2018 South Carolina gubernatorial election


The 2018 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor of South Carolina. Incumbent Republican Governor Henry McMaster, who took office after Nikki Haley resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, ran for election to a full term. The primary was held on June 12, with the Democrats nominating State Representative James E. Smith Jr. McMaster failed to win a majority of the vote, and then defeated John Warren in the Republican runoff on June 26. In the general election, McMaster defeated Smith, winning election to a full term.
Republicans won their fifth straight gubernatorial election in the state, their longest such streak in history.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Defeated in runoff

  • John Warren, businessman
  • * Running mate: Pat McKinney, businessman

Defeated in primary

Declined

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Defeated in primary

Declined

Independents and third parties

Declared

Failed nomination

General election

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

McMaster won six of seven congressional districts, including one that elected a Democratic representative.
DistrictMcMasterSmithRepresentative
52%48%Mark Sanford
52%48%Joe Cunningham
54%46%Joe Wilson
67%33%Jeff Duncan
59%41%Trey Gowdy
59%41%William Timmons
57%43%Ralph Norman
30%70%Jim Clyburn
57%43%Tom Rice