United States presidential election in South Carolina, 1996

United States presidential election in South Carolina, 1996

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Nominee Robert Dole Bill Clinton Ross Perot Party Republican Democratic Reform Home state Kansas Arkansas Texas Running mate Jack Kemp Al Gore Pat Choate Electoral vote 8 0 0 Popular vote 573,458 504,051 64,386 Percentage 49.9% 43.9% 5.6%
County Results   Clinton—>90%   Clinton—80-90%   Clinton—70-80%   Clinton—60-70%   Clinton—50-60%   Clinton—40-50%   Dole—40-50%   Dole—50-60%   Dole—60-70%   Dole—70-80%   Dole—80-90%   Dole—>90%
President before election Bill Clinton Democratic Elected President Bill Clinton Democratic

Bill Clinton
Democratic

Bill Clinton
Democratic

The 1996 United States presidential election in South Carolina took place on November 7, 1996, as part of the 1996 United States presidential election. Voters chose 8 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice President.

South Carolina was won by Senator Bob Dole (R-KS), with Dole winning 49.89% to 43.85% over President Bill Clinton (D) by a margin of 6.04%. Billionaire businessman Ross Perot (Reform-TX) finished in third with 5.6% of the popular vote .

This marked the first time that a Democratic nominee was elected twice without winning South Carolina either time. Once a Democratic stronghold, the state has moved towards the Republicans after their party was taken over by conservatives and Southerners in the 1980s and 1990s. No Democrat has won the state since 1976, and today it is considered one of the safest red states.