The 2016 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Carolina, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Both major parties held their primaries on June 14.
Incumbent Republican Senator Tim Scott won re-election to a first full term in office.
This was the second U.S. Senate election in South Carolina (and the second of three consecutive elections for this seat) where both major party nominees were black, and the third overall since the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment.
Background Two-term Republican senator Jim DeMint was re-elected with 61.48% of the vote in 2010. He resigned at the start of 2013 to become president of the Heritage Foundation. U.S. Representative Tim Scott of South Carolina's 1st congressional district was appointed to replace him by Governor Nikki Haley. Scott subsequently won the special election in 2014 for the remaining two years of the term.
Republican primary Candidates Declared Tim Scott, incumbent U.S. senator
Democratic primary Candidates Declared Thomas Dixon, pastor and community activist (also running with Green Party nomination)
Declined Joyce Dickerson, Richland County councilwoman and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014 (running for reelection)
General election Candidates Bill Bledsoe (Libertarian, Constitution) Thomas Dixon (Democratic, Green), pastor and community activist Michael Scarborough (American), attorney Tim Scott (Republican), incumbent U.S. senator
Debates Dates Location Scott Dixon LinkOctober 24, 2016Greenville, South CarolinaParticipantParticipantFull debate - C-SPAN
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 2, 2016 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2016 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2016 Daily Kos November 8, 2016 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2016
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimScott (R) ThomasDixon (D) Other UndecidedSurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey November 1–7, 2016 1,698 ± 4.6% 59% 38% – 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 31–November 6, 2016 1,642 ± 4.6% 58% 39% – 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 28–November 3, 2016 1,583 ± 4.6% 58% 39% – 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 27–November 2, 2016 1,501 ± 4.6% 58% 39% – 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 26–November 1, 2016 1,588 ± 4.6% 57% 40% – 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 25–31, 2016 1,762 ± 4.6% 56% 39% – 5%Starboard Communications (R)Starboard Communications (R) September 7–9, 2016 600 ± 4.8% 58% 22% – 16%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 9–10, 2016 1,290 ± 2.7% 45% 30%Fusion voting total- 28% as D, 2% as G 6%Bill Bledsoe (L) with 4% and Michael Scarborough (A) with 2% 20%
with Joyce Dickerson Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimScott (R) JoyceDickerson (D) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 7–8, 2015 1,290 ± 2.7% 53% 25% 23%
with Bakari Sellers Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimScott (R) BakariSellers (D) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 12–15, 2015 868 ± 3.3% 56% 28% 16%
with Leon Lott Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimScott (R) LeonLott (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 12–15, 2015 868 ± 3.3% 54% 27% 19%
with Jim Hodges Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimScott (R) JimHodges (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 12–15, 2015 868 ± 3.3% 54% 32% 15%
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Calhoun (largest town: St. Matthews) Clarendon (largest city: Manning)
By congressional district Scott won six of seven congressional districts. District Scott Dixon Representative 65% 33%Mark Sanford 63% 34%Joe Wilson 71% 27%Jeff Duncan 67% 30%Trey Gowdy 59% 38%Mick Mulvaney 35% 63% Jim Clyburn 61% 37%Tom Rice
References
Notes
External links Tim Scott (R) for Senate Thomas Dixon (D) for Senate Bill Bledsoe (L/C) for Senate Mike Scarborough (A) for Senate