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Line 50: + − In 1962, Watson first ran for his state's 2nd congressional district seat in the U.S. House to fill the opening created when the temporary Democratic representative, Corinne Boyd Riley (1893-1979) of Sumter, did not seek a full term. She had succeeded her husband, John Jacob Riley (1895-1962), who died in office on [[New Year's Day]] 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://womenincongress.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=206|title=Corinne Boyd Wiley|publisher=womenincongress.house.gov|accessdate=December 21, 2011}}</ref> Watson secured the Democratic nomination and then faced Floyd Davidson Spence (1928-2001), a fellow state representative from neighboring Lexington County who had turned Republican a few months earlier. The ensuing [[general election]] was far closer than expected, with Watson winning by only five percentage points, with crucial support from his mentor, U.S. Senator [[Strom Thurmond]]. The Columbia-based district was the first in the state to come under growing Republican influence.+
→Congressional career
==Congressional career==
==Congressional career==
In 1962, Watson first ran for his state's 2nd congressional district seat in the U.S. House to fill the opening created when the temporary Democratic representative, Corinne Boyd Riley (1893-1979) of Sumter, did not seek a full term. She had succeeded her husband, John Jacob Riley (1895-1962), who died in office on [[New Year's Day]] 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://womenincongress.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=206|title=Corinne Boyd Wiley|publisher=womenincongress.house.gov|accessdate=December 21, 2011}}</ref> Watson secured the Democratic nomination and then faced Floyd Davidson Spence (1928-2001), a fellow state representative from neighboring Lexington County who had turned Republican a few months earlier. The ensuing [[general election]] was far closer than expected, with Watson winning by only five percentage points, with crucial support from his mentor, U.S. Senator [[Strom Thurmond]]. The Columbia-based district was the first in the state to come under growing Republican influence.
Along with most Southern Democrats, Watson voted for the Food Stamp Act of 1964,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h149 H.R. 10222. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved September 28, 2021.</ref> a key component of President Lyndon Johnson's liberal [[Great Society]] programs.
Like Thurmond, Watson was a [[Segregation|segregationist]]. Both supported [[Barry Goldwater]]'s campaign for U.S. President. On September 17, 1964, Thurmond bolted to the Republicans, and Watson headed the South Carolina "Democrats for Goldwater" organization. Partly because of his support for Goldwater, Watson was reelected without opposition as Goldwater carried South Carolina, the first Republican to have done so since [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] of [[Ohio]] in 1876. However, the House Democratic Caucus stripped Watson, along with Representative and later Governor [[John Bell Williams]] of [[Mississippi]], of his seniority for supporting Goldwater. Watson then declared affiliation with the [[Republican Party|GOP]], resigned from Congress on February 1, 1965, and sought his former position as a Republican in a [[special election]] held on June 15, 1965.
Like Thurmond, Watson was a [[Segregation|segregationist]]. Both supported [[Barry Goldwater]]'s campaign for U.S. President. On September 17, 1964, Thurmond bolted to the Republicans, and Watson headed the South Carolina "Democrats for Goldwater" organization. Partly because of his support for Goldwater, Watson was reelected without opposition as Goldwater carried South Carolina, the first Republican to have done so since [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] of [[Ohio]] in 1876. However, the House Democratic Caucus stripped Watson, along with Representative and later Governor [[John Bell Williams]] of [[Mississippi]], of his seniority for supporting Goldwater. Watson then declared affiliation with the [[Republican Party|GOP]], resigned from Congress on February 1, 1965, and sought his former position as a Republican in a [[special election]] held on June 15, 1965.