This is the 1988 race. The latest: 2026 →

1988Final results

1988 election for South Carolina's 4th District

U.S. House · South Carolina

Elizabeth Patterson (D) won with 52.2% of the vote, defeating Knox White (R) by 4.3 points.

Elizabeth PattersonDemocrat · winner
52.2%90,234
Knox WhiteRepublican
47.8%82,793
173,027 votes

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

The seat over time

D − R margin in this seat's races around 1988

Races before and after

EvenR+26.71982R+28.81984D+4.11986D+4.31988D+22.91990R+2.91992

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

Money in this race

Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.

Elizabeth PattersonKnox White
$974.7K
Raised by the campaign
$631.3K
$998.2K
Spent by the campaign
$630.9K
$2.5K
Cash on hand
$373

Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1988.

Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988