The 2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary was held on February 24, 2024, as part of the Republican Party primaries for the 2024 presidential election. 50 delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention were allocated on a selection basis.

Held following the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary, the Nevada primary and caucuses, and the United States Virgin Islands caucuses, the South Carolina primary was the fifth Republican contest in which delegates were awarded to take place this election. South Carolina holds the "first in the South" presidential primary for both major parties.

Nikki Haley, who served as Governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017, announced her presidential candidacy in February 2023. Tim Scott, who has represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2013, entered the race with a campaign announcement in May 2023. He suspended his campaign on November 12, 2023 and endorsed Trump on January 19, 2024.

Immediately after polls closed at 7:00pm EST, multiple media outlets called the primary for Trump. Trump received the highest number of votes of any candidate for either party in the history of the South Carolina primaries, breaking the record previously held by George W. Bush in 2000.

Background The Republican electorate in South Carolina is noted for having a high proportion of evangelical voters. Socially conservative candidates have performed well in the South Carolina primary in past contests. In the 2012 Republican primary, Newt Gingrich beat eventual nominee Mitt Romney in the state with support from evangelical voters.

In the 2016 South Carolina Republican primary, Donald Trump won with 32.51% of the vote, with the nearest opponent Marco Rubio taking 22.48%. Trump reportedly won 34% of the evangelical vote in the primary, with Ted Cruz taking 26%, and Rubio taking 21%.

Procedure 29 at-large delegates are awarded to the candidate with the highest statewide vote total. Each of the state's seven congressional districts are awarded three delegates. The candidate with the highest vote total in each congressional district are awarded that district's delegates.

Candidates The following 10 candidates had filed by the end of the filing period on October 31, 2023, and secured ballot access.

Ryan Binkley Nikki Haley David Stuckenberg Donald Trump John Anthony Castro (disqualified due to the check for his registration fee bouncing) Tim Scott (withdrawn on November 12, 2023) Doug Burgum (withdrawn on December 4, 2023) Chris Christie (withdrawn on January 10, 2024) Vivek Ramaswamy (withdrawn on January 15, 2024) Ron DeSantis (withdrawn on January 21, 2024)

Endorsements

Withdrawn candidates

Maps

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated NikkiHaley DonaldTrump Other/Undecided Margin270toWin270toWin February 16–20, 2024 February 21, 2024 34.6%61.6% 3.8%Trump +27.0FiveThirtyEight through February 23, 2024 February 24, 2024 34.0%61.6% 4.4% Trump +27.6RealClearPolling February 14, 2024 – February 23, 2024 February 23, 2024 37.5%60.8% 1.7%Trump +23.3 Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMarginof errorDougBurgumChrisChristieRonDeSantisNikkiHaleyAsaHutchinsonMikePenceVivekRamaswamyTimScottDonaldTrumpOtherUndecidedTrafalgar GroupTrafalgar GroupFeb 21–23, 20241093 (LV)± 2.9% – – –37.5% – – – –58.9% –3.6%Suffolk University/USA TodaySuffolk University/USA Today Feb 15–18, 2024 500 (LV) ± 4.4% – – –35% – – – –63% –2%Emerson College/The HillEmerson College/The Hill Feb 15–17, 2024 1197 (LV) ± 2.8% – – –35.4% – – – –57.9% –6.7%Insider AdvantageInsider Advantage Feb 14–15, 2024 800 (LV) ± 3.9% – – –38% – – – –60%1%1%Trafalgar GroupTrafalgar GroupFeb 13–15, 20241,089 (LV)± 2.9%–––33.6%––––63.3%–3%The CitadelThe Citadel Feb 5–11, 2024 505 (LV) ± 5.7% – – –31% – – – –64%3%2%Winthrop UniversityWinthrop University Feb 2–10, 2024 749 (LV) ± 3.6% – – –28.7% – – – –64.9%3.3%2%Washington Post/Monmouth UniversityWashington Post/Monmouth UniversityJan 26–30, 2024815 (LV)± 3.9% – – –32% – – – –58%2%8%Fabrizio, Lee & AssociatesFabrizio, Lee & AssociatesJan 28–29, 2024600 (LV)± 4.0% – – –31% – – – –66% –4%The Tyson Group/The American PromiseThe Tyson Group/The American PromiseJan 24–26, 2024543 (LV)± 4.4% – – –31% – – – –58% –11%Fabrizio, Lee & AssociatesJan 17–18, 2024600 (LV)± 4.0% – – –28% – – – –68% –4%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeJan 2–3, 2024584 (LV)± 4.0%–4.8%6.6%25.1%0.2%–3.1%–54.4%–1.9%Trafalgar GroupTrafalgar GroupDec 6–8, 20231,087 (LV)± 2.9%–5.8%14.4%22.8%0.3%–6.1%–48.7%–1.9%Morning ConsultMorning ConsultNov 1–30, 2023856 (LV)–0%2%13%19%––3%7%57%––Winthrop University Center for Public Opinion & Policy ResearchWinthrop University Center for Public Opinion & Policy ResearchNov 4–12, 2023780 (RV)± 3.51%0.3%1.6%12.5%18.7%0.4% –3.4%10.6%47.6%2.1%2.7%Morning ConsultOct 1–31, 2023927 (LV)–0%1%11%15%0%3%6%7%58%––CNN/SSRSCNN/SSRSOct 18–25, 2023738 (LV)± 4.8%0%2%11%22%0%2%1%6%53%0%1%Morning ConsultSep 1–30, 2023854 (LV)––1%10%13%0%3%6%7%59%0%1%Fox BusinessFox BusinessSep 14–18, 2023809 (LV)± 3.5%<0.5%4%10%18%1%4%5%9%46%1%3%Washington Post/Monmouth UniversityWashington Post/Monmouth UniversitySep 6–11, 2023506 (LV)± 4.6%0%5%9%18%2%3%3%10%46%1%4%Morning ConsultAug 1–31, 2023910 (LV)––1%14%11%0%4%8%7%55%0%–Trafalgar Group (R)Trafalgar Group (R)Aug 17–19, 20231,054 (LV)± 2.9%0%2%14%8%0%2%6%14%48%0%1%Manhattan InstituteJuly 2023707 (LV)± 4.0%0%3%21%8%1%1%4%11%43%2%6%Morning ConsultJuly 1–31, 2023907 (LV)–0%1%15%12%1%3%6%7%54%0%1%Fox BusinessFox BusinessJul 15–19, 2023809 (LV)± 3.5%<0.5%2%13%14%1%4%3%10%48%–4%Morning ConsultJune 1–30, 2023907 (LV)–0%1%20%12%0%4%3%10%48%1%1%National Public AffairsNational Public AffairsJun 20–21, 2023809 (LV)–1%5%18%12%2%2%2%10%41%–6%Morning ConsultMay 1–31, 2023875 (LV)–––19%13%0%4%3%7%52%1%1%National ResearchNational ResearchMay 24–25, 2023500 (LV)± 4.38%––18%10%1%1%1%12%43%1%13%National Public AffairsNational Public AffairsMay 15–17, 2023590 (LV)± 4.0%––23%15%3%2%2%10%38%–8%Morning ConsultApr 1–30, 2023810 (LV)–––17%17%0%5%1%4%52%3%1%National Public AffairsNational Public AffairsApr 11–14, 2023588 (LV)± 4.2%––21%19%1%2%1%7%43%1%6%Winthrop UniversityWinthrop UniversityMar 25 – April 1, 2023485 (RV)± 4.6%––20%18%0%5%–7%41%5%4%Morning ConsultMar 1–31, 2023806 (LV)–––22%15%–5%0%4%49%3%2%Morning ConsultFeb 1–28, 2023689 (LV)–––24%18%–5%–7%43%4%–Neighbourhood Research and MediaNeighbourhood Research and MediaFeb 7–14, 2023300 (LV)± 5.9%––22%16%–2%–2%35%–23%Morning ConsultJan 1–31, 2023974 (LV)–––31%14%–2%–5%45%2%1%Trafalgar GroupTrafalgar GroupJan 24–26, 20231,078 (LV)± 2.9%–––33%–6%––52%9%––––21%–3%–23%48%5%–––29%22%–4%––43%2%–––28%12%–2%–14%43%1%–Moore InformationJan 18–24, 2023450 (LV)± 5.0%––31%12%–4%–5%41%–7%–––29%––––62%–9%––42%–––––49%–15%Spry StrategiesSpry StrategiesJan 17–19, 2023386 (LV)–––52%–––––33%–15%Morning ConsultDec 1–31, 2022530 (LV)–––28%13%–4%–5%44%6%–Winthrop UniversityWinthrop UniversityOct 22 – November 5, 20221,298 (A)± 2.8%–––37%––––45%–19%Echelon InsightsEchelon InsightsAug 31 – September 7, 2022294 (LV)± 5.1%––33%–––––58%–9%Trafalgar GroupTrafalgar GroupMar 25–29, 20211,014 (LV)± 3.0%––––––––64%11%25%

Results

Results by congressional district Trump won 6 of the 7 congressional districts. District Trump Haley 46.8% 52.5% 55.5% 43.8% 67.5% 31.8% 59.6% 39.5% 65.5% 33.9% 53.7% 45.6% 67.8% 31.7% Source:

Results by county CountyDonald TrumpNikki HaleyOthersMarginTotal votes%#%#%#%#Abbeville76.35%2,85723.01%8610.64%2453.34%1,9963,742Aiken60.79%15,17938.66%9,6530.55%13722.13%5,52624,969Allendale71.26%23828.74%960.00%042.51%142334Anderson68.69%23,73530.60%10,5720.71%24538.10%13,16334,552Bamberg64.60%63734.89%3440.51%529.72%293986Barnwell77.15%1,60422.37%4650.48%1054.79%1,1392,079Beaufort43.87%17,08355.44%21,5910.69%269-11.58%-4,50838,943Berkeley59.43%17,97639.83%12,0460.74%22319.61%5,93030,245Calhoun70.24%1,39729.26%5820.50%1040.98%8151,989Charleston37.72%23,88161.71%39,0720.57%364-23.99%-15,19163,317Cherokee85.26%7,03414.13%1,1660.61%5071.13%5,8688,250Chester78.15%2,93021.37%8010.48%1856.79%2,1293,749Chesterfield78.57%3,44020.76%9090.66%2957.81%2,5314,378Clarendon72.09%2,84627.51%1,0860.41%1644.58%1,7603,948Colleton70.05%3,13429.50%1,3200.45%2040.55%1,8144,474Darlington73.56%5,60825.91%1,9750.54%4147.65%3,6337,624Dillon84.61%2,01815.18%3620.21%569.43%1,6562,385Dorchester57.11%11,72542.03%8,6290.86%17715.08%3,09620,531Edgefield73.92%2,88225.24%9840.85%3348.68%1,8983,899Fairfield65.63%1,57733.71%8100.67%1631.92%7672,403Florence70.42%10,40128.98%4,2800.60%8941.44%6,12114,770Georgetown57.14%7,61742.34%5,6440.52%6914.80%1,97313,330Greenville56.97%54,12342.06%39,9520.97%92314.92%14,17194,998Greenwood63.77%6,42735.66%3,5940.57%5728.11%2,83310,078Hampton72.43%99326.84%3680.73%1045.59%6251,371Horry66.81%47,98632.70%23,4890.48%34834.11%24,49771,823Jasper57.06%3,17442.35%2,3560.59%3314.70%8185,563Kershaw65.89%6,18233.58%3,1510.53%5032.30%3,0319,383Lancaster60.55%9,48538.78%6,0750.67%10521.77%3,41015,665Laurens76.22%7,83823.13%2,3790.65%6753.08%5,45910,284Lee78.89%99420.24%2550.87%1158.65%7391,260Lexington58.11%27,46041.21%19,4750.68%32316.90%7,98547,258Marion77.07%1,90622.40%5540.53%1354.67%1,3522,473Marlboro81.92%1,40517.43%2990.64%1164.49%1,1061,715McCormick62.36%1,43336.51%8391.13%2625.85%5942,298Newberry64.89%3,81934.43%2,0260.68%4030.47%1,7935,885Oconee60.19%10,23039.21%6,6640.61%10320.98%3,56616,997Orangeburg67.26%3,81532.18%1,8250.56%3235.08%1,9905,672Pickens67.58%15,61331.76%7,3370.66%15235.82%8,27623,102Richland41.40%13,69757.72%19,0980.88%292-16.32%-5,40133,087Saluda72.31%2,30927.00%8620.69%2245.32%1,4473,193Spartanburg69.75%33,03929.44%13,9460.80%38140.31%19,09347,366Sumter64.85%5,55634.44%2,9510.71%6130.40%2,6058,568Union84.18%3,19315.45%5860.37%1468.73%2,6073,793Williamsburg80.01%1,78919.54%4370.45%1060.47%1,3522,236York57.91%24,23141.39%17,3180.70%29216.52%6,91341,841

See also 2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries 2024 United States presidential election 2024 United States presidential election in South Carolina 2024 United States elections

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links