Man, South Carolina politics can be a bit of a whirlwind. If you just look at the surface-level south carolina election results, it’s easy to say "Oh, it’s a red state" and move on. But that misses the actual story. Honestly, the 2024 cycle was a record-breaker in ways that surprised even the seasoned consultants in Columbia. From historical turnout to some pretty intense shifts in the state house, there is a lot to dig into here.
Let’s get the big one out of the way first.
Donald Trump didn't just win South Carolina; he basically rewrote the record books for a Republican candidate in the state. He pulled in 1,483,747 votes. That’s the most any single candidate has ever received in South Carolina’s history. Basically, it was a 58.2% to 40.4% split against Kamala Harris. That roughly 18-point margin is actually the largest a Republican has seen here since 1988.
You've gotta wonder why the gap was so wide this time around. Part of it was the sheer force of the "early voting" wave. People weren't just waiting for Tuesday anymore.
Breaking Down the South Carolina Election Results by the Numbers
The map looks like a sea of red, but the pockets of blue are where things get interesting. Harris carried the usual suspects—Richland, Charleston, and Orangeburg. In Richland County, she took about 66% of the vote. But even in those strongholds, the margins felt a little different than 2020.
Meanwhile, Trump dominated the Upstate and the coast. Horry County (where Myrtle Beach is) went 68.8% for Trump. Pickens County? That was a blowout at 75.6%.
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One thing that kinda flew under the radar was how the third-party candidates did. You had Chase Oliver (Libertarian) grabbing about 0.5% and Jill Stein (Green) at 0.3%. Not enough to change the outcome, but in a state where every decimal point is argued over by party chairs, people noticed.
The Congressional Heavyweights
There wasn't a single seat flip in the U.S. House for South Carolina. The status quo stayed firmly in place.
- Nancy Mace (1st District): She’s always in the headlines, right? She fended off Michael B. Moore with a comfortable 58.2% of the vote.
- Jim Clyburn (6th District): The dean of the delegation won again with nearly 60%. He’s the lone Democrat representing the state in D.C., and his base in places like Sumter and part of Columbia remains rock solid.
- Joe Wilson (2nd District): Won with 59.5%.
- Sheri Biggs (3rd District): She was the newcomer taking over Jeff Duncan's old seat. She absolutely crushed it with over 71% of the vote.
Why Turnout Was the Real Story
You've probably heard that nobody votes in "safe" states. Well, South Carolinians apparently didn't get that memo. According to the State Election Commission, over 2.5 million people showed up. That is a massive 75% turnout of registered voters.
Howie Knapp, the SEC Executive Director, pointed out that the new early voting process was basically the MVP here. About 1.47 million people voted early in person. That is a staggering number. It means more people voted before Election Day than actually went to the polls on Election Day (which was around 977,000).
It kinda changes the whole vibe of the "October Surprise" when half the state has already filled out their bubble.
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A Seismic Shift in the State Senate
While the top of the ticket was predictable, the state-level south carolina election results were where the real drama happened. For the first time in modern history, the GOP achieved a "supermajority" in the South Carolina Senate.
This happened because they flipped three seats that were held by Democrats.
- District 17: Everett Stubbs unseated long-time Senator Mike Fanning in a race that was decided by less than 50 votes initially.
- District 36: Jeff Zell took down Kevin Johnson.
- District 39: Tom Fernandez beat Vernon Stephens.
This is a big deal. Why? Because a supermajority means the Republicans can now theoretically override vetoes and fast-track legislation without needing a single Democratic vote. If you're interested in things like education reform or tax cuts, this is the power shift that will actually affect your daily life more than who's in the White House.
The Missing Ballot Measures
Interestingly, there wasn't a huge statewide "hot button" referendum on the ballot this time like you saw in other states with abortion or marijuana. South Carolina's constitution makes it pretty hard to get those things on a general election ballot. Most of the "extra" stuff people saw were local bond referendums—things like school funding in Charleston or road improvements in the Upstate.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Results
A lot of folks think South Carolina is just getting redder and redder. It's more nuanced than that. The "Red Wave" here was largely driven by rural turnout and a massive surge in the Republican-leaning suburbs.
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However, if you look at the 2024 south carolina election results closely, the "blue" areas aren't shrinking in population—they're actually growing. The problem for Democrats in the state is that the GOP is currently much better at "clustering" their voters and getting them to the early voting centers.
Also, we can't ignore the Nikki Haley factor. Remember the primary back in February? Trump won his home-state rival 60% to 40%. A lot of people thought those "Haley Republicans" might stay home in November. Clearly, they didn't. Most of them came home to the party, which is why Trump’s final number (58.2%) looks so much like his primary win plus a few extra points.
Actionable Insights: What Happens Next?
So, the dust has settled. What do you actually do with this information?
- Watch the State House: Since the GOP has a supermajority, expect big moves on school choice and potentially further restrictions or clarifications on social issues. If you have a business or kids in school, now is the time to write to your representative.
- Early Voting is King: If you're a campaigner or a volunteer, stop worrying about "Election Day energy." The data shows that 2026 and 2028 will be won in the two weeks before the actual Tuesday.
- Check Your Registration: With the state growing so fast, thousands of people are moving to the coast and the Upstate every month. Make sure your info is current on the scVOTES website so you don't get stuck with a provisional ballot next time.
The 2024 cycle proved that South Carolina isn't just a "flyover" state for politics—it's a place where the infrastructure of voting is changing rapidly. Whether you're happy with the results or already looking toward the next primary, the sheer volume of people participating is a good sign for the health of the state's democracy.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the official certifications from the State Election Commission. They usually post the final, audited precinct-level data by late December or early January following a major election. Digging into those spreadsheets is the only way to see exactly how your specific neighborhood tilted the scales.