In 1821, Representative-elect John S. Richards (DR), who'd been elected to representSouth Carolina's 9th district, declined to serve. A special election was held to fill the resulting, the first of two special elections in the 9th district for the 17th Congress.
| Candidate | Party | Votes[1] | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Blair | Democratic-Republican | 1,116 | 49.1% |
| Joseph Brevard | Democratic-Republican | 991 | 43.6% |
| James C. Postell | 165 | 7.3% |
Blair took his seat at the start of the 17th Congress. Blair himself subsequently resigned May 8, 1822,[2] resulting in asecond special election.