Who won South Carolina in the 1980 presidential election?

Reagan (Republican) carried South Carolina in 1980, winning its 8 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did South Carolina have in 1980?

South Carolina cast 8 electoral votes in the 1980 presidential election.

Did South Carolina vote for the national winner in 1980?

Yes. South Carolina backed Ronald Reagan, who won the presidency that year.

Cold War RealignmentSC · 8 EV

1980

South Carolina: Reagan carries 8 EV.

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

South Carolina in 1980

The 1980 contest saw South Carolina line up behind Reagan, delivering 8 electoral votes to the Republican ticket. South Carolina ended up on the winning side — Ronald Reagan captured the White House that year.

The result flipped South Carolina away from the Democratic it had supported in 1976. The region divided — North Carolina joined South Carolina for the Republican ticket, while Georgia did not. Across the 59 presidential elections South Carolina has taken part in, it has most often sided with the Democratic party (28 times). The vote fell within the Cold War Realignment — Nixon, Reagan, and the Republican South.

In the national count, Ronald Reagan took 489 of the 538 electoral votes, against Jimmy Carter's 49. Ronald Reagan led the national popular vote with 50.75% of the ballots cast.

The 1980 national map

South Carolina full history →