Who won South Carolina in the 1972 presidential election?

Nixon (Republican) carried South Carolina in 1972, winning its 8 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did South Carolina have in 1972?

South Carolina cast 8 electoral votes in the 1972 presidential election.

Did South Carolina vote for the national winner in 1972?

Yes. South Carolina backed Richard Nixon, who won the presidency that year.

Cold War RealignmentSC · 8 EV

1972

South Carolina: Nixon carries 8 EV.

South Carolina cast its 8 electoral votes for Nixon (Republican). National winner: Richard Nixon (Republican) — South Carolina voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in South Carolina, 1972

In 1972, South Carolina awarded its 8 electoral votes to Nixon of the Republican party. That placed South Carolina with the eventual winner: Richard Nixon went on to take the presidency, and South Carolina was part of his column.

South Carolina stayed in the Republican column for the 3rd straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1964. South Carolina did not move alone — neighboring Georgia and North Carolina broke the same way in 1972. 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 Cold War Realignment — Nixon, Reagan, and the Republican South.

Nationally, Richard Nixon finished with 520 of the 538 electoral votes to George McGovern's 17. Richard Nixon led the national popular vote with 60.67% of the ballots cast.

The 1972 national map

South Carolina full history →