The Winner

If you live in South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) will represent you for an 18th term. Clyburn defeated Republican John Peterson after the Associated Press called the race at 8:37 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, WCIV reported. ​

With about 99% of the expected vote counted, Clyburn had about 69% to Peterson’s 31%, according to NBC News results. The results stay unofficial until South Carolina certifies them.

The Race

John Peterson) is a North Charleston convention center worker and political newcomer who ran as a Trump Republican, focusing on fuel and grocery prices and the national debt. He won the June 9 Republican primary with about 74% of the vote over former Charleston County Republican Party Chair Maurice Washington. Clyburn easily defeated Frederick Goodwin for the Democratic nomination.

Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rated the race Solid Democratic, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Democratic, according to Ballotpedia. Clyburn, first elected in 1992, won by about 39 points, up from 23 points in 2024.

The majority-minority district spans parts of the Columbia area and the Lowcountry, WRDW reported. About 745,500 people live there, the median age is about 37 and the typical household earns about $55,800 a year.

About 29% of adults hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and residents are about 47% Black, 42% white and 7% Hispanic. The unemployment rate is about 5.9%, and about 20% of residents live below the poverty line.

What Changes

Clyburn has been the only Democrat in South Carolina’s congressional delegation, but he may soon have company. Democrat Nancy Lacore claimed victory in the 1st District after Republican Jenny Costa Honeycutt conceded, though the AP had not called that race as of Thursday, Nov. 5, and Democrat Annie Andrews won a U.S. Senate seat, the SC Daily Gazette reported.

What’s Next

Clyburn’s 18th term begins Jan. 3, 2027, when Democrats take control of the House. In a statement Wednesday, Nov. 4, he said he would keep working on health care, education, affordable housing, broadband and protections for Social Security and Medicare, WACH reported.

His district could still be redrawn. The Republican-led state House passed a map in May that would have made the 6th more favorable to Republicans, the state Senate blocked it, and some Republican state lawmakers say they will try again, The Post and Courier reported. Clyburn, 86, told the paper in October that he would “give a lot of thought” to stepping away after this election.

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