registered blacks voted, down from 63 percent in 1980." While, It had among the lowest industrial wages in the United States and was third in terms of mobile homes. Oklahoma Incumbent Democrat David Boren won re-election to a second term. Oregon Incumbent Republican Mark Hatfield sought re-election, defeating Democrat State Senator Margie Hendricksen. Rhode Island Incumbent Democrat Claiborne Pell sought re-election, defeating Republican Barbara M. Leonard. South Carolina {{Infobox election | election_name = South Carolina election | country = South Carolina | type = presidential | ongoing = no | previous_election = 1978 United States Senate election in South Carolina | previous_year = 1978 | next_election = 1990 United States Senate election in South Carolina | next_year = 1990 | image_size = 125x136px | image1 = Strom Thurmond.jpg | nominee1 = Strom Thurmond | party1 = Republican Party (US) | popular_vote1 = 644,814 | percentage1 = 66.8%| image2 = No image.svg | nominee2 = Melvin Purvis | party2 = Democratic Party (US) | popular_vote2 = 306,982 | percentage2 = 31.8% | map_image = 1984 United States Senate election in South Carolina results map by county.svg | map_size = 220px | map_caption = County results | title = U.S. Senator | before_election = Strom Thurmond | before_party = Republican Party (US) | after_election = Strom Thurmond | after_party = Republican Party (US) }} Popular incumbent Republican Strom Thurmond cruised to re-election against Democratic challenger Melvin Purvis. Melvin Purvis, a white minister and the son of famous FBI agent Melvin Purvis, won a close race against black photographer Cecil J. Williams. The closeness of the race and the fact that the black candidate did not win propelled Jesse Jackson to request a Justice Department investigation into the primary and he also considered an independent bid for the seat. Governor Richard Riley and 3rd district Representative Butler Derrick flirted with running, but backed down when Thurmond received endorsements from prominent Democrats in South Carolina. Senator Strom Thurmond easily defeated Robert Cunningham to advance to the general election. Thurmond received endorsements from former Democratic governor Robert Evander McNair, Charleston mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., and an assortment of black mayors in the state. He did not face a serious challenge and spent almost $1.5 million on the race whereas Purvis spent less than $10,000. An ironic footnote to the election is the fact that Purvis used Thurmond's age as an issue in the campaign.