Closest U.S. Senate elections in South Carolina
The closest U.S. Senate election in South Carolina history was in 1992, a margin of 3.1 points. Ernest Fritz Hollings beat Tommy Hartnett, 591,030 to 554,175. Next closest are 1998 (7.0 points) and 1996 (9.4 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race South Carolina has held, special elections included, see the South Carolina U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in South Carolina history?
The South Carolina Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1992, 3.1 points. Ernest Fritz Hollings beat Tommy Hartnett, 591,030 to 554,175. The next closest were 1998 (7.0 points) and 1996 (9.4 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for South Carolina’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the South Carolina Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first South Carolina election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1992 | Ernest Fritz Hollings D def. Tommy Hartnett R | 591,030 – 554,175 | 3.1 points |
| 2 | 1998 | Ernest Fritz Hollings D def. Bob Inglis R | 563,377 – 488,238 | 7.0 points |
| 3 | 1996 | Strom Thurmond R def. Elliot Springs Close D | 619,859 – 510,951 | 9.4 points |
| 4 | 2004 | Jim Demint R def. Inez Tenenbaum D | 857,167 – 704,384 | 9.6 points |
| 5 | 2002 | Lindsey O. Graham R def. Alex Sanders D | 600,010 – 487,359 | 10.2 points |
| 6 | 2020 | Lindsey O. Graham R def. Jaime Harrison D | 1,369,137 – 1,110,828 | 10.3 points |
| 7 | 1978 | Strom Thurmond R def. Charles D. Ravenel D | 351,917 – 280,146 | 11.4 points |
| 8 | 1962 | Olin D. Johnston D def. William D. Workman R | 178,712 – 133,930 | 14.3 points |
| 9 | 2008 | Lindsey O. Graham R def. Bob Conley D | 1,076,534 – 790,621 | 15.3 points |
| 10 | 2014 | Lindsey O. Graham R def. Brad Hutto W | 672,941 – 480,933 | 15.5 points |
| 11 | 2016 | Tim Scott R def. Thomas Dixon D | 1,241,609 – 757,022 | 23.6 points |
| 12 | 1968 | Ernest Fritz Hollings D def. Marshall Parker R | 404,060 – 248,780 | 23.8 points |
| 13 | 1966 | Strom Thurmond R def. Bradley Morrah D | 271,297 – 164,955 | 24.4 points |
| 14 | 2022 | Tim Scott R def. Krystle Matthews D | 1,066,274 – 627,616 | 25.9 points |
| 15 | 1954 | Strom Thurmond I def. Edgar A. Brown D | 143,444 – 83,525 | 26.4 points |
| 16 | 1972 | Strom Thurmond R def. Eugene N. Zeigler D | 415,806 – 241,056 | 26.6 points |
| 17 | 1986 | Ernest Fritz Hollings D def. Henry D. McMaster R | 465,500 – 262,886 | 27.5 points |
| 18 | 1990 | Strom Thurmond R def. Bob Cunningham D | 482,032 – 244,112 | 31.7 points |
| 19 | 2010 | Jim Demint R def. Alvin M. Greene D | 810,771 – 364,598 | 33.8 points |
| 20 | 1984 | Strom Thurmond R def. Melvin Purvis D | 644,815 – 306,982 | 35.0 points |
| 21 | 1980 | Ernest Fritz Hollings D def. Marshall Mays R | 612,554 – 257,946 | 40.7 points |
| 22 | 1974 | Ernest Fritz Hollings D def. Gwenyfred Bush R | 355,107 – 146,649 | 40.8 points |
| 23 | 1956 | Olin D. Johnston D def. Leon P. Crawford R | 230,150 – 49,695 | 64.5 points |
| 24 | 1944 | Olin D. Johnston D def. James B. Gaston D | 94,556 – 3,807 | 89.2 points |
| 25 | 1948 | Burnet R. Mayback D def. J. Bates Gerald R | 135,998 – 5,008 | 92.9 points |