U.S. House, South Carolina - 1st District
East -- part of Charleston, Myrtle Beach
Race Forecast: Leans Republican
2008: Rep.
2006: Rep.
Few races better illustrate Democrats’ aggressive efforts to take over longtime Republican strongholds than the contest between Brown and newcomer Linda Ketner, a Democratic businesswoman who has bolstered her fundraising totals with substantial self loans to nearly double McHenry’s overall receipts through Sept. 30. Brown won in 2006 with 60 percent of the vote and Democrats didn’t even field a candidate in 2004. But Obama’s presence at the top of the ticket could increase turnout among African-American voters, who historically vote Democratic, giving Ketner a boost in the election.
Race Information
- Incumbent: Rep. Henry E. Brown Jr., R
- First Elected: 2000 (4th term)
- Last Elected: 2006 (59.68%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Race Forecast: Leans Republican
District Information
Politics in America District Profile
Taking in most of the state’s coastline, the 1st is marked by two of South Carolina’s landmark tourist destinations: Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Horry County, which includes Myrtle Beach, still has plenty of farmland but is one of the state’s fastest-growing areas.
Charleston, 80 percent of whose residents live in the 1st, is one of the nation’s busiest ports, and shipping long has been a staple of the local economy. The military also maintains a strong presence here: Charleston Air Force Base provides airlift operations for troops, military equipment and medical supplies, and Naval Weapons Station Charleston is a training, engineering and logistics center. The city is an icon of the New South, but retains its traditional culture. Surrounded by reminders of antebellum history, it is nicknamed the “Holy City” due to the church steeples marking its skyline. The homes and boulevards of the city’s large historic district attract hordes of visitors.
Moving north, tourism and agriculture dominate. Tobacco farming is prominent in the inland areas, and Myrtle Beach, a popular destination for vacations and conventions, welcomes millions of visitors annually. The area is known as much for its championship golf courses as for its beaches. Conservation efforts have become increasingly popular in response to rapid residential and commercial development that has brought congestion, pollution, wetlands destruction and beach erosion.
The area’s wealth has kept the area reliably Republican. Horry County gave George W. Bush 62 percent of the vote in the 2004 presidential election, and Bush took 61 percent of the 1st’s overall vote.
Major Industry
Tourism, shipping, agriculture, military, tobacco
Military Bases
Charleston Air Force Base, 3,900 military, 1,021 civilian (2007); Naval Weapons Station Charleston, 195 military, 411 civilian (2006)
Cities
Charleston (pt.), 77,434; Mount Pleasant, 47,609; North Charleston (pt.), 45,530; Goose Creek, 29,208; Summerville, 27,752; Myrtle Beach, 22,759
Notable
Charleston Harbor is home to Fort Sumter, where the first battle of the Civil War took place in 1861; Fort Moultrie on nearby Sullivan’s Island marks the first decisive victory in the American Revolution.
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population: 668,668
- Under 18: 24%
- Over 65: 12%
- Married: 54.8%
- Non-Hispanic White: 74%
- Black: 21%
- Hispanic: 3%
- Asian: 1%
- Foreign Born: 3.8%
- Language other than English: 6.2%
- Median Household Income: 40,713
- Owner Occupied Housing: 69%
- Income above $200k: 1.9
- Workforce/Education (2000 census)
- White Collar: 59.7%
- Blue Collar: 23.5%
- Services: 16.9%
- Bachelor's Degree: 25%
- Graduate Education: 8.7%
- Civilian Veterans: 87,170
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | general | Henry Brown (R) | 138,009 | 53% |
| Linda Ketner (D) | 122,137 | 46.9% | ||
| 2006 | general | Henry Brown (R) | 115,766 | 59.7% |
| Randy Maatta (D, WFM) | 73,218 | 37.7% | ||
| James Dunn (GREEN) | 4,875 | 2.5% | ||
| 2004 | general | Henry Brown (R) | 186,448 | 87.8% |
| James Dunn (GREEN) | 25,674 | 12.1% | ||
| 2002 | general | Henry Brown (R) | 122,518 | 89.5% |
| James Dunn (UC) | 9,560 | 7% | ||
| Joseph Innella (NL) | 4,775 | 3.5% | ||
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Kerry: 38% | George W. Bush: 61% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 38% | George W. Bush: 59% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
| Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BROWN, HENRY E JR. (R) | November 24, 2008 | $974,509.00 | $1,239,621.00 | $5,000.00 | $581,129.00 | $506,933.00 | |
| MAATTA, RANDAL G (D) | March 31, 2008 | ||||||
| SANFORD, MARSHALL C JR (R) | September 30, 2008 | $8,015.00 | $8,008.00 | $128,582.00 | |||
| FRASIER, BEN (D) | June 30, 2008 | $16,644.00 | $16,644.00 | $2,270.00 | $14,374.00 | ||
| KETNER, LINDA (D) | November 24, 2008 | $2,247,059.00 | $2,242,632.00 | $5,000.00 | $1,041,709.00 | $4,424.00 | $790,000.00 |
| JENERETTE, KATHERINE (R) | September 30, 2008 | $5,634.00 | $5,103.00 | $275.00 | $530.00 | ||
| NORRIS, PAUL VALENTINE (R) | September 30, 2008 | $28,769.00 | $28,769.00 | $5,720.00 | $17,746.00 | ||
