Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

Presidential election in South Carolina, 2020

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Looking for the latest and most interesting political coverage? Click here.



2024 →
← 2016
South Carolina
2020 presidential election

Democratic primary: February 29, 2020
Democratic winner: Joe Biden

Republican primary: Canceled

Electoral College: Nine votes
2020 winner: Donald Trump
2016 winner: Donald Trump (R)
2012 winner: Mitt Romney (R)

Presidential election by state, 2020

President Donald Trump (R) won the presidential election in South Carolina on November 3, 2020. Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) won the presidential election with 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232 electoral votes.

Biden won the Democratic Party in South Carolina on February 29, 2020.[1][2] The South Carolina Republican Party voted on September 7, 2019, to cancel its presidential primary.[3]

South Carolina was one of the four states, each from a different geographic region of the country, to hold an early primary. In the Democratic primary, South Carolina is "critically important to Democrats running for president. Its large African-American voting bloc makes it a key state for those trying to capture the party nomination."[4]

South Carolina is one of three states (alongside Alabama and Colorado) with nine electoral votes, making it tied for 22nd-most among all states. South Carolina was carried by the Republican presidential candidate in every election between 1980 and 2016; the last Democrat to carry the state was Jimmy Carter (D). Between 1900 and 2016, South Carolina was carried by the Democratic presidential candidate in 53.33% of elections and by the Republican in 43.33%.

In the 2016 election, Trump carried South Carolina with 54.9% of the vote to Hillary Clinton's (D) 40.7%.

This page includes the following sections:

Candidates and election results

General election


Presidential election in South Carolina, 2020
 
Candidate/Running mate
%
Popular votes
Electoral votes
✔
Image of
Image of
Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R)
 
55.1
 
1,385,103 9
Image of
Image of
Joe Biden/Kamala D. Harris (D)
 
43.4
 
1,091,541 0
Image of
Image of
Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (L)
 
1.1
 
27,916 0
Image of
Image of
Howie Hawkins/Angela Nicole Walker (G)
 
0.3
 
6,907 0
Image of
Image of
Roque De La Fuente/Darcy Richardson (Alliance Party)
 
0.1
 
1,862 0

Incumbents are bolded and underlined The results have been certified.

Total votes: 2,513,329



Primary election

South Carolina Democratic presidential primary on February 29, 2020
 
Candidate
%
Votes
Pledged delegates
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Official_portrait_of_Vice_President_Joe_Biden.jpg
Joe Biden
 
48.6
 
262,336 39
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Bernie_Sanders.jpg
Bernie Sanders
 
19.8
 
106,605 15
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Tom_Steyer.jpg
Thomas Steyer
 
11.3
 
61,140 0
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/150px-Pete_buttigieg.jpg
Pete Buttigieg
 
8.2
 
44,217 0
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Elizabeth_Warren--Official_113th_Congressional_Portrait--.jpg
Elizabeth Warren
 
7.1
 
38,120 0
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Amy_Klobuchar.jpg
Amy Klobuchar
 
3.1
 
16,900 0
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/TulsiGabbardReplace.jpg
Tulsi Gabbard
 
1.3
 
6,813 0
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Screen_Shot_2019-02-21_at_3.25.16_PM.png
Andrew Yang
 
0.2
 
1,069 0
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Michael_Bennet.jpg
Michael Bennet
 
0.1
 
765 0
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/CoryBooker.jpg
Cory Booker
 
0.1
 
658 0
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/John_Delaney_113th_Congress_official_photo.jpg
John Delaney
 
0.1
 
352 0
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Deval_Patrick.jpg
Deval Patrick
 
0.1
 
288 0

 Source

Total votes: 539,263 • Total pledged delegates: 54


Government response to coronavirus pandemic in South Carolina

Summary of changes to election dates and procedures

South Carolina modified its absentee/mail-in and in-person voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

  • Absentee/mail-in voting: Any eligible voter could request an absentee ballot for the general election. Return postage for all mailed absentee ballots was prepaid.
  • In-person voting: In-person absentee voting was authorized to begin on October 5, 2020.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Frequently asked questions

See also: Ballotpedia's 2020 Election Help Desk: Presidential election

The 2020 election took place against a backdrop of uncertainty. Our readers had questions about what to expect in elections at all levels of government, from the casting of ballots to the certification of final results. Ballotpedia's 2020 Election Help Desk was designed to answer those questions. Ballotpedia is in the process of compiling and answering frequently asked questions related to the 2020 elections. Questions related to this election will be available soon.


Additional resources

Democratic primary

See also: Democratic presidential nomination, 2020
HIGHLIGHTS
  • South Carolina held its Democratic primary election on February 29, 2020.
  • South Carolina had an estimated 64 delegates comprised of 54 pledged delegates and 10 superdelegates. Delegate allocation was proportional.
  • The Democratic primary was open, meaning all voters were able to vote in the election.


    • Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) was formally nominated as the Democratic presidential nominee at the 2020 Democratic National Convention on August 18, 2020.[5] The convention was originally scheduled to take place July 13-16, 2020.[6] Organizers postponed the event in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Prior to the national convention, individual state caucuses and primaries were held to allocate convention delegates. These delegates vote at the convention to select the nominee. In 2020, a Democratic presidential candidate needed support from 1,991 delegates to secure the nomination.

    Republican primary

    See also: Republican presidential nomination, 2020
    HIGHLIGHTS
  • The South Carolina Republican Party voted on September 7, 2019, to cancel its presidential primary.[3]
  • State party chairman Drew McKissick said in a statement, "With no legitimate primary challenger and President Trump’s record of results, the decision was made to save South Carolina taxpayers over $1.2 million and forgo an unnecessary primary.”[3]


    • The Republican Party selected President Donald Trump as its presidential nominee at the 2020 Republican National Convention, which was held from August 24-27, 2020.[7]

    Prior to the national convention, individual state caucuses and primaries were held to allocate convention delegates. These delegates vote at the convention to select the nominee. Trump crossed the delegate threshold necessary to win the nomination—1,276 delegates—on March 17, 2020.

    George H.W. Bush (R) was the last incumbent to face a serious primary challenge, defeating political commentator Pat Buchanan in 1992. He was also the last president to lose his re-election campaign. Franklin Pierce (D) was the first and only elected president to lose his party's nomination in 1856.[8]

    Sixteen U.S. presidents—approximately one-third—have won two consecutive elections.


    Candidate filing requirements

    See also: Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in South Carolina

    The tables below detail filing requirements for presidential candidates in South Carolina in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in South Carolina, click here.

    Presidential primary candidates

    Filing requirements for presidential primary candidates in South Carolina, 2020
    State Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
    South Carolina Democratic[9] N/A N/A $20,000.00 Fixed by party 12/4/2019 Source

    Independent presidential candidates

    Filing requirements for independent candidates in South Carolina, 2020
    State Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
    South Carolina 10,000 Fixed by statute N/A N/A 7/15/2020 Source

    Historical election results

    2016

    General election

    U.S. presidential election, South Carolina, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
         Democratic Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 40.7% 855,373 0
         Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDonald Trump/Mike Pence 54.9% 1,155,389 9
         Libertarian Gary Johnson/Bill Weld 2.3% 49,204 0
         Green Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka 0.6% 13,034 0
         Constitution Darrell Castle/Scott Bradley 0.3% 5,765 0
         Independence Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson 1% 21,016 0
         American Peter Skewes/Michael Lacy 0.2% 3,246 0
    Total Votes 2,103,027 9
    Election results via: South Carolina Election Commission

    Primary election

    South Carolina Democratic Primary, 2016
    Candidate Vote % Votes Delegates
    Green check mark transparent.pngHillary Clinton 73.4% 272,379 39
    Bernie Sanders 26% 96,498 14
    Martin O'Malley 0.2% 713 0
    Willie Wilson 0.4% 1,314 0
    Totals 370,904 53
    Source: South Carolina State Election Commission


    South Carolina Republican Primary, 2016
    Candidate Vote % Votes Delegates
    Green check mark transparent.pngDonald Trump 32.5% 240,882 50
    Marco Rubio 22.5% 166,565 0
    Ted Cruz 22.3% 165,417 0
    Jeb Bush 7.8% 58,056 0
    John Kasich 7.6% 56,410 0
    Ben Carson 7.2% 53,551 0
    Totals 740,881 50
    Source: South Carolina State Election Commission

    2012

    U.S. presidential election, South Carolina, 2012
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMitt Romney/Paul Ryan 54.6% 1,071,645 9
         Democratic Barack Obama/Joe Biden Incumbent 44.1% 865,941 0
         Libertarian Gary Johnson/Jim Gray 0.8% 16,321 0
         Green Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala 0.3% 5,446 0
         Constitution Virgil Goode/James Clymer 0.2% 4,765 0
    Total Votes 1,964,118 9
    Election results via: U.S. Election Atlas

    2008

    U.S. presidential election, South Carolina, 2008
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJohn McCain/Sarah Palin 53.9% 1,034,896 8
         Democratic Barack Obama/Joe Biden 44.9% 862,449 0
         Libertarian Bob Barr/Wayne Allyn Root 0.4% 7,283 0
         Constitution Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle 0.4% 6,827 0
         Petition Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez 0.3% 5,053 0
         Green Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente 0.2% 4,461 0
    Total Votes 1,920,969 8
    Election results via: U.S. Election Atlas

    Presidential statewide margins of victory of 5 percentage points or fewer, 1948-2016

    See also: Presidential statewide margins of victory of 5 percentage points or fewer, 1948-2016

    The following map shows the number of times, in presidential elections held between 1948 and 2016, that the margin of victory was 5 percentage points or fewer in each state.

    • Wisconsin was the state with the most frequently narrow margins during this time period, appearing on the list in 10 presidential elections.
    • Five states appeared eight times: Florida, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
    • The state with the narrowest margin of victory was Florida in 2000 at 537 votes or one-hundredth of a percentage point.

    Historical election trends

    See also: Presidential voting history by state

    South Carolina presidential election results (1900-2024)

    • 16 Democratic wins
    • 15 Republican wins
    • 1 other win
    Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
    Winning Party D D D D D D D D D D D D SR[10] D D D R R R D R R R R R R R R R R R R


    See also: Presidential election accuracy

    Below is an analysis of South Carolina's voting record in presidential elections. The state's accuracy is based on the number of times a state has voted for a winning presidential candidate. The majority of statistical data is from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration and was compiled, here, by Ballotpedia, unless otherwise noted.

    Presidential election voting record in South Carolina, 1900-2016

    Between 1900 and 2016:

    • South Carolina participated in 30 presidential elections.
    • South Carolina voted for the winning presidential candidate 53.33 percent of the time. The average accuracy of voting for winning presidential candidates for all 50 states in this time frame was 72.31 percent.[11]
    • South Carolina voted Democratic 53.33 percent of the time and Republican 43.33 percent of the time.

    Third party votes

    In 1948, Harry S. Truman ran as a Democrat, Thomas E. Dewey ran as a Republican, and J. Strom Thurmond ran under the States' Rights Democratic Party, also known as the Dixiecrats. Thurmond won Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina.[12]

    Most and least accurate states

    See also: Presidential election accuracy data

    Below is the list of the most accurate states and the least accurate states when it comes to voting for the winning presidential candidate.

    Most accurate states, 1900-2016
    State Percentage of accuracy
    Ohio 93.33% (28 out of 30 elections)
    New Mexico 88.89% (24 out of 27 elections)
    Nevada 86.67% (26 out of 30 elections)
    Missouri 86.67% (26 out of 30 elections)
    Illinois 83.33% (25 out of 30 elections)
    Least accurate states, 1900-2016
    State Percentage of accuracy
    Washington, D.C. 42.86% (6 out of 14 elections)
    Mississippi 46.67% (14 out of 30 elections)
    Alabama 51.72% (15 out of 29 elections)
    Georgia 53.33% (16 out of 30 elections)
    South Carolina 53.33% (16 out of 30 elections)

    Presidential election voting record in South Carolina, 2000-2016

    *An asterisk indicates that that candidate also won the national electoral vote in that election.

    State profile

    See also: South Carolina and South Carolina elections, 2019
    USA South Carolina location map.svg

    Partisan data

    The information in this section was current as of May 7, 2019

    Presidential voting pattern

    • South Carolina voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

    Congressional delegation

    State executives

    State legislature

    South Carolina Party Control: 1992-2025
    No Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
    Governor R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    Senate D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    House D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

    South Carolina quick stats
    More South Carolina coverage on Ballotpedia:


    Demographic data for South Carolina
     South CarolinaU.S.
    Total population:4,894,834316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):30,0613,531,905
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:67.2%73.6%
    Black/African American:27.5%12.6%
    Asian:1.4%5.1%
    Native American:0.3%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
    Two or more:2%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:5.3%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:85.6%86.7%
    College graduation rate:25.8%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$45,483$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:22%11.3%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in South Carolina.
    **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


    Presidential election by state

    See also: Presidential election by state, 2020

    Click on a state below to navigate to information about the presidential election in that jurisdiction.

    https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_election_in_STATE,_2020

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ CBS News, "Joe Biden wins South Carolina primary, CBS News projects," February 29, 2020
    2. ↑ Politico, "Biden wins South Carolina," February 29, 2020
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The State, "SC Republicans vote to skip 2020 presidential primary," September 7, 2019
    4. ↑ National Public Radio, "Why South Carolina Is So Crucial For Democrats Running For President," February 12, 2019
    5. ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "2020 DNC in Milwaukee pushed back to week of August 17 in response to coronavirus pandemic," April 2, 2020
    6. ↑ The New York Times, "Milwaukee Picked as Site of 2020 Democratic National Convention," March 11, 2019
    7. ↑ Charlotte Observer, "Here’s when the 2020 Republican National Convention will be in Charlotte," October 1, 2018
    8. ↑ NPR, "When Has A President Been Denied His Party's Nomination?" July 22, 2009
    9. ↑ Note: The Republican primary was canceled.
    10. ↑ States' Rights Democratic Party
    11. ↑ This average includes states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, which did not participate in all 30 presidential elections between 1900 and 2016. It does not include Washington, D.C., which cast votes for president for the first time in 1964, or Alaska and Hawaii, which cast votes for president for the first time in 1960.
    12. ↑ U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, "Electoral Votes, 1940-1948," accessed June 21, 2016
    13. ↑ This number refers to the number of times that the state voted for the winning presidential candidate between 2000 and 2016.
    v • e
    2020 United States presidential election
    OverviewsPresidential Elections-2016-badge.png
    Primaries and election dates
    Democratic nomination
    Democratic debates
    Republican nomination
    Issues


    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Presidential_election_in_South_Carolina,_2020&oldid=8725940"