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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1986/US Senate/South Carolina
      1986·US Senate·South Carolina

      South Carolina US Senate

      Winner
      DEM
      Ernest F. Hollings
      63.1%465,500 votes
      Runner-up
      REP
      Henry McMaster
      35.6%262,886 votes
      Margin
      D+27.5
      737,962 total votes
      3 candidates737,962 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Ernest F. HollingsDEM✓
      		DEM465,50063.1%
      Henry McMasterREP
      		REP262,88635.6%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH9,5761.3%

      Seat History

      US Senate in South Carolina(Class I)

      2022
      Tim ScottREP
      R+25.9
      2020
      Lindsey O GrahamREP
      R+10.3
      2016
      Tim ScottREP
      R+23.6
      2014(S)
      Tim ScottREP
      R+24.0
      2014
      Lindsey O GrahamREP
      R+15.5
      2010
      Jim DemintREP
      R+33.8
      2008
      Lindsey O GrahamREP
      R+15.3
      2004
      Jim DemintREP
      R+9.6
      2002
      Lindsey O GrahamREP
      R+10.2
      1998
      Ernest F. HollingsDEM
      D+7.0
      1996
      Strom ThurmondREP
      R+9.4
      1992
      Ernest F. HollingsDEM
      D+3.1
      1990
      Strom ThurmondREP
      R+31.7
      1984
      Strom ThurmondREP
      R+35.0
      View all US Senate history for South Carolina →

      Candidates

      Ernest F. HollingsDEM
      Record8W-0L
      Avg MarginD+30.7
      Career1958-1998
      US Senate / Governor
      Full profile →
      Henry McMasterREP
      Record2W-1L
      Avg MarginD+0.7
      Career1986-2022
      Governor / US Senate
      Full profile →

      Also in South Carolina, 1986

      US House6 contests →Governor1 contest →
      ← All 1986 US Senate races1986 overviewSouth Carolina profileAll elections