2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary

The 2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary was held on February 24, 2024, as part of the Republican Party primaries for the 2024 presidential election. 50 delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention were allocated on a selection basis.

2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary

← 2016
February 24, 2024
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50 Republican National Convention delegates
 
Candidate Donald Trump Nikki Haley
Home state Florida South Carolina
Delegate count 47 3
Popular vote 452,496 299,084
Percentage 59.79% 39.52%

Held following the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary, the Nevada primary and caucuses, and the United States Virgin Islands caucuses, the South Carolina primary was the fifth Republican contest in which delegates were awarded to take place this election. South Carolina holds the "first in the South" presidential primary for both major parties.

Nikki Haley, who served as Governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017, announced her presidential candidacy in February 2023. Tim Scott, who has represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2013, entered the race with a campaign announcement in May 2023. He suspended his campaign on November 12, 2023 and endorsed Trump on January 19, 2024.

Immediately after polls closed at 7:00pm EST, multiple media outlets called the primary for Trump. Trump received the highest number of votes of any candidate for either party in the history of the South Carolina primaries, breaking the record previously held by George W. Bush in 2000.

Background

The Republican electorate in South Carolina is noted for having a high proportion of evangelical voters. Socially conservative candidates have performed well in the South Carolina primary in past contests. In the 2012 Republican primary, Newt Gingrich beat eventual nominee Mitt Romney in the state with support from evangelical voters.

In the 2016 South Carolina Republican primary, Donald Trump won with 32.51% of the vote, with the nearest opponent Marco Rubio taking 22.48%. Trump reportedly won 34% of the evangelical vote in the primary, with Ted Cruz taking 26%, and Rubio taking 21%.

Procedure

29 at-large delegates are awarded to the candidate with the highest statewide vote total. Each of the state's seven congressional districts are awarded three delegates. The candidate with the highest vote total in each congressional district are awarded that district's delegates.

Candidates

The following 10 candidates had filed by the end of the filing period on October 31, 2023, and secured ballot access.

  • Ryan Binkley
  • Nikki Haley
  • David Stuckenberg
  • Donald Trump
  • John Anthony Castro (disqualified due to the check for his registration fee bouncing)
  • Tim Scott (withdrawn on November 12, 2023)
  • Doug Burgum (withdrawn on December 4, 2023)
  • Chris Christie (withdrawn on January 10, 2024)
  • Vivek Ramaswamy (withdrawn on January 15, 2024)
  • Ron DeSantis (withdrawn on January 21, 2024)

Endorsements

Nikki Haley

U.S. Representatives

  • Ralph Norman, SC-05 (2017–present)
  • Gresham Barrett, SC-03 (2003–2011)

State senators

  • Katrina Shealy, District 23 (2013–present)
  • Shane Massey, District 25 (2007–present); Majority Leader (2016–present)
  • Larry Grooms, District 37 (1997–present)
  • Chip Campsen, District 43 (2004–present)
  • Tom Davis, District 46 (2009–present)

State representatives

  • Mike Neese, District 44 (2023–present)
  • Chris Wooten, District 69 (2018–present)
  • Nathan Ballentine, District 71 (2005–present)
  • Bart Blackwell, District 81 (2016-present)

Mayors

  • Brenda Bethune, Myrtle Beach (2018–present)
  • William S. Cogswell Jr., Charleston (2024-present)

Former party official

  • Katon Dawson, chair of the South Carolina Republican Party (2002–2009)
Donald Trump

Former federal executive officials

  • Katie Arrington, Under Secretary of Defense for A&S CISO (2019–2022)
  • Peter McCoy Jr., U.S. Attorney for South Carolina (2020–2021)
  • Ed McMullen, Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (2017–2021)

U.S. Senators

  • Lindsey Graham (2003–present)
  • Tim Scott (2013–present) (former candidate for president)

U.S. Representatives

  • Jeff Duncan, SC-03 (2011–present)
  • Russell Fry, SC-07 (2023–present)
  • Nancy Mace, SC-01 (2021–present)
  • William Timmons, SC-04 (2019–present)
  • Joe Wilson, SC-02 (2001–present)

Governor

  • Henry McMaster (2017–present)

State executive officials

  • André Bauer, Lieutenant Governor (2003–2011)
  • Pamela Evette, Lieutenant Governor (2019–present)
  • Curtis Loftis, State Treasurer (2011–present)
  • Alan Wilson, Attorney General of South Carolina (2011–present)

State senator

  • Ronnie Cromer, 18th district (2003–present) (previously endorsed Tim Scott)

State representatives

  • Bruce Bannister, 24th district (2006–present) (previously endorsed Tim Scott)
  • Thomas Beach, District 10 (2022–present)
  • Brandon Cox, 92nd district (2022–present) (previously endorsed Tim Scott)
  • Cal Forrest, District 39 (2016–present)
  • Doug Gilliam, District 42 (2018–present)
  • Patrick Haddon, District 19 (2019–present)
  • Kevin Hardee, 105th district (2012–present)
  • Davey Hiott, Majority Leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives (2022–present) and 4th district (2005–present)
  • Thomas Val Guest, 106th district (2022–present)
  • Stewart Jones, District 14 (2019–present)
  • Jeff Johnson, 58th district (2014–present) (previously endorsed Tim Scott)
  • Jay Jordan, 63rd district (2015–present)
  • Jay Kilmartin, District 85 (2022–present)
  • Randy Ligon, 43rd district (2018–present)
  • Phillip Lowe, 60th district (2007–present)
  • Cody Mitchell, 65th district (2022–present)
  • Weston J. Newton, 120th district (2013–present) (previously endorsed Tim Scott)
  • David O'Neal, District 66 (2022–present)
  • Melissa Lackey Oremus, District 84 (2019–present)
  • Robby Robbins, 97th district (2022–present)
  • Bill Sandifer III, 2nd district (1995–present)
  • Mark Smith, 99th district (2020–present) (previously endorsed Tim Scott)
  • Murrell Smith Jr., District 67 (2001–present); Speaker (2022–present)
  • David Vaughan, 27th district (2022–present)
  • Jay West, 7th district (2016–present)

Notable individuals

  • Mark Burns, pastor
  • L. Lin Wood, former attorney

Withdrawn candidates

Ron DeSantis (withdrawn)

Former federal executive official

State senators

  • Rex Rice, District 2 (2016–present)
  • Dwight Loftis, District 6 (2019–present)
  • Danny Verdin, District 9 (2001–present)
  • Josh Kimbrell, District 11 (2020–present)

State representatives

  • Ashley Trantham, District 28 (2018–present)
  • Dennis Moss, District 29 (2007–present)
  • Travis Moore, District 33 (2020–present)
  • Roger Nutt, District 34 (2020–present)
  • Steven Long, District 37 (2016–present)
  • Sandy McGarry, District 44 (2020–2022)
  • Brandon Guffey, District 48 (2023–present)
  • Bill Hixon, District 83 (2010–present)
  • Bill Taylor, District 86 (2010–present) (previously endorsed Scott)
  • Micah Caskey, District 89 (2017–present)
  • Chris Murphy, District 98 (2010–present)
  • Joe Bustos, District 112 (2020–present)
  • Lin Bennett, District 114 (2016–2022)
  • Gary Brewer, District 114 (2022–present)
  • Bill Herbkersman, District 118 (2002–present)
Tim Scott (withdrawn)

Former U.S. Representative

  • Henry Brown, SC-01 (2001–2011)

Former governor

  • Mark Sanford (2003–2011); U.S. Representative from SC-01 (1995–2001; 2013–2019)

State senators

  • Shane Massey, District 25 (2007–present); Majority Leader (2016–present) (switched endorsement to Haley after Scott withdrew)
  • Sean Bennett, District 38 (2012–present)
  • Chip Campsen, District 43 (2004–present) (switched endorsement to Haley after Scott withdrew)
  • Ronnie Cromer, District 18 (2003–present)
  • Stephen Goldfinch, District 34 (2016–present)
  • Larry Grooms, District 37 (1997–present) (switched endorsement to Haley after Scott withdrew)
  • Penry Gustafson, District 27 (2020–present)
  • Katrina Shealy, District 23 (2013–present)
  • Scott Talley, District 12 (2016–present)
  • Ross Turner, District 8 (2012–present)

State representatives

  • Bobby Harrell, District 114 (1992–2014); Speaker (2005–2014)
  • Bruce Bannister, District 24 (2006–present)
  • Liston Barfield, District 58 (1997–2014), (1985–1989)
  • Jeff Bradley, District 123 (2014–present)
  • Joseph Daning, District 45 (2008–2022)
  • Sylleste Davis, District 100 (2016–present)
  • Shannon Erickson, District 124 (2007–present)
  • Gil Gatch, District 94 (2020–present)
  • Jenny Horne, District 94 (2009–2017)
  • Jeff Johnson, District 58 (2014–present)
  • Brandon Newton, District 45 (2016–present)
  • Weston Newton, District 120 (2013–present)
  • Mark Smith, District 99 (2020–present)
  • Bill Taylor, District 86 (2010–present) (switched endorsement to DeSantis after Scott withdrew)

Mayor

  • Daniel Rickenmann, Columbia (2022–present)

Maps

Polling

Aggregate polls

Source of poll
aggregation
Dates
administered
Dates
updated
Nikki
Haley
Donald
Trump
Other/
Undecided
Margin
270toWin February 16–20, 2024 February 21, 2024 34.6% 61.6% 3.8% Trump +27.0
FiveThirtyEight through February 23, 2024 February 24, 2024 34.0% 61.6% 4.4% Trump +27.6
RealClearPolling February 14, 2024 – February 23, 2024 February 23, 2024 37.5% 60.8% 1.7% Trump +23.3
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Doug
Burgum
Chris
Christie
Ron
DeSantis
Nikki
Haley
Asa
Hutchinson
Mike
Pence
Vivek
Ramaswamy
Tim
Scott
Donald
Trump
Other Undecided
Trafalgar Group Feb 21–23, 2024 1093 (LV) ± 2.9% 37.5% 58.9% 3.6%
Suffolk University/USA Today Feb 15–18, 2024 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 35% 63% 2%
Emerson College/The Hill Feb 15–17, 2024 1197 (LV) ± 2.8% 35.4% 57.9% 6.7%
Insider Advantage Feb 14–15, 2024 800 (LV) ± 3.9% 38% 60% 1% 1%
Trafalgar Group Feb 13–15, 2024 1,089 (LV) ± 2.9% 33.6% 63.3% 3%
The Citadel Feb 5–11, 2024 505 (LV) ± 5.7% 31% 64% 3% 2%
Winthrop University Feb 2–10, 2024 749 (LV) ± 3.6% 28.7% 64.9% 3.3% 2%
Washington Post/Monmouth University Jan 26–30, 2024 815 (LV) ± 3.9% 32% 58% 2% 8%
Fabrizio, Lee & Associates Jan 28–29, 2024 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 31% 66% 4%
The Tyson Group/The American Promise Jan 24–26, 2024 543 (LV) ± 4.4% 31% 58% 11%
Fabrizio, Lee & Associates Jan 17–18, 2024 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 28% 68% 4%
Emerson College Jan 2–3, 2024 584 (LV) ± 4.0% 4.8% 6.6% 25.1% 0.2% 3.1% 54.4% 1.9%
Trafalgar Group Dec 6–8, 2023 1,087 (LV) ± 2.9% 5.8% 14.4% 22.8% 0.3% 6.1% 48.7% 1.9%
Morning Consult Nov 1–30, 2023 856 (LV) 0% 2% 13% 19% 3% 7% 57%
Winthrop University Center for Public Opinion & Policy Research Nov 4–12, 2023 780 (RV) ± 3.51% 0.3% 1.6% 12.5% 18.7% 0.4% 3.4% 10.6% 47.6% 2.1% 2.7%
Morning Consult Oct 1–31, 2023 927 (LV) 0% 1% 11% 15% 0% 3% 6% 7% 58%
CNN/SSRS Oct 18–25, 2023 738 (LV) ± 4.8% 0% 2% 11% 22% 0% 2% 1% 6% 53% 0% 1%
Morning Consult Sep 1–30, 2023 854 (LV) 1% 10% 13% 0% 3% 6% 7% 59% 0% 1%
Fox Business Sep 14–18, 2023 809 (LV) ± 3.5% <0.5% 4% 10% 18% 1% 4% 5% 9% 46% 1% 3%
Washington Post/Monmouth University Sep 6–11, 2023 506 (LV) ± 4.6% 0% 5% 9% 18% 2% 3% 3% 10% 46% 1% 4%
Morning Consult Aug 1–31, 2023 910 (LV) 1% 14% 11% 0% 4% 8% 7% 55% 0%
Trafalgar Group (R) Aug 17–19, 2023 1,054 (LV) ± 2.9% 0% 2% 14% 8% 0% 2% 6% 14% 48% 0% 1%
Manhattan Institute July 2023 707 (LV) ± 4.0% 0% 3% 21% 8% 1% 1% 4% 11% 43% 2% 6%
Morning Consult July 1–31, 2023 907 (LV) 0% 1% 15% 12% 1% 3% 6% 7% 54% 0% 1%
Fox Business Jul 15–19, 2023 809 (LV) ± 3.5% <0.5% 2% 13% 14% 1% 4% 3% 10% 48% 4%
Morning Consult June 1–30, 2023 907 (LV) 0% 1% 20% 12% 0% 4% 3% 10% 48% 1% 1%
National Public Affairs Jun 20–21, 2023 809 (LV) 1% 5% 18% 12% 2% 2% 2% 10% 41% 6%
Morning Consult May 1–31, 2023 875 (LV) 19% 13% 0% 4% 3% 7% 52% 1% 1%
National Research May 24–25, 2023 500 (LV) ± 4.38% 18% 10% 1% 1% 1% 12% 43% 1% 13%
National Public Affairs May 15–17, 2023 590 (LV) ± 4.0% 23% 15% 3% 2% 2% 10% 38% 8%
Morning Consult Apr 1–30, 2023 810 (LV) 17% 17% 0% 5% 1% 4% 52% 3% 1%
National Public Affairs Apr 11–14, 2023 588 (LV) ± 4.2% 21% 19% 1% 2% 1% 7% 43% 1% 6%
Winthrop University Mar 25 – April 1, 2023 485 (RV) ± 4.6% 20% 18% 0% 5% 7% 41% 5% 4%
Morning Consult Mar 1–31, 2023 806 (LV) 22% 15% 5% 0% 4% 49% 3% 2%
Morning Consult Feb 1–28, 2023 689 (LV) 24% 18% 5% 7% 43% 4%
Neighbourhood Research and Media Feb 7–14, 2023 300 (LV) ± 5.9% 22% 16% 2% 2% 35% 23%
Morning Consult Jan 1–31, 2023 974 (LV) 31% 14% 2% 5% 45% 2% 1%
Trafalgar Group Jan 24–26, 2023 1,078 (LV) ± 2.9% 33% 6% 52% 9%
21% 3% 23% 48% 5%
29% 22% 4% 43% 2%
28% 12% 2% 14% 43% 1%
Moore Information Jan 18–24, 2023 450 (LV) ± 5.0% 31% 12% 4% 5% 41% 7%
29% 62% 9%
42% 49% 15%
Spry Strategies Jan 17–19, 2023 386 (LV) 52% 33% 15%
Morning Consult Dec 1–31, 2022 530 (LV) 28% 13% 4% 5% 44% 6%
Winthrop University Oct 22 – November 5, 2022 1,298 (A) ± 2.8% 37% 45% 19%
Echelon Insights Aug 31 – September 7, 2022 294 (LV) ± 5.1% 33% 58% 9%
Trafalgar Group Mar 25–29, 2021 1,014 (LV) ± 3.0% 64% 11% 25%

Results

South Carolina Republican primary, February 24, 2024
Candidate Votes Percentage Actual delegate count
Bound Unbound Total
Donald Trump 452,496 59.79% 47 47
Nikki Haley 299,084 39.52% 3 3
Ron DeSantis (withdrawn) 2,953 0.39%
Vivek Ramaswamy (withdrawn) 726 0.10%
Chris Christie (withdrawn) 658 0.09%
Ryan Binkley 528 0.07%
David Stuckenberg 361 0.05%
Total: 756,806 100.00% 50 0 50
Source:

Results by congressional district

Trump won 6 of the 7 congressional districts.

District Trump Haley
1st 46.8% 52.5%
2nd 55.5% 43.8%
3rd 67.5% 31.8%
4th 59.6% 39.5%
5th 65.5% 33.9%
6th 53.7% 45.6%
7th 67.8% 31.7%
Source: "Election Night Reporting". Retrieved February 25, 2024.

Results by county

County Donald Trump Nikki Haley Others Margin Total

votes

% # % # % # % #
Abbeville 76.35% 2,857 23.01% 861 0.64% 24 53.34% 1,996 3,742
Aiken 60.79% 15,179 38.66% 9,653 0.55% 137 22.13% 5,526 24,969
Allendale 71.26% 238 28.74% 96 0.00% 0 42.51% 142 334
Anderson 68.69% 23,735 30.60% 10,572 0.71% 245 38.10% 13,163 34,552
Bamberg 64.60% 637 34.89% 344 0.51% 5 29.72% 293 986
Barnwell 77.15% 1,604 22.37% 465 0.48% 10 54.79% 1,139 2,079
Beaufort 43.87% 17,083 55.44% 21,591 0.69% 269 -11.58% -4,508 38,943
Berkeley 59.43% 17,976 39.83% 12,046 0.74% 223 19.61% 5,930 30,245
Calhoun 70.24% 1,397 29.26% 582 0.50% 10 40.98% 815 1,989
Charleston 37.72% 23,881 61.71% 39,072 0.57% 364 -23.99% -15,191 63,317
Cherokee 85.26% 7,034 14.13% 1,166 0.61% 50 71.13% 5,868 8,250
Chester 78.15% 2,930 21.37% 801 0.48% 18 56.79% 2,129 3,749
Chesterfield 78.57% 3,440 20.76% 909 0.66% 29 57.81% 2,531 4,378
Clarendon 72.09% 2,846 27.51% 1,086 0.41% 16 44.58% 1,760 3,948
Colleton 70.05% 3,134 29.50% 1,320 0.45% 20 40.55% 1,814 4,474
Darlington 73.56% 5,608 25.91% 1,975 0.54% 41 47.65% 3,633 7,624
Dillon 84.61% 2,018 15.18% 362 0.21% 5 69.43% 1,656 2,385
Dorchester 57.11% 11,725 42.03% 8,629 0.86% 177 15.08% 3,096 20,531
Edgefield 73.92% 2,882 25.24% 984 0.85% 33 48.68% 1,898 3,899
Fairfield 65.63% 1,577 33.71% 810 0.67% 16 31.92% 767 2,403
Florence 70.42% 10,401 28.98% 4,280 0.60% 89 41.44% 6,121 14,770
Georgetown 57.14% 7,617 42.34% 5,644 0.52% 69 14.80% 1,973 13,330
Greenville 56.97% 54,123 42.06% 39,952 0.97% 923 14.92% 14,171 94,998
Greenwood 63.77% 6,427 35.66% 3,594 0.57% 57 28.11% 2,833 10,078
Hampton 72.43% 993 26.84% 368 0.73% 10 45.59% 625 1,371
Horry 66.81% 47,986 32.70% 23,489 0.48% 348 34.11% 24,497 71,823
Jasper 57.06% 3,174 42.35% 2,356 0.59% 33 14.70% 818 5,563
Kershaw 65.89% 6,182 33.58% 3,151 0.53% 50 32.30% 3,031 9,383
Lancaster 60.55% 9,485 38.78% 6,075 0.67% 105 21.77% 3,410 15,665
Laurens 76.22% 7,838 23.13% 2,379 0.65% 67 53.08% 5,459 10,284
Lee 78.89% 994 20.24% 255 0.87% 11 58.65% 739 1,260
Lexington 58.11% 27,460 41.21% 19,475 0.68% 323 16.90% 7,985 47,258
Marion 77.07% 1,906 22.40% 554 0.53% 13 54.67% 1,352 2,473
Marlboro 81.92% 1,405 17.43% 299 0.64% 11 64.49% 1,106 1,715
McCormick 62.36% 1,433 36.51% 839 1.13% 26 25.85% 594 2,298
Newberry 64.89% 3,819 34.43% 2,026 0.68% 40 30.47% 1,793 5,885
Oconee 60.19% 10,230 39.21% 6,664 0.61% 103 20.98% 3,566 16,997
Orangeburg 67.26% 3,815 32.18% 1,825 0.56% 32 35.08% 1,990 5,672
Pickens 67.58% 15,613 31.76% 7,337 0.66% 152 35.82% 8,276 23,102
Richland 41.40% 13,697 57.72% 19,098 0.88% 292 -16.32% -5,401 33,087
Saluda 72.31% 2,309 27.00% 862 0.69% 22 45.32% 1,447 3,193
Spartanburg 69.75% 33,039 29.44% 13,946 0.80% 381 40.31% 19,093 47,366
Sumter 64.85% 5,556 34.44% 2,951 0.71% 61 30.40% 2,605 8,568
Union 84.18% 3,193 15.45% 586 0.37% 14 68.73% 2,607 3,793
Williamsburg 80.01% 1,789 19.54% 437 0.45% 10 60.47% 1,352 2,236
York 57.91% 24,231 41.39% 17,318 0.70% 292 16.52% 6,913 41,841

See also

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