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SOUTH CAROLINARace Summary
TOP RACES GOVERNOR: Gov. David Beasley (R), first elected in 1994, is seeking a second term. Opposing him are state Rep. James H. Hodges (D) and Timothy Moultrie (I).
SENATE: Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D), first elected in 1966, is seeking a
sixth term. His opponent is Rep. Bob Inglis (R).
back to top 1998 POLLSback to topPOLL HOURS7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET back to top SENATOR AND GOVERNOR NOT UP IN 1998Sen. Strom Thurmond (R), first elected in 1954 as a Democrat, switched parties in 1964; next election in 2002. back to top VACANCIESback to top HOUSE DISTRICTS
No Democratic candidate; Mark Sanford (inc.) (R) Jane Frederick (D); Floyd D. Spence (inc.) (R) No Democratic candidate; Lindsey Graham (inc.) (R) Glenn Gilbert Reese (D); Jim DeMint (R) John M. Spratt (inc.) (D); Mike Burkhold (R) James "Jim" Clyburn (inc.) (D); Gary McLeod (R) back to top PRIMARY DATEJune 9 (June 23 runoff) back to top FILING DEADLINEMarch 30 back to top STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURESTotal Number: 4
To Watch:
Governor: Republican back to top STATE LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS Senate: No elections this year; off-year elections, next in 1999 back to top PARTY REGISTRATIONNone State Projected Voting Age Population: 2,771,000 (1996) back to top ELECTORAL VOTES8 PRESIDENTIAL VOTING HISTORYDole won in 1996; Bush in 1992; Bush in 1988; Reagan in 1984; Reagan in 1980; Carter in 1976; Nixon in 1972; Nixon in 1968; Goldwater in 1964; Kennedy in 1960. LAST TIME VOTED DEMOCRATIC FOR PRESIDENT: 1976PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN 1996:Dole 50% PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN 1992:Bush 48% PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN 1988:Bush 62% PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN 1984:Reagan 64% PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN 1980:Reagan 49% back to top PAST EXIT POLLS1992: 1994: 1996: back to top TURNOUTHistorical voter turnout as a percentage of the voting age population 1996-1960 back to top DEMOGRAPHICSPopulation: 3,699,000 (1996) White: 72.0% Persons of Hispanic origin account for 0.8% of the voting population (from 1990 Census) back to top STATE TIDBITSState Capital: Columbia Once upon a time the Palmetto State was a Democratic stronghold. Of the 99,000 South Carolinians who voted for president in 1940, 96 percent were members of the old coalition party brought together by Franklin D. Roosevelt, according to "Almanac of American Politics." But South Carolina has trended toward voting Republican in presidential elections, and the state is considered a solid Republican bastion in congressional and state legislative elections. In 1996, at the age of 93, Senior Sen. Strom Thurmond (R) became the oldest person ever to serve in Congress, and on May 25, 1997, he became the longest-serving senator in history. Thurmond was elected governor of the Palmetto State in 1946 as a Democrat, then ran for president in 1948 as a "States' Rights Democrat." Republican Gov. David Beasley was also a former Democrat. back to top RELATED SITESNOTE: External sites will open in a new browser window. Government:South Carolina Secretary of State News Media:CNN AffiliatesCharleston WCIV State NewspapersCharleston Post and Courier General Interest:The White House back to top Updated: October 25, 1998 |
54%
Beasley (R) 46%