Thomas F. Hartnett
Encyclopedia
Thomas Forbes "Tommy" Hartnett (born August 7, 1941) was a U.S. Representative
from South Carolina
.
Hartnett was born in Charleston
. He graduated from Bishop England High School in Charleston in 1960. He attended the College of Charleston
from 1960 to 1961.
He was in the United States Air Force
Reserve from 1963 to 1969.
In 1964, Hartnett was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
from a Charleston-area district. He served four terms in that body. Originally a Democrat
, he became a Republican in 1972, and attended that year's state Republican convention (and every convention after that until 1980). He was elected to the South Carolina Senate
in 1972 and served two terms.
In 1980, Hartnett won the Republican nomination for the Charleston-based 1st District
after five-term incumbent Mendel Jackson Davis
retired due to back problems. He narrowly defeated his Democratic opponent, Associate Deputy Commerce Secretary Charles D. Ravenel, becoming the first Republican to win an undisputed election in the district since Reconstruction. Hartnett likely owed his win to Ronald Reagan
winning Charleston County with 55 percent of the vote. The district had also been trending Republican for some time at the national level; it has only supported the official Democratic candidate for president once since 1956.
Hartnett was convincingly reelected in 1982, and took 61 percent of the vote in 1984. He gave up his seat in 1986 to run for Lieutenant Governor, narrowly losing to State Senator Nick Theodore
. He then became a successful real estate agent, founding Hartnett Realty in his home of Mount Pleasant
.
Hartnett came out of retirement in 1992 to run for the United States Senate
against four-term incumbent and fellow Charleston resident Ernest Hollings
. He gave Hollings his closest race ever, losing by only three percentage points in what was otherwise a very good year for Democrats nationally.
Hartnett still lives in Mount Pleasant as president of Hartnett Realty. He was a delegate to every Republican National Convention from 1980 to 2000.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Hartnett was born in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. He graduated from Bishop England High School in Charleston in 1960. He attended the College of Charleston
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
from 1960 to 1961.
He was in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Reserve from 1963 to 1969.
In 1964, Hartnett was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
from a Charleston-area district. He served four terms in that body. Originally a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he became a Republican in 1972, and attended that year's state Republican convention (and every convention after that until 1980). He was elected to the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
in 1972 and served two terms.
In 1980, Hartnett won the Republican nomination for the Charleston-based 1st District
South Carolina's 1st congressional district
The 1st Congressional District of South Carolina is a coastal congressional district in South Carolina. It stretches from Seabrook Island in the south to the North Carolina border and includes parts of Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Georgetown counties and all of Horry county...
after five-term incumbent Mendel Jackson Davis
Mendel Jackson Davis
Mendel Jackson Davis was a lawyer and a United States Representative from South Carolina.-Early life and career:Davis was born in the city of North Charleston to Felix Charles Davis and Elizabeth Jackson Davis...
retired due to back problems. He narrowly defeated his Democratic opponent, Associate Deputy Commerce Secretary Charles D. Ravenel, becoming the first Republican to win an undisputed election in the district since Reconstruction. Hartnett likely owed his win to Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
winning Charleston County with 55 percent of the vote. The district had also been trending Republican for some time at the national level; it has only supported the official Democratic candidate for president once since 1956.
Hartnett was convincingly reelected in 1982, and took 61 percent of the vote in 1984. He gave up his seat in 1986 to run for Lieutenant Governor, narrowly losing to State Senator Nick Theodore
Nick Theodore
Nick Andrew Theodore was a State representative from 1963 to 1966 and 1970 to 1978, a South Carolina state senator from 1967 to 1968 and 1981 to 1986, and the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 1987 to 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party.Theodore attended the University of Georgia...
. He then became a successful real estate agent, founding Hartnett Realty in his home of Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Mount Pleasant is a large affluent suburban town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. It is a member of the Charleston–North Charleston–Summerville Metropolitan Statistical Area, for statistical purpose only, as designated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget....
.
Hartnett came out of retirement in 1992 to run for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
against four-term incumbent and fellow Charleston resident Ernest Hollings
Ernest Hollings
Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings served as a Democratic United States Senator from South Carolina from 1966 to 2005, as well as the 106th Governor of South Carolina and Lt. Governor . He served 38 years and 55 days in the Senate, which makes him the 8th-longest-serving Senator in history...
. He gave Hollings his closest race ever, losing by only three percentage points in what was otherwise a very good year for Democrats nationally.
Hartnett still lives in Mount Pleasant as president of Hartnett Realty. He was a delegate to every Republican National Convention from 1980 to 2000.