It’s the 12 Days of Ballotpedia! Your gift powers the trusted, unbiased information voters need heading into 2026. Donate now!
South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2016
2018 →
← 2014
|
November 8, 2016 |
June 14, 2016 |
Jeff Duncan |
Jeff Duncan |
Cook Political Report: Solid R[1] Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe R[2] Rothenberg & Gonzales: Safe R[3] |
The 3rd Congressional District of South Carolina held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 8, 2016.
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Jeff Duncan (R) defeated Hosea Cleveland (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Neither candidate faced a primary opponent.[4]
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
|---|---|---|
Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. South Carolina utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary. Voters must take an oath affirming that they have not voted in another party's primary.[5]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Incumbent: Heading into the election, the incumbent was Jeff Duncan (R), who was first elected in 2010.
As of the 2010 redistricting cycle, South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District was located in the western portion of the state. The district was made up of all of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, and Saluda counties and portions of Greenville and Newberry counties.[6]
Election results
General election
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 72.8% | 196,325 | ||
| Democratic | Hosea Cleveland | 27.1% | 72,933 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.1% | 282 | |
| Total Votes | 269,540 | |||
| Source: South Carolina Secretary of State | ||||
Candidates
|
General election candidates: |
|
Primary candidates:[7] |
|
Democratic |
Republican |
District history
2014
Incumbent Jeff Duncan won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. He defeated Barbara Jo Mullis (D) in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 71.2% | 116,741 | ||
| Democratic | Barbara Jo Mullis | 28.8% | 47,181 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.1% | 87 | |
| Total Votes | 164,009 | |||
| Source: South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
2012
The 3rd Congressional District of South Carolina held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Jeff Duncan won re-election in the district.[8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Brian Doyle | 33.3% | 84,735 | |
| Republican | 66.5% | 169,512 | ||
| N/A | Write-In | 0.2% | 516 | |
| Total Votes | 254,763 | |||
| Source: South Carolina State Election Commission "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
Important dates and deadlines
- See also: South Carolina elections, 2016
The calendar below listed important dates for political candidates in South Carolina in 2016.
| Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadline | Event type | Event description | |
| March 16, 2016 | Ballot access | Filing period opens for primary candidates | |
| March 30, 2016 | Ballot access | Filing period closes for primary candidates | |
| April 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Quarterly campaign finance report due | |
| June 14, 2016 | Election date | Primary election | |
| July 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Quarterly campaign finance report due | |
| July 15, 2016 | Ballot access | Filing deadline for independent candidates | |
| October 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Quarterly campaign finance report due | |
| November 8, 2016 | Election date | General election | |
| Sources: South Carolina Election Commission, "2016 Election Calendar," accessed September 21, 2015 South Carolina State Ethics Commission, "2016 Calendar," accessed January 11, 2016 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 2016
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2016
- United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2016
Footnotes
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2016 House Race Ratings for July 11, 2016," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2016 House," accessed July 18, 2016
- ↑ Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, "House Ratings," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 South Carolina Election Commission, "Candidate Listing for the 11/8/2016 Statewide General Election," accessed March 31, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina General Assembly, "S.C. Code Ann. § 7–9–20," accessed November 7, 2025
- ↑ South Carolina Redistricting Map "Map" accessed July 30, 2012
- ↑ Candidates are listed by party and alphabetically within each party.
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, South Carolina"
For information about public policy issues in the 2016 elections, see: Public policy in the 2016 elections!