Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1978/Governor/South Carolina
      1978·Governor·South Carolina

      South Carolina Governor

      Winner
      DEM
      Richard W Riley
      61.4%384,898 votes
      Runner-up
      REP
      Edward L Young
      37.8%236,946 votes
      Margin
      D+23.6
      627,182 total votes
      3 candidates627,182 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Richard W RileyDEM✓
      		DEM384,89861.4%
      Edward L YoungREP
      		REP236,94637.8%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH5,3380.8%

      Seat History

      Governor in South Carolina

      2022
      Henry McMasterREP
      R+17.4
      2018
      Henry McMasterREP
      R+8.0
      2014
      Nikki HaleyREP
      R+14.5
      2010
      Nikki HaleyREP
      R+4.5
      2006
      Marshall Clement Jr. SanfordREP
      R+10.3
      2002
      Marshall Clement Jr. SanfordREP
      R+5.8
      1998
      James H HodgesDEM
      D+8.0
      1994
      David BeasleyREP
      R+2.5
      1990
      Carroll A CampbellREP
      R+41.6
      1986
      Carroll A CampbellREP
      R+3.1
      1982
      Richard W RileyDEM
      D+39.6
      1974
      James B EdwardsREP
      R+3.3
      1970
      John C. WestDEM
      D+5.9
      1966
      Robert E. McNairDEM
      D+16.3
      View all Governor history for South Carolina →

      Candidates

      Edward L YoungREP
      Record0W-2L
      Avg MarginD+23.6
      Career1976-1978
      Governor / US House
      Full profile →
      Richard W RileyDEM
      Record4W-0L
      Avg MarginD+28.8
      Career1968-1982
      Governor / State Senate
      Full profile →

      Also in South Carolina, 1978

      US Senate1 contest →US House6 contests →
      ← All 1978 Governor races1978 overviewSouth Carolina profileAll elections