U.S. Senate elections in South Carolina

40 elections · 1914–present · popular vote

● In officeTim Scott Republican

Elections won

R 15 · D 24 · Other 140 Senate elections since 1914

Last decided by

25.9 pts2022, Tim Scott over Krystle Matthews

Closest ever

2.70 pts1966, Ernest Fritz Hollings over Marshall Parker

Longest streak

13 in a rowDemocratic, 1914–1950

Next election

2026Tuesday, November 3, 2026

One of South Carolina's two U.S. Senate seats is held by Republican Tim Scott; Scott won the most recent race by 25.9 points in 2022. Scott has held that seat since 2014. The 2022 race put Scott ahead of Krystle Matthews, 25.9 points clear. Across 40 elections since 1914, Republicans have won 15 and Democrats 24, with 1 going to other parties. Of those, the closest was 1966, decided by 2.7 points; the widest 1956, by 64.5 points.

2022 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Tim Scott R 1,066,274 · Krystle Matthews D 627,616

2020 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Lindsey O. Graham R 1,369,137 · Jaime Harrison D 1,110,828 · Bill Bledsoe C 32,845

2016 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Tim Scott R 1,241,609 · Thomas Dixon D 757,022 · Bill Bledsoe L 37,482 · Rebel Michael Scarborough A 11,923

2014 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Lindsey O. Graham R 672,941 · Brad Hutto W 480,933 · Thomas Ravenel P 47,588 · Victor Kocher L 33,839

2014 South Carolina U.S. Senate, Special

Tim Scott R 757,215 · Joyce Dickerson D 459,583 · Jill Bossi A 21,652

2010 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Jim Demint R 810,771 · Alvin M. Greene D 364,598 · Tom Clements G 121,472

2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Lindsey O. Graham R 1,076,534 · Bob Conley D 790,621

2004 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Jim Demint R 857,167 · Inez Tenenbaum D 704,384 · Patrick Tyndall C 13,464 · Rebekah E. Sutherland L 10,678 · +2 more

2002 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Lindsey O. Graham R 600,010 · Alex Sanders D 487,359 · Ted Adams C 8,228 · Victor Kocher L 6,648

1998 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ernest Fritz Hollings D 563,377 · Bob Inglis R 488,238 · Richard T. Quillian L 16,991

1996 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Strom Thurmond R 619,859 · Elliot Springs Close D 510,951 · Richard T. Quillian L 12,988 · Peter J. Ashy Rf 9,740 · +1 more

1992 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ernest Fritz Hollings D 591,030 · Tommy Hartnett R 554,175 · Mark Johnson L 22,962 · Robert Barnwell Clarkson II A 11,568

1990 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Strom Thurmond R 482,032 · Bob Cunningham D 244,112 · William H. Griffin L 13,805 · Marion C. Metts A 10,317

1986 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ernest Fritz Hollings D 465,500 · Henry D. McMaster R 262,886 · Steven B. Vandervelde L 4,789 · Ray Hillyard A 4,588

1984 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Strom Thurmond R 644,815 · Melvin Purvis D 306,982 · Stephen Davis L 13,333

1980 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ernest Fritz Hollings D 612,554 · Marshall Mays R 257,946

1978 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Strom Thurmond R 351,917 · Charles D. Ravenel D 280,146

1974 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ernest Fritz Hollings D 355,107 · Gwenyfred Bush R 146,649 · Harold Hough I 9,624

1972 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Strom Thurmond R 415,806 · Eugene N. Zeigler D 241,056

1968 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ernest Fritz Hollings D 404,060 · Marshall Parker R 248,780

1966 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Strom Thurmond R 271,297 · Bradley Morrah D 164,955

1966 South Carolina U.S. Senate, Special

Ernest Fritz Hollings D 223,790 · Marshall Parker R 212,032

1962 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Olin D. Johnston D 178,712 · William D. Workman R 133,930

1960 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Strom Thurmond D 330,164

1956 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Olin D. Johnston D 230,150 · Leon P. Crawford R 49,695

1956 South Carolina U.S. Senate, Special

Strom Thurmond D 245,371

1954 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Strom Thurmond I 143,444 · Edgar A. Brown D 83,525 · Marcus A. Stone D 240

1950 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Olin D. Johnston D 50,240

1948 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Burnet R. Mayback D 135,998 · J. Bates Gerald R 5,008

1944 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Olin D. Johnston D 94,556 · James B. Gaston D 3,807 · Osceola E. McKaine R 3,214 · B. L. Hendrix P 141

1942 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Burnet R. Maybank D 23,356

1938 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ellison D. Smith D 45,751 · J. D. Meyer R 508

1936 South Carolina U.S. Senate

James F. Byrnes D 113,696 · Joseph A. Tolbert R 961 · Marion W. Seabrook R 702

1932 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ellison D. Smith D 104,472 · Clara Harrigal R 1,976

1930 South Carolina U.S. Senate

James F. Byrnes D 16,213

1926 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ellison D. Smith D 14,560

1924 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Coleman L. Blease D 49,060

1920 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ellison D. Smith D 64,388

1918 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Nathaniel B. Dial D 25,792

1914 South Carolina U.S. Senate

Ellison D. Smith D 32,950 · J. H. Roberts S 89