South Carolina

South Carolina was one of the original 13 colonies of the British Empire and joined the Union in May 1788. The state has participated in all US presidential elections except for 1864, when it had withdrawn from the Union.

From the Reconstruction Era—a period following the American Civil War marked by political, legal, and social changes following the abolition of slavery—to the early 1960s, South Carolina was a stronghold of the Democratic Party. However, in response to the passage of civil rights legislation, the state shifted towards the Republican Party, following a trend seen in other Southern states.

In 1964, Barry Goldwater won only six states, including South Carolina. Since then, the state has consistently voted for Republican candidates, except for the 1976 election when it supported Jimmy Carter—a Southern Democrat.

In 2020, Donald Trump defeated Joe Biden by 55% to 43%. South Carolina is considered a safe Republican state with nine electoral votes.