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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1996/US Senate/South Carolina
      1996·US Senate·South Carolina

      South Carolina US Senate

      Winner
      REP
      Strom Thurmond
      53.4%619,859 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Elliott Close
      44.0%510,951 votes
      Margin
      R+9.4
      1,161,372 total votes
      3 candidates1,161,372 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Strom ThurmondREP✓
      		REP619,85953.4%
      Elliott CloseDEM
      		DEM510,95144.0%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH30,5622.6%

      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
      1992
      Ernest F. HollingsDEM
      D+3.1
      1990
      Strom ThurmondREP
      R+31.7
      1986
      Ernest F. HollingsDEM
      D+27.5
      1984
      Strom ThurmondREP
      R+35.0
      View all US Senate history for South Carolina →

      Candidates

      Elliott CloseDEM
      Record0W-1L
      Avg MarginR+9.4
      Career1996-1996
      US Senate
      Full profile →
      Strom ThurmondREP
      Record8W-0L
      Avg MarginD+7.7
      Career1956-1996
      US Senate
      Full profile →

      Also in South Carolina, 1996

      President1 contest →US House6 contests →
      ← All 1996 US Senate races1996 overviewSouth Carolina profileAll elections