The 2020 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary took place on February 29, 2020, and was the fourth nominating contest in the Democratic Party primaries for the 2020 presidential election. The South Carolina primary was an open primary and awarded 64 delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Convention, of which 54 were pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the results of the primary. Former vice president Joe Biden and senator Bernie Sanders were the only candidates to earn delegates. Biden won 48.7% of the popular vote and notably placed first in every county in the state; it was his first ever win in a presidential primary. Sanders came in second place and won 19.8% of the popular vote. Businessman Tom Steyer, who had staked his entire campaign on the state, placed third but did not surpass the threshold and dropped out of the race, endorsing Biden.
The primary was widely interpreted as a turning point for the 2020 primaries, with Joe Biden gaining momentum going into the pivotal Super Tuesday races three days later. Following successes in the previous primaries, former mayor Pete Buttigieg and senator Amy Klobuchar received very disappointing results and initially wanted to stay in the race, but they both suspended their campaigns shortly before Super Tuesday and endorsed Biden on the day before. While Biden and former mayor Michael Bloomberg were left as the only moderates afterwards, the majority coalesced around Biden in the race against left-wing candidates Sanders and senator Elizabeth Warren.
Procedure Primary elections were held on Saturday, February 29, 2020. In the open primary, candidates had to meet a viability threshold of 15 percent at the congressional district or statewide level in order to be considered viable. The 54 pledged delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Convention were allocated proportionally on the basis of the results of the primary. Of these, 35 were allocated on the basis of the results within each congressional district, between 3 and 8 were allocated to each of the state's seven congressional districts. Another 7 were allocated to party leaders and elected officials (PLEO delegates), in addition to 12 at-large delegates.
The precinct reorganization meetings subsequently were held on March 14, 2020, to choose delegates for the county conventions, directly followed by county conventions until March 31, to elect delegates to the state convention. On May 30, 2020, the state convention met in Columbia to elect all pledged national convention delegates. Delegates were allowed to participate from remote places due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The delegation also included 10 unpledged PLEO delegates: 8 members of the Democratic National Committee and 2 representatives from Congress.
Voting was done by each voter selecting choices on a screen, so the machine printed a ballot with chosen names and a bar code. Voters could check the printed names before putting the ballot in the ballot box, though few do that. A scanner counted the bar codes, not the names, and no audit was required to check if the machines worked correctly.
Voters could absentee vote in-person until February 28, 2020, at 5:00 pm local time (EST) or submit absentee votes by mail. Election officials recommended applying to absentee vote by-mail a week in advance so that voters had time to receive their absentee ballot and mail it in by election day. Polling places closed at 7:00 pm; however, anyone standing in line at 7:00 pm were still allowed to vote. Pledged nationalconvention delegates Type CD1 6 CD2 4 CD3 3 CD4 4 CD5 5 CD6 8 CD7 5 7 At-large 12 Total pledged delegates 54
Candidates There was a $20,000 filing fee to get on the ballot, the largest in the nation. Along with the filing fee, an application was required to be submitted to the South Carolina State committee by December 4, 2019.
The following candidates were placed on the ballot:
Joe Biden Pete Buttigieg Tulsi Gabbard Amy Klobuchar Bernie Sanders Tom Steyer Elizabeth Warren Michael Bennet (withdrawn) Cory Booker (withdrawn) John Delaney (withdrawn) Deval Patrick (withdrawn) Andrew Yang (withdrawn)
Additionally, Julian Castro and Marianne Williamson were both accepted onto the ballot, but withdrew soon enough that they did not appear on the ballot. Write-in votes are not permitted in South Carolina party primaries.
Polling Polling aggregationSource of poll aggregationDateupdatedDatespolledJoeBidenBernieSandersTomSteyerPeteButtigiegElizabethWarrenAmyKlobucharTulsiGabbardUn-decided270 to Win270 to Win Feb 28, 2020 Feb 23–27, 202035.8% 20.2% 13.4% 10.0% 8.2% 5.0% 2.6% 4.8%RealClear PoliticsRealClear Politics Feb 28, 2020 Feb 23–27, 202039.7% 24.3% 11.7% 11.3% 6.0% 5.7% 2.3% –FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEight Feb 28, 2020 until Feb 27, 202038.4% 19.1% 12.4% 8.5% 7.0% 4.3% 2.6% 7.7%Average38.0% 21.2% 12.5% 9.9% 7.1% 5.0% 2.5% 4.9% South Carolina primary results (February 29, 2020) 48.7% 19.8% 11.3% 8.2% 7.1% 3.1% 1.3% –
Polling in January and February 2020 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JoeBiden MichaelBloomberg PeteButtigieg TulsiGabbard AmyKlobuchar BernieSanders TomSteyer ElizabethWarren AndrewYang Other Undecided South Carolina primary (popular vote) Feb 29, 2020 – –48.65% –8.2%1.26%3.13%19.77%11.34%7.07%0.2%0.38% –Atlas IntelAtlas IntelFeb 25–28, 2020 477 (LV)± 4.0%35% – 8% 2% 4% 24% 12% 7% – 2% 6%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeFeb 26–27, 2020 550 (LV)± 4.1%41% – 11% 2% 6% 25% 11% 5% – – –Trafalgar GroupTrafalgar GroupFeb 26–27, 2020 1,081 (LV)± 2.99%43.9% – 9.6% 1.7% 5.9% 22.8% 10.5% 5.6% – – –Data for ProgressData for ProgressFeb 23–27, 2020 1416 (LV)± 2.6%34% –13%3%5%25%13%7% – – –Change ResearchChange Research /Post and Courier Feb 23–27, 2020 543 (LV)± 5.1%28% –11%5%4%24%16%12% – –1%Starboard CommunicationsStarboard CommunicationsFeb 26, 2020 1,102 (LV)± 2.82%40% – 9% 2% 6% 11% 12% 9% – – 12% Feb 25, 2020 Tenth Democratic primary debateMonmouth UniversityMonmouth UniversityFeb 23–25, 2020 454 (LV)± 4.6%36% –6%1%4%16%15%8% –0%15%Clemson UniversityClemson UniversityFeb 17–25, 2020 650 (LV)± 3.8%35% –8%2%4%13%17%8% – –12%East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina UniversityFeb 23–24, 2020 1,142 (LV)± 3.37%31% –6%2%2%23%20%8% – –8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy PollingFeb 23–24, 2020 866 (LV)± 3.3%36% –7%6%3%21%7%8% – –11% Feb 22, 2020 Nevada caucusesYouGov/CBS NewsYouGov/CBS NewsFeb 20–22, 2020 1,238 (LV)± 5.5%28% –10%1%4%23%18%12% –3%1%Marist Poll/NBC NewsMarist Poll/NBC NewsFeb 18–21, 2020 539 (LV)± 6.0%27% –9%3%5%23%15%8% –2%9% 997 (RV)± 4.0%25% –9%3%5%24%15%8% –2%9%Winthrop UniversityWinthrop UniversityFeb 9–19, 2020 443 (LV)± 4.7%24% –7%1%4%19%15%6%1%2%22%University of Massachusetts LowellUniversity of Massachusetts LowellFeb 12–18, 2020 400 (LV)± 7.5%23% –11%4%9%21%13%11% –4%4%Change Research/The Welcome PartyChange Research/The Welcome PartyFeb 12–14, 2020 1015 (LV) –23% –15%1%8%23%20%9% – –1%East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina UniversityFeb 12–13, 2020 703 (LV)± 4.3%28%6%8%1%7%20%14%7% –0%8% Feb 11–12, 2020 New Hampshire primary; Yang withdraws from the race. Feb 3, 2020 Iowa caucusZogby AnalyticsZogby AnalyticsJan 31 – Feb 3, 2020 277 (LV)± 5.9%28%4%7%4%2%20%15%11%1%0%8%East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina UniversityJan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 469 (LV)± 5.3%37%1%4%2%2%14%19%8%3%0%10%Change Research/Post and CourierChange Research/Post and CourierJan 26–29, 2020 651 (LV)± 4%25% –7%3%2%20%18%11%3%1%10% Jan 13, 2020 Booker withdraws from the raceGQR Research/Unite the CountryGQR Research/Unite the CountryJan 9–13, 2020600 (LV) –36% – 5% – – 15% 12% 10% – – –Fox NewsFox NewsJan 5–8, 2020808 (RV)± 3.5%36%2%4%1%1%14%15%10%2%3%11%
Polling before January 2020 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JoeBiden CoryBooker PeteButtigieg KamalaHarris BetoO'Rourke BernieSanders TomSteyer ElizabethWarren Other UndecidedChange Research/Post and CourierChange Research/Post and CourierDec 6–11, 2019392 (LV)± 4.9%27% 5% 9% – – 20% 5% 19% 13% – Dec 3, 2019 Harris withdraws from the raceYouGov/FairVoteYouGov/FairVote Nov 22 – Dec 2, 2019400 (LV)± 7.5%39%2%10%2% –13%7%10%13%4%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac UniversityNov 13–17, 2019768 (LV)± 4.8%33%2%6%3%–11%5%13%7%18%YouGov/CBS NewsYouGov/CBS NewsNov 6–13, 2019933 (RV)± 4.2%45%2%8%5%–15%2%17%6% –University ofNorth FloridaNov 5–13, 2019426 (LV)–36%2%3%4%–10%8%10%6%23% Nov 1, 2019 O'Rourke withdraws from the raceMonmouth UniversityMonmouth University Oct 16–21, 2019 402 (LV) ± 4.9%33% 2% 3% 6% 1% 12% 4% 16% 7% 15%Change Research/Post and CourierChange Research/Post and Courier Oct 15–21, 2019 731 (LV) ± 3.6% 30% 3% 9% 11% 1% 13% 5% 19% 11% –Firehouse Strategies/ØptimusFirehouse Strategies/Øptimus Oct 8–10, 2019 607 (LV) ± 3.7%32% 2% 4% 5% 1% 8% – 16% 33% –YouGov/CBS NewsYouGov/CBS News Oct 3–11, 2019 915 (RV) ±3.9%43% 3% 4% 7% 1% 16% 2% 18% 6%–Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing Oct 3–7, 2019 516 (LV) ± 4.3%34% 6% 0% 4% 2% 10% 7% 9% 10% 19%Fox NewsFox News Sep 29 – Oct 2, 2019 803 (LV) ± 3.5%41% 3% 2% 4% 0% 10% 4% 12% 8% 16%Winthrop University Sep 21–30, 2019 462 (RV) ± 4.9%37% 3% 4% 7% 2% 8% 2% 17% 6% 12%CNN/SSRSCNN/SSRS Sep 22–26, 2019 406 (LV) ± 5.9%37% 2% 4% 3% 2% 11% 3% 16% 4% 10%YouGov/CBS NewsYouGov/CBS News Aug 28 – Sep 4, 2019 849 (RV) ± 4.3%43% 2% 4% 7% 1% 18% 1% 14% 9% –Change ResearchChange Research Aug 9–12, 2019 521 (LV) ± 4.3% 36% 4% 5% 12% 1% 16% 1% 17% 7% –Firehouse Strategies/ØptimusFirehouse Strategies/Øptimus Jul 23–25, 2019 554 (LV) ± 3.8% 31% 2% 4% 10% 0% 9% – 12% 8% 24%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University Jul 18–22, 2019 405 (LV) ± 4.9%39% 2% 5% 12% 1% 10% 2% 9% 3% 17%YouGov/CBS NewsYouGov/CBS News Jul 9–18, 2019 997 (RV) ± 3.8%39% 3% 5% 12% 2% 17% 1% 12% 9% –Fox NewsFox News Jul 7–10, 2019 701 (LV) ± 3.5% 35% 3% 2% 12% 0% 14% 0% 5% 3% 20% Jul 9, 2019 Steyer announces his candidacyChange ResearchChange Research Jun 29 – Jul 4, 2019 421 (LV) – 27% 6% 6% 21% 1% 16% 0% 15% 8% –Change ResearchChange Research Jun 17–20, 2019 308 (LV) – 39% 5% 11% 9% 5% 13% 0% 15% 5% –Change ResearchChange Research Jun 11–14, 2019 933 (LV) ± 3.2% 37% 5% 11% 9% 4% 9% – 17% 8% –YouGov/CBS NewsYouGov/CBS News May 31 – Jun 12, 2019 552 (LV) – 45% 4% 6% 7% 4% 18% – 8% 8% –Zogby AnalyticsZogby Analytics May 23–29, 2019 183 (LV) ± 7.2% 36% 4% 7% 4% 2% 13% – 12% 4% –Tel Opinion ResearchTel Opinion Research* May 22–24, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 37% 2% 3% 7% – 10% – 8% – 32%Crantford ResearchCrantford Research May 14–16, 2019 381 (LV) ± 5.0% 42% 4% 8% 10% – 7% – 8% – –Change ResearchChange Research May 6–9, 2019 595 (LV) ± 4.0% 46% 4% 8% 10% 2% 15% – 8% 5% –Firehouse Strategies/ØptimusFirehouse Strategies/Øptimus Apr 30 – May 2, 2019 568 (LV) ± 4.5% 48% 4% 5% 4% 1% 12% – 5% 1% 20% Apr 25, 2019 Biden announces his candidacy Apr 14, 2019 Buttigieg announces his candidacyChange ResearchChange Research Mar 31 – Apr 4, 2019 744 (LV) ± 3.6% 32% 9% 7% 10% 9% 14% – 6% 12% – – 12% 12% 15% 16% 24% – 11% 12% – Mar 14, 2019 O'Rourke announces his candidacyEmerson CollegeEmerson College Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 291 (LV) ± 5.7% 37% 6% 0% 9% 5% 21% – 5% 16% –Change ResearchChange Research Feb 15–18, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 36% 10% – 13% 8% 14% – 9% 12% – – 28% 1% 35% – – – 20% 18% – Feb 19, 2019 Sanders announces his candidacy Feb 9, 2019 Warren announces her candidacyFirehouse Strategies/ØptimusFirehouse Strategies/Øptimus Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2019 557 (LV) ± 4.0% 36% 5% – 12% 2% 8% – 4% 2% 31%
Head-to-head polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JoeBiden PeteButtigieg BernieSanders ElizabethWarren Other UndecidedYouGov/FairVoteNov 22 – Dec 2, 2019400 (LV)± 7.5%73% 27% – – – –66% – 34% – – –61% – – 29% 6% – 39%61% – – – – 36% –64% – – – –54% 46% – –Tel Opinion Research May 22–24, 2019 600 ± 4.0% 71% 10% – – – 19% 70% – 15% – – 16% 67% – – 15% – 18%
Results
Official results show that Joe Biden won the Democratic primary with 48.65% of the vote, with Bernie Sanders coming in second with 19.77%.