South Carolina — 1978 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1978 Senate electionSouth Carolina · U.S. SenateThurmondR+11.2
How it voted
Share of the 1978 vote
| Strom Thurmond ✓Republican | 55.7% | 351,917 |
|---|---|---|
| Charles D. RavenelDemocrat | 44.3% | 280,146 |
1978Senate margin
D+60R+60
46 counties, each filled by 1978 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (46 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ABBEVILLE, SC | Republican | R+21.9 |
| AIKEN, SC | Republican | R+23.5 |
| ALLENDALE, SC | Democratic | D+0.7 |
| ANDERSON, SC | Republican | R+9.2 |
| BAMBERG, SC | Republican | R+14.7 |
| BARNWELL, SC | Republican | R+21.4 |
| BEAUFORT, SC | Republican | R+10.8 |
| BERKELEY, SC | Republican | R+4.0 |
| CALHOUN, SC | Republican | R+7.5 |
| CHARLESTON, SC | Republican | R+3.3 |
| CHEROKEE, SC | Republican | R+18.7 |
| CHESTER, SC | Republican | R+17.4 |
| CHESTERFIELD, SC | Republican | R+2.5 |
| CLARENDON, SC | Democratic | D+4.4 |
| COLLETON, SC | Republican | R+8.5 |
| DARLINGTON, SC | Republican | R+6.9 |
| DILLON, SC | Republican | R+14.9 |
| DORCHESTER, SC | Republican | R+7.5 |
| EDGEFIELD, SC | Republican | R+10.6 |
| FAIRFIELD, SC | Democratic | D+16.1 |
| FLORENCE, SC | Republican | R+6.5 |
| GEORGETOWN, SC | Democratic | D+8.1 |
| GREENVILLE, SC | Republican | R+17.7 |
| GREENWOOD, SC | Republican | R+15.9 |
| HAMPTON, SC | Republican | R+1.6 |
| HORRY, SC | Republican | R+19.4 |
| JASPER, SC | Democratic | D+15.5 |
| KERSHAW, SC | Republican | R+20.9 |
| LANCASTER, SC | Republican | R+18.7 |
| LAURENS, SC | Republican | R+21.2 |
| LEE, SC | Republican | R+4.6 |
| LEXINGTON, SC | Republican | R+40.9 |
| MARION, SC | Democratic | D+7.8 |
| MARLBORO, SC | Democratic | D+9.7 |
| MCCORMICK, SC | Democratic | D+7.2 |
| NEWBERRY, SC | Republican | R+31.7 |
| OCONEE, SC | Republican | R+4.6 |
| ORANGEBURG, SC | Democratic | D+7.5 |
| PICKENS, SC | Republican | R+19.0 |
| RICHLAND, SC | Republican | R+3.5 |
| SALUDA, SC | Republican | R+33.2 |
| SPARTANBURG, SC | Republican | R+19.4 |
| SUMTER, SC | Republican | R+5.6 |
| UNION, SC | Republican | R+24.9 |
| WILLIAMSBURG, SC | Democratic | D+8.9 |
| YORK, SC | Republican | R+2.5 |
presidential baselinePresident 1976D+13.1Senate 1978R+11.4vs. baselineR+24.4
South Carolina's 1978 Senate race ran 24.4 points more Republican than its 1976 presidential margin.
South Carolina's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1978–2022
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1978 | −11.4% |
| 1980 | +40.7% |
| 1984 | −35.0% |
| 1986 | +27.5% |
| 1990 | −31.7% |
| 1992 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | −9.4% |
| 1998 | +7.0% |
| 2002 | −10.2% |
| 2004 | −9.6% |
| 2008 | −15.3% |
| 2010 | −34.4% |
| 2014 | −17.5% |
| 2016 | −26.2% |
| 2020 | −10.3% |
| 2022 | −25.9% |
Same ballot, 1978SC
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1978 US Senate returns, party-classified by literal ballot party · county returns aggregated from precinct-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.