The 2020 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of South Carolina. Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham won re-election to a fourth term, defeating Democratic nominee Jaime Harrison. Primary elections were held on June 9, 2020.
Despite forecasting throughout the last few months of the race showing a very close race as well as Harrison having record fundraising numbers, Graham defeated Harrison by 54.4% to 44.2% and a margin of 10.2% in the November 3, 2020, general election. Harrison slightly outperformed Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the concurrent presidential election, who lost to President Donald Trump by 11.7% in South Carolina.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Lindsey Graham, incumbent U.S. senator
Eliminated in primary Dwayne “Duke” Buckner, attorney and owner of Buckner Law Firm located in Walterboro Michael J. LaPierre, businessmanhttps://www.lapierreforsenate.com Michael J. Lapierre Joe Reynolds, chief engineer in the US Merchant Marine
Withdrew Johnny Garcia, Air Force veteran Peggy Kandies, Charleston art teacher, home decorator, and former IBM employee Mark Sloan, Greer minister and manufacturing executive David Weikle, radio host, US Marine veteran, and candidate for the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2018 (switched to the Libertarian primary)
Declined Eric Bolling, former Fox News host Mark Burns, Easley pastor and former candidate for South Carolina's 4th congressional district in 2018 Harlan Hill, Republican (formerly Democratic) political consultant and commentator John Warren, Greenville businessman and candidate for Governor of South Carolina in 2018 Carey Wilson
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LindseyGraham Other UndecidedChange ResearchJune 11–14, 20191,183 (LV) ± 2.9%70%4%26%
with Generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LindseyGraham GenericRepublican OtherChange ResearchJune 11–14, 20191,183 (LV) ± 2.9%79%19%2%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jaime Harrison, former chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party and associate chairman of the Democratic National Committee
Withdrawn Gloria Bromell Tinubu, former Georgia state representative, candidate for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina in 2018, and nominee for South Carolina's 7th congressional district in 2012 and 2014 (endorsed Jaime Harrison) William Stone, legal researcher Justin Wooton, activist
Declined Mandy Powers Norrell, state representative and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018 (running for reelection) Bakari Sellers, political commentator and former state representative
Endorsements
Other candidates Libertarian Party General election write-in candidate Keenan Wallace Dunham, chair of the Horry County Libertarian Party
Withdrawn David Weikle, radio show host, US marine veteran, and candidate for the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2018 (remained on ballot)
Constitution Party Bill Bledsoe, Libertarian Party and Constitution Party nominee for the US Senate in 2016 (unofficially withdrew on October 1, 2020, and endorsed Graham, but still remained on the ballot as an active candidate)
Independents Withdrawn Lloyd Williams
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2020 Inside Elections October 28, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 2, 2020Daily Kos October 30, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020RCPOctober 23, 2020DDHQNovember 3, 2020538November 2, 2020EconomistNovember 2, 2020
Advertisements Jaime Harrison ran a number of ads attempting to attract conservative voters from Lindsey Graham by elevating Constitution Party candidate Bill Bledsoe as "too conservative—but in doing so, the would-be attack ad offers up right-wing voters a laundry list of things to like about him". Bledsoe endorsed Graham after withdrawing from the race, but his name remained on the ballot. He criticized the ads as fraudulent.
Meanwhile, Graham ran ads attempting to brand Harrison as a diehard liberal while connecting him with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.
Post-primary endorsements
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LindseyGraham (R) JaimeHarrison (D) Other /Undecided0ptimusOctober 31 – November 2, 2020817 (LV)± 3.9%51%41%7%Data For ProgressOctober 27 – November 1, 20201,121 (LV)± 2.9%49%46%5%SwayableOctober 23 – November 1, 2020416 (LV)± 7.5%46%52%2%Morning ConsultOctober 22–31, 2020904 (LV)± 3%46%44% –Data for ProgressOctober 22–27, 20201,196 (LV)± 2.8%46%46%8%Starboard CommunicationsOctober 26, 2020800 (LV) –52%43%6%East Carolina UniversityOctober 24–25, 2020763 (LV)± 4.1%49%47%3%Morning ConsultOctober 11–20, 2020926 (LV)± 3.2%45%47% –Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies (D) October 11–16, 2020 525 (LV) ± 4.6% 45%47% 8%Siena College/NYT UpshotOctober 9–14, 2020605 (LV)± 3.5%46%40%14%Data for ProgressOctober 8–11, 2020801 (LV)± 3.5%46%47%7%Morning ConsultOctober 2–11, 2020 903 (LV)± 3%48%42% –ALG Research (D)ALG Research (D) September 29 – October 5, 2020711 (LV) –46%46%8%GBAO Strategies (D)September 24–28, 2020800 (LV)± 3.5%47%48%3%Data for Progress (D)September 23–28, 2020824 (LV)± 3.4%45%44%11%47%46%7%Quinnipiac University September 23–27, 2020 1,123 (LV) ± 2.9% 48% 48% 3%YouGov September 22–25, 2020 1,080 (LV) ± 3.8%45% 44% 11%Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies (D) September 21–24, 2020 608 (LV) ± 4% 43%45% 13%Morning Consult September 11–20, 2020 764 (LV) ± (3% – 4%)46% 45% 9%Morning ConsultSeptember 8–17, 2020782 (LV)± (2% – 4%)45%46% –Quinnipiac University September 10–14, 2020 969 (LV) ± 3.2% 48% 48% 3%Morning ConsultSeptember 2–11, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)44%46% –Morning ConsultAugust 23 – September 1, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)46%43% –Morning ConsultAugust 13–22, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)45%42% –Morning ConsultAugust 3–12, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)45%45% –Quinnipiac University July 30 – August 3, 2020 914 (RV) ± 3.2% 44% 44% 12%Morning Consult July 24 – August 2, 2020 741 (LV) ± 4.0%44% 43% 12%Morning ConsultJuly 23 – August 1, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)44%43% –Public Policy Polling (D) July 30–31, 2020 1,117 (V) ± 3.0%47% 44% 8%Morning ConsultJuly 13–22, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)46%42% –ALG Research (D)ALG Research (D) July 15–20, 2020 591 (LV) –49%45%6%Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies (D) July 13–19, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.5%43% 41% 16%Gravis Marketing July 17, 2020 604 (LV) ± 4.0%48% 41% 10%Civiqs/Daily Kos May 23–26, 2020 591 (RV) ± 4.5% 42% 42% 16%Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies (D) March 3–11, 2020 804 (LV) ± 3.8% 47% 43% 9%NBC News/Marist February 18–21, 2020 2,382 (RV) ± 2.6% 54% 37% 9%East Carolina University January 31 – February 2, 2020 1,756 (RV) ± 2.7% 51% 38% 11%Change Research December 6–11, 2019 998 (LV) ± 3.1% 47% 45% 9%Benchmark Research (R)Benchmark Research (R) October 15–21, 2019 450 (RV) ± 4.2% 53% 30% 18%Change Research (D)Change Research (D) September 17–21, 2019 809 (LV) ± 3.4% 50% 43% 7%Change Research June 11–14, 2019 2,312 (RV) ± 2.0% 52% 35% 13%WPA Intelligence (R) March 11–13, 2019 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 55% 32% 12%
with generic Democrat Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LindseyGraham (R) GenericDemocrat Other /UndecidedChange Research June 11–14, 2019 2,312 (RV) ± 2.0% 51% 36% 12%
on whether Lindsey Graham deserves to be re-elected Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Yes No Other /UndecidedChange Research/Post and Courier December 6–11, 2019 998 (LV) ± 3.1% 37%53% 10%Emerson College Feb 28 – March 2, 2019 755 (RV) ± 3.5% 47%52% 1%
with Generic Republican and Generic Democrat Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericRepublican GenericDemocrat Other /UndecidedQuinnipiac University September 23–27, 2020 1,123 (LV) ± 2.9%49% 44% 6%Quinnipiac UniversitySeptember 10–14, 2020969 (LV)± 3.2%52%44%5%
Fundraising In the first quarter of 2020, Harrison outraised Graham, $7.3 million to $5.5 million, but Graham had the lead in cash on hand, with $12 million compared with Harrison's $8 million.
In the third quarter of 2020, Harrison raised $57 million, the largest quarterly total by a US Senate candidate ever, breaking Beto O'Rourke's record in the 2018 Texas election. He had also raised the most ever by a US Senate candidate, beating another of O'Rourke's records.
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2020CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handLindsey Graham (R)$112,292,175$102,195,708$12,491,457Jaime Harrison (D)$132,685,669$132,350,242$335,426Source: Federal Election Commission
Debates 2020 United States senate election in South Carolina debates Date & Time Host Location Moderator ParticipantsKey: Participant. Non-invitee. United States senatorLindsey Graham Former SCDP chairmanJaime Harrison 1
Results
By county
CountyLindsey GrahamRepublicanJaime HarrisonDemocraticBill BledsoeConstitutionWrite-inMarginTotalvotes#%#%#%#%#%Abbeville8,02564.464,23233.991821.46110.093,79330.4712,450Aiken51,08059.9232,82938.511,2551.47790.0918,25121.4185,243Allendale83322.972,77376.45190.5220.06-1,940-53.493,627Anderson66,65569.3428,07529.201,3051.36980.1038,58040.1396,133Bamberg2,37336.634,06062.66440.6820.03-1,687-26.046,479Barnwell5,37852.114,80646.571281.2480.085725.5410,320Beaufort53,57554.6843,48944.398510.87620.0610,08610.2997,977Berkeley56,35853.9446,23344.251,8001.72950.0910,1259.69104,486Calhoun4,20150.593,97547.871231.4850.062262.728,304Charleston95,40143.50121,51755.412,1961.001830.08-26,116-11.91219,297Cherokee17,48169.247,26528.784851.92160.0610,21640.4625,247Chester8,24752.367,22545.872701.7180.051,0226.4915,750Chesterfield10,87857.637,70640.832751.46150.083,17216.8118,874Clarendon8,14148.678,39150.161721.03230.14-250-1.4916,727Colleton10,06852.188,83945.813641.89220.111,2296.3719,293Darlington16,45650.7215,56347.973951.22320.108932.7532,446Dillon6,29748.086,66350.881300.9960.05-366-2.7913,096Dorchester41,17853.3134,61644.821,3451.74990.136,5628.5077,238Edgefield7,98859.985,10438.332171.6380.062,88421.6613,317Fairfield4,55637.537,46361.481150.9550.04-2,907-23.9512,139Florence32,21749.8331,74849.116501.01360.064690.7264,651Georgetown20,49555.8115,86743.213400.93220.064,62812.6036,724Greenville149,99158.04104,98040.633,1161.213190.1245,01117.42258,406Greenwood19,01759.3712,50439.034661.45460.146,51320.3332,033Hampton3,75540.375,45958.69820.8850.05-1,704-18.329,301Horry116,51264.8660,53033.692,4711.381310.0755,98231.16179,644Jasper6,93948.137,30250.651701.1850.03-363-2.5214,416Kershaw20,10459.7712,90438.375811.73450.137,20021.4133,634Lancaster29,57259.3219,52339.167171.44370.0710,04920.1649,849Laurens19,48663.8710,49834.414871.60370.128,98829.4630,508Lee2,93934.835,42664.30700.8330.04-2,487-29.478,438Lexington91,94463.5550,25634.742,3491.621320.0941,68828.81144,681Marion5,56237.769,03461.341210.82110.07-3,472-23.5714,278Marlboro4,77541.666,50456.741691.47140.12-1,729-15.0811,462McCormick2,93351.232,74647.97410.7250.091873.275,725Newberry11,23960.347,09438.092771.49160.094,14522.2518,626Oconee29,45472.3710,57625.996331.56340.0818,87846.3940,697Orangeburg13,22132.0427,72067.192990.72190.05-14,499-35.1441,259Pickens42,50573.8714,06624.449001.56710.1228,43949.4257,542Richland58,89430.33133,64268.821,5090.781420.07-74,748-38.49194,187Saluda6,10765.773,02332.551491.6070.083,08433.219,286Spartanburg91,59461.6254,47536.652,3851.601970.1337,11924.97148,651Sumter20,52441.9227,79156.766041.23410.08-7,267-14.8448,960Union7,86859.445,10538.572491.88150.112,76320.8713,237Williamsburg5,40933.7710,49365.511070.6790.06-5,084-31.7416,018York80,91256.1960,73842.182,2321.551160.0820,17414.01143,998 Totals1,369,13754.441,110,82844.1732,8451.302,2940.09258,30910.272,515,104
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Barnwell (largest municipality: Barnwell) Calhoun (largest municipality: St. Matthews) Darlington (largest municipality: Hartsville)