The 1898 South Carolina United States Senate special election was January 26, 1898 election to pick the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. The Democratic Partyprimary election was held on August 31, 1897.
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 DemocratJohn L. McLaurin won the Democratic primary and was elected by the General Assembly to serve the remainder of the six-year term expiring in 1903.