Representative Floyd Spence

Biography

Floyd Spence served as a Representative from South Carolina in the United States Congress from 1971 to 2001. A member of the Republican Party, Floyd Spence contributed to the legislative process during 16 terms in office.

Floyd Spence’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Floyd Spence participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Floyd Davidson Spence (April 9, 1928 – August 16, 2001) was an American attorney and a politician from the U.S. state of South Carolina. Elected for three terms to the South Carolina House of Representatives from Lexington County as a Democrat, in 1962 Spence announced his decision to switch to the Republican Party, as he was unhappy with shifts in the national party. He lost a contested seat that year for United States Representative from South Carolina’s 2nd congressional district to Democrat Albert W. Watson, who had the support of powerful senator Strom Thurmond. Watson shifted to the Republican Party in 1965 and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1970. That year Spence won the congressional seat, and was re-elected for fourteen terms after this. He became ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee in 1993 and chairman in 1995. Spence died in office from cerebral thrombosis in Washington, D.C., in 2001.