Who won South Carolina in the 1796 presidential election?

Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) carried South Carolina in 1796, winning its 8 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did South Carolina have in 1796?

South Carolina cast 8 electoral votes in the 1796 presidential election.

Did South Carolina vote for the national winner in 1796?

No. South Carolina backed Jefferson, while John Adams won the presidency nationally.

First Party SystemSC · 8 EV

1796

South Carolina: Jefferson carries 8 EV.

South Carolina cast its 8 electoral votes for Jefferson (Democratic-Republican). National winner: John Adams (Federalist) — South Carolina voted against the national winner this cycle.

Reading the 1796 result in South Carolina

South Carolina backed Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) in the 1796 presidential election, casting 8 electoral votes for the ticket. The presidency went elsewhere: John Adams (Federalist) won nationally, while South Carolina had backed a different ticket.

The result flipped South Carolina away from the Independent ticket it had backed in each of the previous 2 cycles. South Carolina did not move alone — neighboring Georgia and North Carolina broke the same way in 1796. Over its 59 recorded presidential cycles, South Carolina has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 28 times in all. The vote fell within the First Party System — Federalists vs Democratic-Republicans.

Nationally, John Adams finished with 71 of the 138 electoral votes to Thomas Jefferson's 68.

The 1796 national map

South Carolina full history →