The 2020 United States presidential election in South Carolina was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. South Carolina voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence against Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his running mate California Senator Kamala Harris. South Carolina has nine electoral votes in the Electoral College.
Trump carried South Carolina by a margin of 11.68%, down from his 14.27% margin four years earlier. Prior to this election, all 12 news organizations considered this a state Trump would win, or a red state.
South Carolina was the only East Coast state in 2020 to vote Republican by a double-digit margin. This was the first time that both main party candidates won more than one million votes in a statewide election in South Carolina, alongside the concurrent Senate election.
Primary elections Canceled Republican primary
On September 7, 2019, the South Carolina Republican Party became one of several state GOP affiliates to cancel their respective primaries and caucuses officially. Donald J. Trump's re-election campaign and Republican officials have cited the fact that Republicans canceled several state primaries when George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush sought second terms in 1992 and 2004, respectively, and Democrats scrapped some of their primaries when Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were seeking re-election in 1996 and 2012, respectively.
In response to the cancellation, former U.S. Representative Bob Inglis and another South Carolina Republican voter filed a lawsuit against the South Carolina Republican Party on grounds that it denied their right to vote. On December 11, 2019, a state court judge dismissed the lawsuit, writing in his opinion that the law "does not give plaintiffs a legal right to presidential preference primary". Thus at the South Carolina State Republican Convention in May 2020, the state party formally bound all 50 of its national pledged delegates to Trump.
Democratic primary The South Carolina Democratic primary was held on February 29, 2020.
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportSeptember 10, 2020Inside ElectionsSeptember 4, 2020Sabato's Crystal BallJuly 14, 2020PoliticoSeptember 8, 2020RCPAugust 3, 2020Niskanen2020 Bitecofer Model Electoral College Predictions , Niskanen Center, March 24, 2020, retrieved: April 19, 2020July 26, 2020CNNAugust 3, 2020The EconomistSeptember 2, 2020CBS NewsAugust 16, 2020270towinAugust 2, 2020ABC NewsJuly 31, 2020NPRAugust 3, 2020NBC NewsAugust 6, 2020538September 9, 2020
Polling
Aggregate polls +Source of pollaggregationDates administeredDates updatedJoeBiden DonaldTrumpOther/UndecidedMargin270 to WinOctober 15, 2020 – November 2, 2020November 3, 202043.3%50.3%6.4%Trump +7.0FiveThirtyEightuntil November 2, 2020November 3, 202044.5%51.6%3.9%Trump +7.1Average43.9%51.0%5.1%Trump +7.1
Polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrumpJoeBidenJoJorgensenHowieHawkinsOtherUndecidedOptimusOct 31 – Nov 2, 2020817 (LV)± 3.9%51%39% – –2%8%SurveyMonkey/AxiosOct 20 – Nov 2, 20202,485 (LV)± 3%56%42% – – – –Data For ProgressOct 27 – Nov 1, 20201,121 (LV)± 2.9%53%44%2%0%0% –SwayableOct 23 – Nov 1, 2020426 (LV)± 7.4%50%49%1%0% – –Morning ConsultOct 22–31, 2020904 (LV)± 3%51%45% – – – –SurveyMonkey/AxiosOct 1–28, 20204,725 (LV) –54%44% – – – –Data for ProgressOct 22–27, 20201,196 (LV)± 2.8%50%44%1%0% –4%Starboard CommunicationsOct 26, 2020800 (LV) –51%44% – – –5%East Carolina UniversityOct 24–25, 2020763 (LV)± 4.1%52%44% – –3%1%Morning ConsultOct 11–20, 2020926 (LV)± 3.2%51%45% – – – –New York Times/Siena CollegeOct 9–14, 2020605 (LV)± 4.5%49%41% 2% 1%1%6%Data for ProgressOct 8–11, 2020801 (LV)± 3.5%52%43% 1% 1% –4%Morning Consult Oct 2–11, 2020 903 (LV) ± 3%54% 42% – – – –SurveyMonkey/AxiosSep 1–30, 20201,833 (LV) –53%45% – – –2%GBAO Strategies/DSCCSep 24–28, 2020800 (LV)± 3.5%49%44% – – – –Data for Progress (D)Sep 23–28, 2020824 (LV)± 3.4%47%43% 1% 1% –8%50%45% – – –5%Quinnipiac University Sep 23–27, 2020 1,123 (LV) ± 2.9%48% 47% – – 1% 4%YouGov/CBS Sep 22–25, 2020 1,080 (LV) ± 3.8%52% 42% – – 2% 4%Morning ConsultSep 11–20, 2020764 (LV)± (3% – 4%)50%44% – – – –Quinnipiac UniversitySep 10–14, 2020969 (LV)± 3.2%51%45% – –0%4%Morning ConsultSep 2–11, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)51%44% – – – –Morning ConsultAug 23 – Sep 1, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)52%42% – – – –SurveyMonkey/AxiosAug 1–31, 20201,326 (LV) –53%45% – – –2%Morning ConsultAug 13–22, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)51%43% – – – –Morning ConsultAug 3–12, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)50%43% – – – –Quinnipiac UniversityJul 30 – Aug 3, 2020914 (RV)± 3.2%47%42% – –4%7%Morning ConsultJul 24 – Aug 2, 2020741 (LV)± 4.0%49%44% – –3%4%Morning ConsultJul 23 – Aug 1, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)48%45% – – – –SurveyMonkey/AxiosJul 1–31, 20201,700 (LV) –53%44% – – –2%Morning ConsultJul 13–22, 2020~764 (LV)± (3%–4%)50%43% – – – –ALG Research/Lindsey Must GoALG Research/Lindsey Must Go Jul 15–20, 2020 591 (LV) –50% 45% – – 1% 4%Gravis Marketing Jul 17, 2020 604 (LV) ± 4.0%50% 46% – – – –brilliant corners Research & Strategies/Jaime Harrison Jul 13–19, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.5%50% 43% – – – –SurveyMonkey/AxiosJun 8–30, 2020863 (LV) –52%47% – – –2%Civiqs/Daily Kos May 23–26, 2020 591 (RV) ± 4.5%52% 42% – – 5% 1%AtlasIntel Feb 25–28, 2020 1,100 (RV) ± 3.0% 48% 42% – – 11% –East Carolina University Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 1,756 (RV) ± 2.7% 52% 40% – – – 8%Change Research Jun 11–14, 2019 2,312 (RV) ± 2.0% 54% 38% 3% 1% – –Emerson College Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 755 (RV) ± 3.5% 52% 48% – – – –Donald Trump vs. Bernie Sanders Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) BernieSanders (D) Other UndecidedAtlasIntel Feb 25–28, 2020 1,100 (RV) ± 3.0% 48% 42% 9% –East Carolina University Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 1,756 (RV) ± 2.7% 52% 40% – 8%Change Research Jun 11–14, 2019 2,312 (RV) ± 2.0% 54% 34% 6% –Emerson College Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 755 (RV) ± 3.5% 54% 46% – –
Donald Trump vs. Elizabeth Warren Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) ElizabethWarren (D) UndecidedAtlasIntel Feb 25–28, 2020 1,100 (RV) ± 3.0% 49% 41% 10%East Carolina University Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 1,756 (RV) ± 2.7% 54% 36% 10%Emerson College Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 755 (RV) ± 3.5% 54% 46% –
Donald Trump vs. Michael Bloomberg Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) MichaelBloomberg (D) UndecidedEast Carolina University Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 1,756 (RV) ± 2.7% 53% 33% 13%
Donald Trump vs. Amy Klobuchar Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) AmyKlobuchar (D) UndecidedEast Carolina University Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 1,756 (RV) ± 2.7% 52% 32% 15%Emerson College Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 755 (RV) ± 3.5% 56% 44% –
Donald Trump vs. Pete Buttigieg Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) PeteButtigieg (D) UndecidedAtlasIntel Feb 25–28, 2020 1,100 (RV) ± 3.0% 48% 37% 15%East Carolina University Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 1,756 (RV) ± 2.7% 52% 34% 13%
Donald Trump vs. Tom Steyer Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) TomSteyer (D) UndecidedEast Carolina University Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 1,756 (RV) ± 2.7% 52% 39% 9%
Donald Trump vs. Andrew Yang Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) AndrewYang (D) UndecidedEast Carolina University Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 1,756 (RV) ± 2.7% 52% 34% 14%
Donald Trump vs. Cory Booker Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) CoryBooker (D) Other UndecidedChange Research Jun 11–14, 2019 2,312 (RV) ± 2.0% 54% 32% 6% –Emerson College Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 755 (RV) ± 3.5% 54% 46% – –
Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) KamalaHarris (D) Other UndecidedChange Research Jun 11–14, 2019 2,312 (RV) ± 2.0% 54% 33% 6% –Emerson College Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 755 (RV) ± 3.5% 56% 44% – –
Donald Trump vs. Beto O'Rourke Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) BetoO'Rourke (D) UndecidedEmerson College Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 755 (RV) ± 3.5% 56% 44% –
with Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, and Howard Schultz Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) BernieSanders (D) HowardSchultz (I) UndecidedEmerson College Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 755 (RV) ± 3.5% 51% 42% 7% –
with Donald Trump, Elizabeth Warren, and Howard Schultz Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) ElizabethWarren (D) HowardSchultz (I) UndecidedEmerson College Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 755 (RV) ± 3.5% 53% 41% 7% –
with Donald Trump, generic Democrat, and Howard Schultz Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) GenericDemocrat HowardSchultz (I) UndecidedWPA Intelligence (R) Mar 11–13, 2019 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 46% 34% 3% 17%
Results
By county CountyDonald TrumpRepublicanJoe BidenDemocraticVarious candidatesOther partiesMarginTotal#%#%#%#%Abbeville8,21566.07%4,10132.98%1170.95%4,11433.09%12,433Aiken51,58960.56%32,27537.89%1,3211.55%19,31422.67%85,185Allendale83523.24%2,71875.65%401.11%-1,883-52.41%3,593Anderson67,56570.31%27,16928.27%1,3591.42%40,39642.04%96,093Bamberg2,41737.29%4,01061.86%550.85%-1,593-24.57%6,482Barnwell5,49253.21%4,72045.73%1091.06%7727.48%10,321Beaufort53,19454.37%43,41944.38%1,2221.25%9,7759.99%97,835Berkeley57,39754.95%45,22343.29%1,8381.76%12,17411.66%104,458Calhoun4,30551.92%3,90547.10%810.98%4004.82%8,291Charleston93,29742.63%121,48555.51%4,0751.86%-28,188-12.88%218,857Cherokee18,04371.40%6,98327.63%2440.97%11,06043.77%25,270Chester8,66054.96%6,94144.05%1560.99%1,71910.91%15,757Chesterfield11,29759.85%7,43139.37%1480.78%3,86620.48%18,876Clarendon8,36149.97%8,25049.30%1120.73%1110.67%16,733Colleton10,44054.14%8,60244.61%2411.25%1,8389.53%19,283Darlington16,83251.92%15,22046.95%3651.13%1,6124.97%32,417Dillon6,58250.24%6,43649.13%830.63%1461.11%13,101Dorchester41,91354.24%33,82443.77%1,5411.99%8,08910.47%77,278Edgefield8,18461.52%4,95337.23%1671.25%3,23124.29%13,304Fairfield4,62538.11%7,38260.83%1291.06%-2,757-22.72%12,136Florence32,61550.56%31,15348.29%7421.15%1,4622.27%64,510Georgetown20,48755.87%15,82243.15%3590.98%4,66512.72%36,668Greenville150,02158.11%103,03039.91%5,1041.98%46,99118.20%258,155Greenwood19,43160.71%12,14537.95%4301.34%7,28622.76%32,006Hampton3,90641.98%5,32357.21%760.81%-1,417-15.23%9,305Horry118,82166.11%59,18032.92%1,7430.97%59,64133.19%179,744Jasper7,07849.17%7,18549.92%1310.91%-107-0.75%14,394Kershaw20,47160.87%12,69937.76%4591.37%7,77223.11%33,629Lancaster30,31260.78%18,93737.97%6191.25%11,37522.81%49,868Laurens20,00465.61%10,15933.32%3251.07%9,84532.29%30,488Lee3,00835.68%5,32963.21%941.11%-2,321-27.53%8,431Lexington92,81764.20%49,30134.10%2,4501.70%43,51630.10%144,568Marion5,71138.84%8,87260.34%1210.82%-3,161-21.50%14,704Marlboro5,04444.07%6,29054.95%1120.98%-1,246-10.88%11,446McCormick2,95851.92%2,68747.17%520.91%2714.75%5,697Newberry11,44361.42%6,95837.35%2301.23%4,48524.07%18,631Oconee29,69873.03%10,41425.61%5561.36%19,28447.42%40,668Orangeburg13,60333.01%27,29566.24%3070.75%-13,692-33.23%41,205Pickens42,90774.56%13,64523.71%9941.73%29,26250.85%57,546Richland58,31330.09%132,57068.40%2,9391.51%-74,257-38.31%193,822Saluda6,21066.96%2,96331.95%1011.09%3,24735.01%9,274Spartanburg93,56062.94%52,92635.60%2,1691.46%40,63427.34%148,655Sumter21,00042.93%27,37955.97%5411.10%-6,379-13.04%48,920Union8,18361.73%4,93537.23%1391.04%3,24824.50%13,257Williamsburg5,53234.61%10,28964.37%1641.02%-4,757-29.76%15,985York82,72757.43%59,00840.96%2,3151.61%23,71916.47%144,050Totals1,385,10355.11%1,091,54143.43%36,6851.46%293,56211.68%2,513,329
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Clarendon (largest city: Manning) Dillon (largest city: Dillon)
By congressional district