1944 United States Senate election in South Carolina

1944 Democratic Senate primary election in South Carolina

← 1938 July 25, 1944 1950 →
 
Nominee Olin D. Johnston Ellison D. Smith
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 138,440 88,085
Percentage 55.20% 35.12%

County results
Johnston:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Smith:      30–40%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Ellison D. Smith
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Olin D. Johnston
Democratic

The 1944 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 7, 1944 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina.

On July 25, Governor Olin Johnston defeated incumbent senator Ellison "Cotton Ed" Smith in the Democratic primary with 55.2% of the vote.

At this time, South Carolina was a one-party state, and the Democratic nomination was tantamount to victory. Johnston won the November general election with only token opposition from Republican James B. Gaston. A victory by Johnston was never in doubt.