Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Republican Party primaries in South Carolina, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 17
- Early voting: N/A
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on the party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.
Heading into the 2018 election, the Republican Party's legislative record during Donald Trump’s presidency figured into several Republican primaries. This record included the passage of major tax legislation in December 2017 and the confirmation of federal judges. It also included a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill in March 2018, which Trump opposed, and unsuccessful efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.[1][2]
Trump, himself, also played a role in Republican primaries. His approval rating reached 90% in June among self-described Republicans, according to a Gallup survey.[3] Many Republican candidates campaigned on their support for Trump, and negative ads accusing opponents of criticizing the president were common.[4][5][6] A May report found Trump's name or image had appeared in 37% of all Republican campaign ads at that point in 2018.[7]
This page focuses on the Republican primaries that took place in South Carolina on June 12, 2018. In addition, the page provides context for understanding the state party apparatus.
Battleground primaries
Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.
- South Carolina's 1st Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Republican primary)
- South Carolina's 4th Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Republican primary)
- South Carolina's 4th Congressional District election (June 26, 2018 Republican primary runoff)
- South Carolina gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 12 Republican primary)
- South Carolina gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 26 Republican primary runoff)
Federal elections
U.S. House
| Candidate ballot access |
|---|
 |
| Find detailed information on ballot access requirements in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. |
District 1
Republican primary candidates
- Mark Sanford (Incumbent)
- Katie Arrington ✔
- Dimitri Cherny
District 2
Republican primary candidates
- Joe Wilson (Incumbent) ✔
District 3
Republican primary candidates
- Jeff Duncan (Incumbent) ✔
District 4
Republican primary candidates
- Dan Albert
- Barry Bell
- Lee Bright ✔
- Stephen Brown
- Mark Burns
- James Epley
- Dan Hamilton
- Josh Kimbrell
- John Marshall Mosser
- Shannon Pierce
- Justin David Sanders
- Claude Schmid
- William Timmons ✔
Did not make the ballot:
District 5
Republican primary candidates
- Ralph Norman (Incumbent) ✔
District 6
Republican primary candidates
District 7
Republican primary candidates
- Tom Rice (Incumbent) ✔
- Larry Guy Hammond
Did not make the ballot:
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Five of 46 South Carolina counties—10.9 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Barnwell County, South Carolina | 5.16% | 5.33% | 1.65% | ||||
| Calhoun County, South Carolina | 2.83% | 4.31% | 3.55% | ||||
| Chester County, South Carolina | 4.83% | 10.58% | 8.30% | ||||
| Colleton County, South Carolina | 8.49% | 0.19% | 0.53% | ||||
| McCormick County, South Carolina | 3.32% | 3.60% | 6.08% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won South Carolina with 54.9 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 40.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, South Carolina cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 53.3 percent of the time. In that same time frame, South Carolina supported Democratic candidates for president more often than Republican candidates, 53.3 to 43.3 percent. South Carolina favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in South Carolina. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns show the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns show the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[8][9]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 39 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 32.8 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 38 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 28.3 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 85 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 28.7 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 86 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 30.1 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
| 2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 23.28% | 75.15% | R+51.9 | 18.61% | 77.65% | R+59 | R |
| 2 | 31.79% | 66.50% | R+34.7 | 28.17% | 66.98% | R+38.8 | R |
| 3 | 35.60% | 61.95% | R+26.4 | 33.39% | 58.53% | R+25.1 | R |
| 4 | 17.87% | 80.08% | R+62.2 | 12.86% | 83.53% | R+70.7 | R |
| 5 | 23.85% | 74.46% | R+50.6 | 20.85% | 74.77% | R+53.9 | R |
| 6 | 30.99% | 67.41% | R+36.4 | 27.78% | 67.13% | R+39.3 | R |
| 7 | 32.32% | 66.10% | R+33.8 | 23.98% | 73.09% | R+49.1 | R |
| 8 | 33.75% | 64.76% | R+31 | 28.69% | 68.03% | R+39.3 | R |
| 9 | 35.55% | 63.02% | R+27.5 | 32.29% | 63.27% | R+31 | R |
| 10 | 22.06% | 76.34% | R+54.3 | 20.11% | 75.76% | R+55.6 | R |
| 11 | 41.13% | 57.49% | R+16.4 | 32.52% | 65.04% | R+32.5 | R |
| 12 | 59.39% | 39.69% | D+19.7 | 53.79% | 43.46% | D+10.3 | D |
| 13 | 32.85% | 65.84% | R+33 | 30.28% | 65.63% | R+35.3 | R |
| 14 | 36.82% | 61.80% | R+25 | 29.74% | 67.30% | R+37.6 | R |
| 15 | 48.83% | 49.47% | R+0.6 | 45.11% | 49.55% | R+4.4 | R |
| 16 | 41.69% | 56.82% | R+15.1 | 36.19% | 59.30% | R+23.1 | R |
| 17 | 21.18% | 76.65% | R+55.5 | 18.81% | 75.94% | R+57.1 | R |
| 18 | 25.25% | 72.79% | R+47.5 | 23.48% | 71.10% | R+47.6 | R |
| 19 | 35.02% | 62.85% | R+27.8 | 34.74% | 59.59% | R+24.9 | R |
| 20 | 27.09% | 70.82% | R+43.7 | 28.31% | 64.69% | R+36.4 | R |
| 21 | 25.57% | 72.91% | R+47.3 | 29.67% | 64.13% | R+34.5 | R |
| 22 | 32.91% | 65.01% | R+32.1 | 35.65% | 56.13% | R+20.5 | R |
| 23 | 64.77% | 33.12% | D+31.6 | 60.89% | 32.19% | D+28.7 | D |
| 24 | 35.96% | 62.42% | R+26.5 | 39.48% | 53.84% | R+14.4 | R |
| 25 | 71.10% | 27.86% | D+43.2 | 65.40% | 31.14% | D+34.3 | D |
| 26 | 35.32% | 62.83% | R+27.5 | 36.60% | 57.21% | R+20.6 | R |
| 27 | 36.38% | 62.10% | R+25.7 | 35.80% | 58.61% | R+22.8 | R |
| 28 | 34.06% | 64.37% | R+30.3 | 32.48% | 62.53% | R+30.1 | R |
| 29 | 33.75% | 64.90% | R+31.2 | 26.63% | 70.63% | R+44 | R |
| 30 | 34.61% | 64.30% | R+29.7 | 27.30% | 70.23% | R+42.9 | R |
| 31 | 79.20% | 19.94% | D+59.3 | 72.36% | 24.44% | D+47.9 | D |
| 32 | 35.50% | 63.00% | R+27.5 | 32.93% | 62.60% | R+29.7 | R |
| 33 | 30.03% | 68.55% | R+38.5 | 25.34% | 71.30% | R+46 | R |
| 34 | 42.65% | 56.21% | R+13.6 | 41.00% | 54.57% | R+13.6 | R |
| 35 | 27.40% | 71.15% | R+43.8 | 27.02% | 67.92% | R+40.9 | R |
| 36 | 38.11% | 60.33% | R+22.2 | 31.58% | 64.35% | R+32.8 | R |
| 37 | 33.05% | 65.49% | R+32.4 | 29.64% | 65.82% | R+36.2 | R |
| 38 | 23.88% | 74.78% | R+50.9 | 18.90% | 77.70% | R+58.8 | R |
| 39 | 32.81% | 65.88% | R+33.1 | 27.32% | 69.52% | R+42.2 | R |
| 40 | 42.28% | 56.63% | R+14.4 | 36.99% | 59.60% | R+22.6 | R |
| 41 | 63.72% | 35.30% | D+28.4 | 61.23% | 35.98% | D+25.3 | D |
| 42 | 44.12% | 54.53% | R+10.4 | 37.44% | 59.80% | R+22.4 | D |
| 43 | 44.83% | 53.97% | R+9.1 | 35.08% | 61.58% | R+26.5 | R |
| 44 | 46.57% | 52.34% | R+5.8 | 38.98% | 58.42% | R+19.4 | D |
| 45 | 35.40% | 63.31% | R+27.9 | 34.76% | 60.44% | R+25.7 | R |
| 46 | 41.87% | 56.57% | R+14.7 | 40.05% | 53.52% | R+13.5 | R |
| 47 | 31.57% | 67.02% | R+35.4 | 26.48% | 68.76% | R+42.3 | R |
| 48 | 35.74% | 62.60% | R+26.9 | 35.12% | 59.40% | R+24.3 | R |
| 49 | 66.67% | 32.40% | D+34.3 | 61.82% | 34.84% | D+27 | D |
| 50 | 63.30% | 35.70% | D+27.6 | 58.24% | 39.47% | D+18.8 | D |
| 51 | 73.57% | 25.50% | D+48.1 | 71.54% | 26.14% | D+45.4 | D |
| 52 | 41.47% | 57.24% | R+15.8 | 37.04% | 59.07% | R+22 | D |
| 53 | 47.26% | 51.83% | R+4.6 | 39.48% | 58.10% | R+18.6 | R |
| 54 | 58.26% | 40.99% | D+17.3 | 53.53% | 44.66% | D+8.9 | D |
| 55 | 56.03% | 43.25% | D+12.8 | 48.68% | 49.42% | R+0.7 | D |
| 56 | 41.06% | 57.56% | R+16.5 | 32.30% | 64.06% | R+31.8 | R |
| 57 | 62.48% | 36.64% | D+25.8 | 57.73% | 40.44% | D+17.3 | D |
| 58 | 33.03% | 66.09% | R+33.1 | 28.08% | 69.29% | R+41.2 | R |
| 59 | 70.58% | 28.54% | D+42 | 67.55% | 30.01% | D+37.5 | D |
| 60 | 38.35% | 60.80% | R+22.5 | 34.96% | 62.74% | R+27.8 | R |
| 61 | 51.91% | 47.23% | D+4.7 | 45.72% | 52.23% | R+6.5 | D |
| 62 | 65.60% | 33.61% | D+32 | 61.45% | 36.39% | D+25.1 | D |
| 63 | 34.43% | 64.43% | R+30 | 35.35% | 60.23% | R+24.9 | R |
| 64 | 58.22% | 40.98% | D+17.2 | 53.18% | 45.00% | D+8.2 | D |
| 65 | 31.75% | 67.08% | R+35.3 | 27.25% | 69.53% | R+42.3 | R |
| 66 | 72.57% | 26.70% | D+45.9 | 68.93% | 29.57% | D+39.4 | D |
| 67 | 37.94% | 61.07% | R+23.1 | 35.62% | 60.53% | R+24.9 | R |
| 68 | 33.20% | 65.40% | R+32.2 | 28.04% | 68.23% | R+40.2 | R |
| 69 | 31.53% | 66.96% | R+35.4 | 30.88% | 62.14% | R+31.3 | R |
| 70 | 73.89% | 25.16% | D+48.7 | 70.02% | 27.11% | D+42.9 | D |
| 71 | 34.78% | 63.68% | R+28.9 | 34.96% | 58.73% | R+23.8 | R |
| 72 | 68.08% | 29.85% | D+38.2 | 69.16% | 24.22% | D+44.9 | D |
| 73 | 80.11% | 18.83% | D+61.3 | 77.42% | 18.47% | D+58.9 | D |
| 74 | 81.27% | 17.11% | D+64.2 | 78.82% | 16.24% | D+62.6 | D |
| 75 | 42.45% | 55.85% | R+13.4 | 47.88% | 45.26% | D+2.6 | R |
| 76 | 77.22% | 21.70% | D+55.5 | 76.59% | 19.75% | D+56.8 | D |
| 77 | 69.65% | 29.43% | D+40.2 | 67.21% | 29.11% | D+38.1 | D |
| 78 | 49.92% | 48.75% | D+1.2 | 52.86% | 41.64% | D+11.2 | D |
| 79 | 72.59% | 26.57% | D+46 | 70.85% | 24.80% | D+46.1 | D |
| 80 | 59.84% | 38.87% | D+21 | 55.10% | 40.89% | D+14.2 | D |
| 81 | 29.68% | 68.58% | R+38.9 | 29.88% | 64.05% | R+34.2 | R |
| 82 | 59.20% | 39.93% | D+19.3 | 54.84% | 42.65% | D+12.2 | D |
| 83 | 28.62% | 69.81% | R+41.2 | 29.03% | 66.20% | R+37.2 | R |
| 84 | 34.77% | 64.20% | R+29.4 | 31.33% | 65.32% | R+34 | R |
| 85 | 30.93% | 67.51% | R+36.6 | 31.43% | 62.49% | R+31.1 | R |
| 86 | 38.58% | 60.04% | R+21.5 | 34.38% | 61.86% | R+27.5 | R |
| 87 | 20.64% | 78.04% | R+57.4 | 20.68% | 73.42% | R+52.7 | R |
| 88 | 27.08% | 71.09% | R+44 | 25.84% | 68.79% | R+42.9 | R |
| 89 | 38.55% | 59.55% | R+21 | 38.45% | 55.10% | R+16.6 | R |
| 90 | 52.50% | 46.54% | D+6 | 46.55% | 51.10% | R+4.5 | D |
| 91 | 63.50% | 35.77% | D+27.7 | 58.70% | 39.27% | D+19.4 | D |
| 92 | 36.52% | 61.43% | R+24.9 | 34.38% | 59.77% | R+25.4 | R |
| 93 | 59.26% | 39.77% | D+19.5 | 53.51% | 44.10% | D+9.4 | D |
| 94 | 36.52% | 61.86% | R+25.3 | 34.95% | 58.59% | R+23.6 | R |
| 95 | 71.56% | 27.77% | D+43.8 | 68.97% | 29.07% | D+39.9 | D |
| 96 | 29.83% | 68.33% | R+38.5 | 24.42% | 71.46% | R+47 | R |
| 97 | 42.47% | 56.02% | R+13.5 | 37.05% | 58.73% | R+21.7 | D |
| 98 | 40.02% | 58.27% | R+18.3 | 38.80% | 54.78% | R+16 | R |
| 99 | 32.05% | 66.30% | R+34.3 | 35.35% | 58.14% | R+22.8 | R |
| 100 | 33.71% | 64.76% | R+31 | 30.44% | 64.82% | R+34.4 | R |
| 101 | 66.78% | 32.31% | D+34.5 | 62.75% | 35.67% | D+27.1 | D |
| 102 | 60.06% | 38.77% | D+21.3 | 54.07% | 43.50% | D+10.6 | D |
| 103 | 62.63% | 36.59% | D+26 | 58.02% | 39.82% | D+18.2 | D |
| 104 | 33.50% | 65.34% | R+31.8 | 28.73% | 68.55% | R+39.8 | R |
| 105 | 32.43% | 66.37% | R+33.9 | 27.34% | 69.47% | R+42.1 | R |
| 106 | 31.29% | 67.43% | R+36.1 | 26.95% | 69.91% | R+43 | R |
| 107 | 37.67% | 60.99% | R+23.3 | 35.21% | 61.33% | R+26.1 | R |
| 108 | 35.01% | 63.87% | R+28.9 | 33.02% | 62.98% | R+30 | R |
| 109 | 71.24% | 27.67% | D+43.6 | 68.57% | 27.36% | D+41.2 | D |
| 110 | 37.37% | 60.72% | R+23.3 | 43.15% | 48.70% | R+5.5 | R |
| 111 | 78.60% | 19.54% | D+59.1 | 75.33% | 18.53% | D+56.8 | D |
| 112 | 35.27% | 63.41% | R+28.1 | 38.92% | 54.10% | R+15.2 | R |
| 113 | 73.23% | 25.55% | D+47.7 | 67.01% | 27.72% | D+39.3 | D |
| 114 | 38.05% | 60.14% | R+22.1 | 38.63% | 53.60% | R+15 | R |
| 115 | 40.78% | 57.26% | R+16.5 | 44.68% | 47.55% | R+2.9 | R |
| 116 | 53.66% | 45.16% | D+8.5 | 49.15% | 46.69% | D+2.5 | D |
| 117 | 48.43% | 49.82% | R+1.4 | 45.56% | 47.89% | R+2.3 | R |
| 118 | 42.55% | 56.44% | R+13.9 | 40.94% | 54.97% | R+14 | R |
| 119 | 48.34% | 49.63% | R+1.3 | 48.31% | 43.53% | D+4.8 | D |
| 120 | 36.27% | 62.73% | R+26.5 | 36.77% | 59.01% | R+22.2 | R |
| 121 | 64.89% | 34.33% | D+30.6 | 60.68% | 36.22% | D+24.5 | D |
| 122 | 61.99% | 37.22% | D+24.8 | 56.78% | 41.26% | D+15.5 | D |
| 123 | 34.41% | 64.63% | R+30.2 | 39.14% | 56.59% | R+17.5 | R |
| 124 | 37.53% | 61.16% | R+23.6 | 38.63% | 56.17% | R+17.5 | R |
| Total | 44.09% | 54.56% | R+10.5 | 40.67% | 54.94% | R+14.3 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
State elections
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 |
Gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election
Attorney general election
Secretary of state election
State party overview
- See also: Republican Party of South Carolina
State political party revenue
The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:
Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016
Primary election scheduling
South Carolina was one of five states to hold a primary election on June 12, 2018.
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. South Carolina utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary. Voters must take an oath affirming that they have not voted in another party's primary.[10][11]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In South Carolina, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[12]
Registration requirements
Voter ID requirements
South Carolina requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[12][13]
The following were accepted forms of identification as of October 2025. Click here for the South Carolina Election Commission's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- South Carolina Driver’s License
- South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
- includes South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit
- South Carolina Voter Registration Card with Photo
- U.S. Passport
- Federal Military ID
- includes all Department of Defense Photo IDs and the Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Card
Voters can obtain a free photo ID from a local DMV office.[14]
Early voting
South Carolina permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:[15]
| “ |
|
” |
To vote absentee, voters must first request an application for the absentee ballot. Application requests can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. The absentee ballot application must then be completed and returned to the voter's county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day. Once completed, the ballot must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.[15] According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:[15]
| “ |
|
” |
To vote absentee, voters must first request an application for the absentee ballot. Application requests can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. The absentee ballot application must then be completed and returned to the voter's county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day. Once completed, the ballot must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.[15]
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Five of 46 South Carolina counties—10.9 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Barnwell County, South Carolina | 5.16% | 5.33% | 1.65% | ||||
| Calhoun County, South Carolina | 2.83% | 4.31% | 3.55% | ||||
| Chester County, South Carolina | 4.83% | 10.58% | 8.30% | ||||
| Colleton County, South Carolina | 8.49% | 0.19% | 0.53% | ||||
| McCormick County, South Carolina | 3.32% | 3.60% | 6.08% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won South Carolina with 54.9 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 40.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, South Carolina cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 53.3 percent of the time. In that same time frame, South Carolina supported Democratic candidates for president more often than Republican candidates, 53.3 to 43.3 percent. South Carolina favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in South Carolina. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns show the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns show the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[17][18]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 39 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 32.8 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 38 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 28.3 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 85 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 28.7 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 86 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 30.1 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
| 2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 23.28% | 75.15% | R+51.9 | 18.61% | 77.65% | R+59 | R |
| 2 | 31.79% | 66.50% | R+34.7 | 28.17% | 66.98% | R+38.8 | R |
| 3 | 35.60% | 61.95% | R+26.4 | 33.39% | 58.53% | R+25.1 | R |
| 4 | 17.87% | 80.08% | R+62.2 | 12.86% | 83.53% | R+70.7 | R |
| 5 | 23.85% | 74.46% | R+50.6 | 20.85% | 74.77% | R+53.9 | R |
| 6 | 30.99% | 67.41% | R+36.4 | 27.78% | 67.13% | R+39.3 | R |
| 7 | 32.32% | 66.10% | R+33.8 | 23.98% | 73.09% | R+49.1 | R |
| 8 | 33.75% | 64.76% | R+31 | 28.69% | 68.03% | R+39.3 | R |
| 9 | 35.55% | 63.02% | R+27.5 | 32.29% | 63.27% | R+31 | R |
| 10 | 22.06% | 76.34% | R+54.3 | 20.11% | 75.76% | R+55.6 | R |
| 11 | 41.13% | 57.49% | R+16.4 | 32.52% | 65.04% | R+32.5 | R |
| 12 | 59.39% | 39.69% | D+19.7 | 53.79% | 43.46% | D+10.3 | D |
| 13 | 32.85% | 65.84% | R+33 | 30.28% | 65.63% | R+35.3 | R |
| 14 | 36.82% | 61.80% | R+25 | 29.74% | 67.30% | R+37.6 | R |
| 15 | 48.83% | 49.47% | R+0.6 | 45.11% | 49.55% | R+4.4 | R |
| 16 | 41.69% | 56.82% | R+15.1 | 36.19% | 59.30% | R+23.1 | R |
| 17 | 21.18% | 76.65% | R+55.5 | 18.81% | 75.94% | R+57.1 | R |
| 18 | 25.25% | 72.79% | R+47.5 | 23.48% | 71.10% | R+47.6 | R |
| 19 | 35.02% | 62.85% | R+27.8 | 34.74% | 59.59% | R+24.9 | R |
| 20 | 27.09% | 70.82% | R+43.7 | 28.31% | 64.69% | R+36.4 | R |
| 21 | 25.57% | 72.91% | R+47.3 | 29.67% | 64.13% | R+34.5 | R |
| 22 | 32.91% | 65.01% | R+32.1 | 35.65% | 56.13% | R+20.5 | R |
| 23 | 64.77% | 33.12% | D+31.6 | 60.89% | 32.19% | D+28.7 | D |
| 24 | 35.96% | 62.42% | R+26.5 | 39.48% | 53.84% | R+14.4 | R |
| 25 | 71.10% | 27.86% | D+43.2 | 65.40% | 31.14% | D+34.3 | D |
| 26 | 35.32% | 62.83% | R+27.5 | 36.60% | 57.21% | R+20.6 | R |
| 27 | 36.38% | 62.10% | R+25.7 | 35.80% | 58.61% | R+22.8 | R |
| 28 | 34.06% | 64.37% | R+30.3 | 32.48% | 62.53% | R+30.1 | R |
| 29 | 33.75% | 64.90% | R+31.2 | 26.63% | 70.63% | R+44 | R |
| 30 | 34.61% | 64.30% | R+29.7 | 27.30% | 70.23% | R+42.9 | R |
| 31 | 79.20% | 19.94% | D+59.3 | 72.36% | 24.44% | D+47.9 | D |
| 32 | 35.50% | 63.00% | R+27.5 | 32.93% | 62.60% | R+29.7 | R |
| 33 | 30.03% | 68.55% | R+38.5 | 25.34% | 71.30% | R+46 | R |
| 34 | 42.65% | 56.21% | R+13.6 | 41.00% | 54.57% | R+13.6 | R |
| 35 | 27.40% | 71.15% | R+43.8 | 27.02% | 67.92% | R+40.9 | R |
| 36 | 38.11% | 60.33% | R+22.2 | 31.58% | 64.35% | R+32.8 | R |
| 37 | 33.05% | 65.49% | R+32.4 | 29.64% | 65.82% | R+36.2 | R |
| 38 | 23.88% | 74.78% | R+50.9 | 18.90% | 77.70% | R+58.8 | R |
| 39 | 32.81% | 65.88% | R+33.1 | 27.32% | 69.52% | R+42.2 | R |
| 40 | 42.28% | 56.63% | R+14.4 | 36.99% | 59.60% | R+22.6 | R |
| 41 | 63.72% | 35.30% | D+28.4 | 61.23% | 35.98% | D+25.3 | D |
| 42 | 44.12% | 54.53% | R+10.4 | 37.44% | 59.80% | R+22.4 | D |
| 43 | 44.83% | 53.97% | R+9.1 | 35.08% | 61.58% | R+26.5 | R |
| 44 | 46.57% | 52.34% | R+5.8 | 38.98% | 58.42% | R+19.4 | D |
| 45 | 35.40% | 63.31% | R+27.9 | 34.76% | 60.44% | R+25.7 | R |
| 46 | 41.87% | 56.57% | R+14.7 | 40.05% | 53.52% | R+13.5 | R |
| 47 | 31.57% | 67.02% | R+35.4 | 26.48% | 68.76% | R+42.3 | R |
| 48 | 35.74% | 62.60% | R+26.9 | 35.12% | 59.40% | R+24.3 | R |
| 49 | 66.67% | 32.40% | D+34.3 | 61.82% | 34.84% | D+27 | D |
| 50 | 63.30% | 35.70% | D+27.6 | 58.24% | 39.47% | D+18.8 | D |
| 51 | 73.57% | 25.50% | D+48.1 | 71.54% | 26.14% | D+45.4 | D |
| 52 | 41.47% | 57.24% | R+15.8 | 37.04% | 59.07% | R+22 | D |
| 53 | 47.26% | 51.83% | R+4.6 | 39.48% | 58.10% | R+18.6 | R |
| 54 | 58.26% | 40.99% | D+17.3 | 53.53% | 44.66% | D+8.9 | D |
| 55 | 56.03% | 43.25% | D+12.8 | 48.68% | 49.42% | R+0.7 | D |
| 56 | 41.06% | 57.56% | R+16.5 | 32.30% | 64.06% | R+31.8 | R |
| 57 | 62.48% | 36.64% | D+25.8 | 57.73% | 40.44% | D+17.3 | D |
| 58 | 33.03% | 66.09% | R+33.1 | 28.08% | 69.29% | R+41.2 | R |
| 59 | 70.58% | 28.54% | D+42 | 67.55% | 30.01% | D+37.5 | D |
| 60 | 38.35% | 60.80% | R+22.5 | 34.96% | 62.74% | R+27.8 | R |
| 61 | 51.91% | 47.23% | D+4.7 | 45.72% | 52.23% | R+6.5 | D |
| 62 | 65.60% | 33.61% | D+32 | 61.45% | 36.39% | D+25.1 | D |
| 63 | 34.43% | 64.43% | R+30 | 35.35% | 60.23% | R+24.9 | R |
| 64 | 58.22% | 40.98% | D+17.2 | 53.18% | 45.00% | D+8.2 | D |
| 65 | 31.75% | 67.08% | R+35.3 | 27.25% | 69.53% | R+42.3 | R |
| 66 | 72.57% | 26.70% | D+45.9 | 68.93% | 29.57% | D+39.4 | D |
| 67 | 37.94% | 61.07% | R+23.1 | 35.62% | 60.53% | R+24.9 | R |
| 68 | 33.20% | 65.40% | R+32.2 | 28.04% | 68.23% | R+40.2 | R |
| 69 | 31.53% | 66.96% | R+35.4 | 30.88% | 62.14% | R+31.3 | R |
| 70 | 73.89% | 25.16% | D+48.7 | 70.02% | 27.11% | D+42.9 | D |
| 71 | 34.78% | 63.68% | R+28.9 | 34.96% | 58.73% | R+23.8 | R |
| 72 | 68.08% | 29.85% | D+38.2 | 69.16% | 24.22% | D+44.9 | D |
| 73 | 80.11% | 18.83% | D+61.3 | 77.42% | 18.47% | D+58.9 | D |
| 74 | 81.27% | 17.11% | D+64.2 | 78.82% | 16.24% | D+62.6 | D |
| 75 | 42.45% | 55.85% | R+13.4 | 47.88% | 45.26% | D+2.6 | R |
| 76 | 77.22% | 21.70% | D+55.5 | 76.59% | 19.75% | D+56.8 | D |
| 77 | 69.65% | 29.43% | D+40.2 | 67.21% | 29.11% | D+38.1 | D |
| 78 | 49.92% | 48.75% | D+1.2 | 52.86% | 41.64% | D+11.2 | D |
| 79 | 72.59% | 26.57% | D+46 | 70.85% | 24.80% | D+46.1 | D |
| 80 | 59.84% | 38.87% | D+21 | 55.10% | 40.89% | D+14.2 | D |
| 81 | 29.68% | 68.58% | R+38.9 | 29.88% | 64.05% | R+34.2 | R |
| 82 | 59.20% | 39.93% | D+19.3 | 54.84% | 42.65% | D+12.2 | D |
| 83 | 28.62% | 69.81% | R+41.2 | 29.03% | 66.20% | R+37.2 | R |
| 84 | 34.77% | 64.20% | R+29.4 | 31.33% | 65.32% | R+34 | R |
| 85 | 30.93% | 67.51% | R+36.6 | 31.43% | 62.49% | R+31.1 | R |
| 86 | 38.58% | 60.04% | R+21.5 | 34.38% | 61.86% | R+27.5 | R |
| 87 | 20.64% | 78.04% | R+57.4 | 20.68% | 73.42% | R+52.7 | R |
| 88 | 27.08% | 71.09% | R+44 | 25.84% | 68.79% | R+42.9 | R |
| 89 | 38.55% | 59.55% | R+21 | 38.45% | 55.10% | R+16.6 | R |
| 90 | 52.50% | 46.54% | D+6 | 46.55% | 51.10% | R+4.5 | D |
| 91 | 63.50% | 35.77% | D+27.7 | 58.70% | 39.27% | D+19.4 | D |
| 92 | 36.52% | 61.43% | R+24.9 | 34.38% | 59.77% | R+25.4 | R |
| 93 | 59.26% | 39.77% | D+19.5 | 53.51% | 44.10% | D+9.4 | D |
| 94 | 36.52% | 61.86% | R+25.3 | 34.95% | 58.59% | R+23.6 | R |
| 95 | 71.56% | 27.77% | D+43.8 | 68.97% | 29.07% | D+39.9 | D |
| 96 | 29.83% | 68.33% | R+38.5 | 24.42% | 71.46% | R+47 | R |
| 97 | 42.47% | 56.02% | R+13.5 | 37.05% | 58.73% | R+21.7 | D |
| 98 | 40.02% | 58.27% | R+18.3 | 38.80% | 54.78% | R+16 | R |
| 99 | 32.05% | 66.30% | R+34.3 | 35.35% | 58.14% | R+22.8 | R |
| 100 | 33.71% | 64.76% | R+31 | 30.44% | 64.82% | R+34.4 | R |
| 101 | 66.78% | 32.31% | D+34.5 | 62.75% | 35.67% | D+27.1 | D |
| 102 | 60.06% | 38.77% | D+21.3 | 54.07% | 43.50% | D+10.6 | D |
| 103 | 62.63% | 36.59% | D+26 | 58.02% | 39.82% | D+18.2 | D |
| 104 | 33.50% | 65.34% | R+31.8 | 28.73% | 68.55% | R+39.8 | R |
| 105 | 32.43% | 66.37% | R+33.9 | 27.34% | 69.47% | R+42.1 | R |
| 106 | 31.29% | 67.43% | R+36.1 | 26.95% | 69.91% | R+43 | R |
| 107 | 37.67% | 60.99% | R+23.3 | 35.21% | 61.33% | R+26.1 | R |
| 108 | 35.01% | 63.87% | R+28.9 | 33.02% | 62.98% | R+30 | R |
| 109 | 71.24% | 27.67% | D+43.6 | 68.57% | 27.36% | D+41.2 | D |
| 110 | 37.37% | 60.72% | R+23.3 | 43.15% | 48.70% | R+5.5 | R |
| 111 | 78.60% | 19.54% | D+59.1 | 75.33% | 18.53% | D+56.8 | D |
| 112 | 35.27% | 63.41% | R+28.1 | 38.92% | 54.10% | R+15.2 | R |
| 113 | 73.23% | 25.55% | D+47.7 | 67.01% | 27.72% | D+39.3 | D |
| 114 | 38.05% | 60.14% | R+22.1 | 38.63% | 53.60% | R+15 | R |
| 115 | 40.78% | 57.26% | R+16.5 | 44.68% | 47.55% | R+2.9 | R |
| 116 | 53.66% | 45.16% | D+8.5 | 49.15% | 46.69% | D+2.5 | D |
| 117 | 48.43% | 49.82% | R+1.4 | 45.56% | 47.89% | R+2.3 | R |
| 118 | 42.55% | 56.44% | R+13.9 | 40.94% | 54.97% | R+14 | R |
| 119 | 48.34% | 49.63% | R+1.3 | 48.31% | 43.53% | D+4.8 | D |
| 120 | 36.27% | 62.73% | R+26.5 | 36.77% | 59.01% | R+22.2 | R |
| 121 | 64.89% | 34.33% | D+30.6 | 60.68% | 36.22% | D+24.5 | D |
| 122 | 61.99% | 37.22% | D+24.8 | 56.78% | 41.26% | D+15.5 | D |
| 123 | 34.41% | 64.63% | R+30.2 | 39.14% | 56.59% | R+17.5 | R |
| 124 | 37.53% | 61.16% | R+23.6 | 38.63% | 56.17% | R+17.5 | R |
| Total | 44.09% | 54.56% | R+10.5 | 40.67% | 54.94% | R+14.3 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
See also
| Federal primaries in South Carolina | State primaries in South Carolina | South Carolina state party apparatus | South Carolina voter information |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Footnotes
- ↑ ‘’National Review’’, “Trump Is Not Blameless in the Spending-Bill Disaster,” March 28, 2018
- ↑ The New York Times, "A New Guide to the Republican Herd," August 26, 2012
- ↑ Gallup, "Trump Job Approval Slips Back to 41%," June 25, 2018
- ↑ Daily Commercial, "Trump hurdle looms large in Florida GOP governor primary," July 30, 2018
- ↑ Daily Commercial, "These 2018 Primaries Are Worth Watching," July 25, 2018
- ↑ Washington Post, "Republican primary candidates have one goal: Securing Trump’s endorsement or denying it to an opponent," July 25, 2018
- ↑ USA Today, "Donald Trump once divided Republicans; ads for midterms signal that's no longer true," May 17, 2018
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
- ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ South Carolina Legislature,"South Carolina Code of Laws Unannotated § 7-9-10," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 South Carolina Election Commission, "FAQs for the 2024 General Election," accessed August 20, 2024
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "Photo ID Requirements," accessed October 8, 2025
- ↑ South Carolina Elections Commission, "FAQs for the 2024 General Election, accessed October 8, 2025
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 South Carolina State Election Commission, "Absentee Voting," accessed May 2, 2023
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
