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The1897 South Carolina United States Senate election was a unanimous election of the Democratic nominee on January 26, 1897, to select theU.S. Senator from the state ofSouth Carolina. TheDemocraticprimary election was held on August 26, 1896, and September 9. Prior to the ratification of the17th 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, theDemocratic Party of South Carolina organized primary elections for the U.S. Senate beginning in 1896 and theGeneral Assembly would confirm the choice of the Democratic voters. ConservativeDemocraticJoseph H. Earle won the Democratic primary and was elected by the General Assembly for a six-year term.
In 1896,Governor of South CarolinaJohn Gary Evans entered the first ever election in the state of South Carolina for the U.S. Senate. He had the backing of SenatorBen Tillman and much of the farming interests in the state. However, the farmers' movement had largely run its course and the Tillmanite reform movement had angered a considerable number of voters in the state. ConservativeJoseph H. Earle andNewberry native John T. Duncan announced their candidacy's in opposition to Governor Evans. In the primary on August 26 Evans emerged as the frontrunner, but did not garner over 50% of the vote and was forced to face Earle in arunoff election. Those who had voted for Duncan threw their support to Earle and it provided him with the margin he needed for victory over Evans.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Gary Evans | 38,802 | 49.6 | ||
| Democratic | Joseph H. Earle | 31,092 | 39.8 | ||
| Democratic | John T. Duncan | 8,327 | 10.6 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph H. Earle | 42,915 | 52.0 | +12.2 | |
| Democratic | John Gary Evans | 39,576 | 48.0 | −1.6 | |
