Ben Tillman Democratic Ben Tillman Democratic The 1913 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on January 28, 1913, when the South Carolina legislature met and unanimously ratified the results of the August 27, 1912 primary.

He had long avoided any opposition because of his influence in the Democratic Party in the state, but by 1912 he had moderated his positions and lost the radical edge that had allowed him to build up a hard core following of support.

The radicals in the state electorate had thrown their support to Coleman Livingston Blease in the gubernatorial election of 1910 and the Bleasites were determined to knock his chief opponent, Tillman, out of office.

The voters of the state split their support between the Tillmanite and Bleasite factions as both Tillman and Blease won their respective primaries.

The General Assembly met and ratified the choice of the primary voters, re-electing Tillman for a third term.