

References

State Election Commission (1985). Report of the South Carolina State Election Commission 1984-1985. Columbia, SC: State Election Commission. p. 62.
Bass, Jack; Marilyn W. Thompson (1998). Ol' Strom: An Unauthorized Biography of Strom Thurmond. Longstreet. p. 302.

Elections in South Carolina

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See also: Political party strength in South Carolina

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