Elections / 1978 · Senate · SC
The Republican candidate won South Carolina's Senate seat R+11.4.
South Carolina, 1978. Candidate results and statewide totals below.
South Carolina — 1978 Senate result
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1976–2024 Senate returns (party-classified by literal ballot party).
Democratic (D)
280,146
44.3%
Republican (R)
351,917
55.7%
All others
0
0.0%
Margin
R+11.4
Candidates
Statewide candidate totals — MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1978 Senate returns.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strom Thurmond | RRepublican | 351,917 | 55.7% |
| Charles D. Ravenel | DDemocrat | 280,146 | 44.3% |
South Carolina's Senate margins
Every contest in our store, 1978–2022
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1978 | −11.4% |
| 1980 | +40.7% |
| 1984 | −35.0% |
| 1986 | +27.5% |
| 1990 | −31.7% |
| 1992 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | −9.4% |
| 1998 | +7.0% |
| 2002 | −10.2% |
| 2004 | −9.6% |
| 2008 | −15.3% |
| 2010 | −34.4% |
| 2014 | −17.5% |
| 2016 | −26.2% |
| 2020 | −10.3% |
| 2022 | −25.9% |