South Carolina — 1996 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1996 Senate electionSouth Carolina · U.S. SenateThurmondR+9.4
How it voted
Share of the 1996 vote
| Strom Thurmond (i) ✓Republican | 53.4% | 619,859 |
|---|---|---|
| Elliot Springs CloseDemocrat | 44.0% | 510,951 |
| Richard T. QuillianLibertarian | 1.1% | 12,988 |
1996Senate margin
D+60R+60
46 counties, each filled by 1996 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (46 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ABBEVILLE, SC | Republican | R+3.7 |
| AIKEN, SC | Republican | R+47.7 |
| ALLENDALE, SC | Democratic | D+26.6 |
| ANDERSON, SC | Republican | R+16.1 |
| BAMBERG, SC | Democratic | D+16.9 |
| BARNWELL, SC | Republican | R+24.2 |
| BEAUFORT, SC | Republican | R+13.3 |
| BERKELEY, SC | Republican | R+13.9 |
| CALHOUN, SC | Republican | R+5.9 |
| CHARLESTON, SC | Republican | R+4.8 |
| CHEROKEE, SC | Republican | R+14.1 |
| CHESTER, SC | Democratic | D+13.5 |
| CHESTERFIELD, SC | Republican | R+1.5 |
| CLARENDON, SC | Democratic | D+13.7 |
| COLLETON, SC | Republican | R+0.8 |
| DARLINGTON, SC | Republican | R+3.2 |
| DILLON, SC | Democratic | D+15.4 |
| DORCHESTER, SC | Republican | R+19.8 |
| EDGEFIELD, SC | Republican | R+22.3 |
| FAIRFIELD, SC | Democratic | D+23.1 |
| FLORENCE, SC | Republican | R+8.6 |
| GEORGETOWN, SC | Democratic | D+8.2 |
| GREENVILLE, SC | Republican | R+22.3 |
| GREENWOOD, SC | Republican | R+6.6 |
| HAMPTON, SC | Democratic | D+17.7 |
| HORRY, SC | Democratic | D+3.8 |
| JASPER, SC | Democratic | D+19.0 |
| KERSHAW, SC | Republican | R+17.0 |
| LANCASTER, SC | Democratic | D+6.6 |
| LAURENS, SC | Republican | R+15.3 |
| LEE, SC | Democratic | D+14.5 |
| LEXINGTON, SC | Republican | R+34.4 |
| MARION, SC | Democratic | D+18.3 |
| MARLBORO, SC | Democratic | D+21.9 |
| MCCORMICK, SC | Republican | R+16.2 |
| NEWBERRY, SC | Republican | R+14.7 |
| OCONEE, SC | Republican | R+17.4 |
| ORANGEBURG, SC | Democratic | D+19.4 |
| PICKENS, SC | Republican | R+30.2 |
| RICHLAND, SC | Democratic | D+9.7 |
| SALUDA, SC | Republican | R+23.8 |
| SPARTANBURG, SC | Republican | R+17.9 |
| SUMTER, SC | Republican | R+4.8 |
| UNION, SC | Republican | R+7.0 |
| WILLIAMSBURG, SC | Democratic | D+9.9 |
| YORK, SC | Republican | R+1.1 |
presidential baselinePresident 1996R+6.0Senate 1996R+9.4vs. baselineR+3.3
South Carolina's 1996 Senate race ran 3.3 points more Republican than the presidential race on the same ballot.
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, 1996SC
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1996 US Senate returns, party-classified by literal ballot party · county returns aggregated from precinct-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.