If you spent any time watching the national news on election night, South Carolina probably felt like a foregone conclusion. The pundits barely blinked before calling the state for the GOP. But honestly, just looking at the "red" map doesn't tell the whole story of what went down in the Palmetto State. We saw record-breaking numbers, some surprising shifts in the Statehouse, and a massive move toward early voting that basically changed how we handle elections here forever.
The Big Picture: Presidential Numbers
Let's get the main stats out of the way first because they're kinda staggering. Donald Trump didn't just win; he put up the highest vote count for any single candidate in South Carolina's history. He ended up with 1,483,747 votes, which is about 58.2% of the total. Kamala Harris brought in 1,028,452, or roughly 40.4%.
That 18-point gap is the widest margin a Republican has had in the state since 1988. It's a huge jump from 2020, when the margin was closer to 11 or 12 points. People talk about the "red wall," and in 2024, that wall got a fresh coat of paint and a few extra layers of brick.
Why the Turnout Matters
You've probably heard that voter turnout was "historic," and for once, that's not just campaign hype. According to the South Carolina Election Commission (SEC), over 2.5 million people showed up. That is a 75% turnout rate.
But here is the kicker: how we voted changed.
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Basically, 60% of us used the new in-person early voting window. That’s nearly 1.5 million people who didn't wait for Tuesday. Long lines on Election Day are becoming a thing of the past because we’re all showing up two weeks early now.
s.c. election results 2024: The Flipped Seats You Missed
While the top of the ticket was predictable, the real drama was happening in the State Senate. Republicans were hunting for a "supermajority"—that's the magic number where they can basically override vetoes and push through legislation without needing a single Democratic vote.
They did it.
Republicans picked up four seats in the State Senate, moving from 30 seats to 34. To put that in perspective, Democrats are now down to just 12 seats in a 46-seat chamber.
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- District 17: This was a nail-biter. Republican Everett Stubbs took down long-time incumbent Democrat Mike Fanning. It was settled by just a handful of votes.
- District 39: Another big flip. Tom Fernandez (R) defeated Vernon Stephens (D).
- District 26: This was an open seat, and it stayed in the Republican column, further cementing the shift.
- District 36: Jeffrey Zell (R) managed to unseat Kevin Johnson (D).
Down in the State House, things stayed a bit more stable. The GOP kept their 88-36 lead. There was one notable flip in House District 102, where Harriet Holman (R) beat Joe Jefferson (D), but overall, the House didn't see the same earthquake that the Senate did.
The Congressional Heavyweights
No surprises in the U.S. House races, but there was one new face. Sheri Biggs won the 3rd District, replacing the retiring Jeff Duncan. She’s only the second Republican woman from South Carolina to ever head to Congress.
The rest of the "status quo" squad:
- Nancy Mace (R) held onto the 1st District.
- Joe Wilson (R) kept the 2nd.
- William Timmons (R) won the 4th.
- Ralph Norman (R) took the 5th.
- Russell Fry (R) secured the 7th.
- Jim Clyburn (D)—the dean of the delegation—easily kept the 6th District. He remains the lone Democrat representing South Carolina in D.C.
The Citizenship Amendment
There was a question on the ballot that a lot of people skimmed over: Amendment 1. It changed the state constitution's wording from "every citizen" to "only a citizen" may vote. Honestly, it wasn't even close. About 86% of voters said "Yes." While critics called it redundant since non-citizens already can't vote, the sheer volume of support shows exactly where the South Carolina electorate's head was at regarding election security.
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Real Talk on Election Integrity
Howie Knapp, the head of the SEC, has been pretty vocal about how smoothly things went. Despite all the national noise about "rigged" systems, a post-election study found that 87% of South Carolinians felt confident in the accuracy of the results. 98% said registration was easy. That's a rare bit of bipartisan agreement in a state that's otherwise pretty polarized.
What Happens Next?
Now that the GOP has a supermajority in the Senate, expect the 2026 legislative session to be intense. They have the power to move on big-ticket items like school choice expansion, stricter budget controls, and further judicial reforms without much friction.
Next Steps for Voters:
- Check your registration: Even if you voted in 2024, check scVOTES.gov occasionally to make sure your status is active, especially if you move.
- Watch the Statehouse: With a supermajority, local subcommittee meetings are where the real "sausage is made." Follow the SC Legislature website to see which bills are moving fast.
- Prepare for 2026: We’ll be voting for Governor then. The 2024 results suggest the "red" trend isn't slowing down, but the demographic shifts in places like Charleston and Greenville are still worth watching.
The 2024 results proved South Carolina isn't just a red state—it's becoming a more efficiently organized one. Whether you're happy about the outcome or not, the record turnout shows that people here are actually paying attention.