2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina

none June 2025 September 2023 2004 United States presidential election 2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina South Carolina presidential no 2000 United States presidential election in South Carolina 2000 2008 United States presidential election in South Carolina 2008 November 2, 2004 x200px George-W-Bush (cropped).jpeg George W. Bush Republican Party (United States) Texas Dick Cheney 8 937,974 57.98% John F. Kerry (wide crop).jpg John Kerry Democratic Party (United States) Massachusetts John Edwards 0 661,699 40.90% 300px County results 300px Congressional district results 1 Bush #f2b3be 40–50% #e27f90 50–60% #cc2f4a 60–70% #d40000 70–80% Kerry #86b6f2 50–60% #4389e3 60–70% #1666cb 70–80% President George W. Bush Republican Party (United States) George W. Bush Republican Party (United States) The 2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina took place on November 2, 2004, as part of the 2004 United States presidential election which took place in all 50 states and D.C. Voters chose eight representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. South Carolina was won by incumbent President George W. Bush by a 17.08% margin of victory. Prior to the election, all 12 news organizations considered this a state Bush would win, or otherwise a red state. No Democrat had won this state since 1976. On election day, Bush won a majority of the counties and congressional districts in the state. The results were very similar to the state's results in 2000, and very similar to the results in neighboring Georgia this election, although Democratic Senator John Edwards of the bordering state of North Carolina was chosen as the vice presidential nominee. Bush won Greenville County, the largest county in the state, by a margin of 33.23%. Democratic primary South Carolina's was the first primary in a Southern state and the first primary in a state in which African Americans make up a sizable percentage of the electorate. 2004 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary South Carolina presidential no 2000 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary 2000 2008 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary 2008 2004 02 03 File:John Edwards, official Senate photo portrait (cropped).jpg 150x150px John Edwards e50100ff North Carolina 131,174 44.86% File:John F. Kerry (cropped).jpg John Kerry 00539fff Massachusetts 88,508 30.27% File:Al Sharpton by David Shankbone (cropped).jpg Al Sharpton aa5f2f New York 28,201 9.65% File:General Wesley Clark official photograph (cropped).jpg Wesley Clark 039042 Arkansas 21,011 7.19% SouthCarolinaPresidentialPrimaryResults2004.svg 205px Election results by county. Red denotes counties won by Edwards, and Blue denotes those won by Kerry. 28 17 0 45 pledged delegates to the 2004 Democratic National Convention 0 OK MI The Democratic primary was held on February 3, with 45 delegates at stake.http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2004&fips=45&f=1&off=0&elect=1 2004 Presidential Democratic Primary Election Results — South Carolina 2009-02-21 U.S. Election Atlas It was held on the same day as six other primaries and caucuses. South Carolina's 45 delegates to the 2004 Democratic National Convention were awarded proportionally based on the results of the primary. The state also sent ten superdelegates. As of the 2024 presidential election, this is the last time, in a non-incumbent Democratic primary, that the winner of South Carolina did not win the nomination. Candidates General Wesley Clark of Arkansas Former Governor Howard Dean of Vermont Senator John Edwards of North Carolina Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, 2000 Democratic Party vice-presidential candidate Reverend Al Sharpton of New York Withdrawn Representative Dick Gephardt of Missouri, former House minority leader Former Senator and Ambassador Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois Results Key: Withdrewprior to contest South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, 2004CandidateVotesPercentageNational delegates John Edwards 131,174 44.86% 28 John Kerry 88,508 30.27% 17 Al Sharpton 28,201 9.65% 0 Wesley Clark 21,011 7.19% 0 Howard Dean 13,815 4.72% 0 Joe Lieberman 7,147 2.44% 0 Dennis Kucinich 1,319 0.45% 0 Dick Gephardt 631 0.22% 0 Carol Moseley-Braun 577 0.20% 0 Totals 292,383 100.00% 45 Campaign Predictions There were 12 news organizations who made state-by-state predictions of the election. Here are their last predictions before election day.Members DC Political Report July 2016 InternetArchiveBot yes +SourceRankingD.C. Political ReportSolid RCook Political ReportSolid RResearch 2000Solid RZogby InternationalLikely RWashington PostLikely RWashington DispatchLikely RWashington TimesSolid RThe New York TimesSolid RCNNLikely RNewsweekSolid RAssociated PressSolid RRasmussen ReportsLikely R Polling Bush won every pre-election poll, each with a double-digit margin (except for one) and with at least 49% of the vote. The final three polls' average showed Bush leading 55% to 41%.https://uselectionatlas.org/USPRESIDENT/GENERAL/CAMPAIGN/2004/polls.php?fips=45 US Election Atlas 2004 Presidential Election Polls. South Carolina Polls Fundraising Bush raised $3,113,641.http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/campaigns/george_w_bush.asp?cycle=04 George W Bush — $374,659,453 raised, '04 election cycle, Republican Party, President Kerry raised $533,966.http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/campaigns/john_f_kerry.asp?cycle=04 John F Kerry — $345,826,176 raised, '04 election cycle, Democrat Party, President Advertising and visits Neither campaign advertised or visited this state during the fall election.http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/showdown/OH/ America votes 2004: SHOWDOWN STATES: OHIO CNN 2022-05-27http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/campaign.ads/ America votes 2004: Campaign ad buys CNN 2022-05-27 2021-04-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20210422073439/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/campaign.ads/ live Analysis South Carolina, historically part of the Solid South, had become a Republican stronghold in the past few presidential elections. Since Barry Goldwater carried the state in 1964, the only Democratic presidential nominee to win it was Jimmy Carter of neighboring Georgia in 1976. Since then, South Carolina has been a safe bet for the Republicans. 2024 11 As of the 2024 presidential election, this is the last election in which Charleston County voted for a Republican presidential candidate. Results 2004 United States presidential election in South Carolinahttp://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2004/2004pres.pdf Official General Election Results for US president (2004) 5 2009-07-17 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090513011625/http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2004/2004pres.pdf May 13, 2009 PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes Republican George W. Bush (incumbent) 937,974 57.98% 8 Democratic John Kerry 661,699 40.90% 0 Independent Ralph Nader 5,520 0.34% 0Constitution Michael Peroutka 5,317 0.33% 0 Libertarian Michael Badnarik 3,608 0.22% 0 United Citizens Walt Brown 2,124 0.13% 0 Green David Cobb 1,488 0.09% 0 Totals 1,617,730 100.00% 8 Voter turnout (Voting age population) 51.8% By county CountySC US President Race, November 02, 2004 Our Campaigns https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6014George W. BushRepublicanJohn KerryDemocraticRalph NaderIndependentMichael PeroutkaConstitutionMichael BadnarikLibertarianWalt BrownUnited CitizensDavid CobbGreenMarginTotal # % # % # % # % # % # % # % # %Abbeville 5,436 54.77% 4,389 44.22% 28 0.28% 38 0.38% 13 0.13% 15 0.15% 6 0.06% 1,047 10.55% 9,925Aiken 39,077 65.68% 19,799 33.28% 198 0.33% 145 0.24% 153 0.26% 74 0.12% 46 0.08% 19,278 32.40% 59,492Allendale 985 27.43% 2,565 71.43% 6 0.17% 7 0.19% 11 0.31% 13 0.36% 4 0.11% -1,580 -44.00% 3,591Anderson 43,355 66.99% 20,697 31.98% 224 0.35% 152 0.23% 160 0.25% 75 0.12% 59 0.09% 22,658 35.01% 64,722Bamberg 2,138 35.42% 3,841 63.63% 5 0.08% 33 0.55% 5 0.08% 11 0.18% 3 0.05% -1,703 -28.21% 6,036Barnwell 4,606 53.03% 3,982 45.85% 18 0.21% 51 0.59% 12 0.14% 9 0.10% 7 0.08% 624 7.18% 8,685Beaufort 33,331 60.34% 21,505 38.93% 217 0.39% 44 0.08% 87 0.16% 25 0.05% 26 0.05% 11,826 21.41% 55,235Berkeley 32,104 60.65% 20,142 38.05% 151 0.29% 343 0.65% 95 0.18% 71 0.13% 31 0.06% 11,962 22.60% 52,937Calhoun 3,448 49.83% 3,393 49.04% 25 0.36% 15 0.22% 14 0.20% 16 0.23% 8 0.12% 55 0.79% 6,919Charleston 70,297 51.57% 63,758 46.77% 588 0.43% 957 0.70% 407 0.30% 179 0.13% 130 0.10% 6,539 4.80% 136,316Cherokee 12,090 64.60% 6,466 34.55% 62 0.33% 29 0.15% 30 0.16% 21 0.11% 16 0.09% 5,624 30.05% 18,714Chester 5,798 49.43% 5,790 49.36% 46 0.39% 30 0.26% 26 0.22% 32 0.27% 7 0.06% 8 0.07% 11,729Chesterfield 7,252 51.62% 6,729 47.90% 29 0.21% 12 0.09% 14 0.10% 6 0.04% 7 0.05% 523 3.72% 14,049Clarendon 6,061 45.92% 7,087 53.69% 21 0.16% 12 0.09% 9 0.07% 8 0.06% 2 0.02% -1,026 -7.77% 13,200Colleton 7,264 51.50% 6,699 47.49% 56 0.40% 34 0.24% 24 0.17% 20 0.14% 9 0.06% 565 4.01% 14,106Darlington 13,416 52.71% 11,829 46.47% 52 0.20% 62 0.24% 47 0.18% 28 0.11% 20 0.08% 1,587 6.24% 25,454Dillon 4,301 46.57% 4,832 52.32% 22 0.24% 40 0.43% 12 0.13% 23 0.25% 5 0.05% -531 -5.75% 9,235Dorchester 26,006 62.94% 14,733 35.66% 148 0.36% 283 0.68% 79 0.19% 37 0.09% 31 0.08% 11,273 27.28% 41,317Edgefield 5,611 57.57% 4,051 41.57% 22 0.23% 34 0.35% 16 0.16% 8 0.08% 4 0.04% 1,560 16.00% 9,746Fairfield 3,531 37.42% 5,764 61.09% 15 0.16% 77 0.82% 15 0.16% 29 0.31% 4 0.04% -2,233 -23.67% 9,435Florence 27,689 55.89% 21,442 43.28% 137 0.28% 65 0.13% 101 0.20% 76 0.15% 35 0.07% 6,247 12.61% 49,545Georgetown 12,606 53.43% 10,602 44.94% 152 0.64% 36 0.15% 57 0.24% 108 0.46% 32 0.14% 2,004 8.49% 23,593Greenville 111,481 66.03% 55,347 32.78% 655 0.39% 566 0.34% 438 0.26% 169 0.10% 177 0.10% 56,134 33.25% 168,833Greenwood 14,264 60.85% 8,954 38.20% 77 0.33% 51 0.22% 46 0.20% 33 0.14% 17 0.07% 5,310 22.65% 23,442Hampton 3,097 38.64% 4,832 60.28% 11 0.14% 58 0.72% 7 0.09% 9 0.11% 2 0.02% -1,735 -21.64% 8,016Horry 50,447 62.01% 29,547 36.32% 310 0.38% 575 0.71% 159 0.20% 102 0.13% 207 0.25% 20,900 25.69% 81,347Jasper 2,933 42.84% 3,840 56.09% 28 0.41% 8 0.12% 19 0.28% 11 0.16% 7 0.10% -907 -13.25% 6,846Kershaw 14,160 61.79% 8,515 37.16% 76 0.33% 48 0.21% 61 0.27% 37 0.16% 18 0.08% 5,645 24.63% 22,915Lancaster 12,916 62.05% 7,631 36.66% 104 0.50% 52 0.25% 64 0.31% 13 0.06% 34 0.16% 5,285 25.39% 20,814Laurens 14,466 60.71% 9,205 38.63% 67 0.28% 44 0.18% 31 0.13% 7 0.03% 9 0.04% 5,261 22.08% 23,829Lee 2,901 36.73% 4,960 62.80% 10 0.13% 4 0.05% 6 0.08% 10 0.13% 7 0.09% -2,059 -26.07% 7,898Lexington 67,132 71.85% 25,393 27.18% 295 0.32% 171 0.18% 255 0.27% 120 0.13% 66 0.07% 41,739 44.67% 93,432Marion 5,589 41.38% 7,767 57.50% 29 0.21% 80 0.59% 11 0.08% 24 0.18% 7 0.05% -2,178 -16.12% 13,507Marlboro 3,423 39.99% 4,984 58.22% 30 0.35% 73 0.85% 14 0.16% 29 0.34% 7 0.08% -1,561 -18.23% 8,560McCormick 2,396 46.78% 2,648 51.70% 11 0.21% 6 0.12% 8 0.16% 3 0.06% 50 0.98% -252 -4.92% 5,122Newberry 7,654 61.68% 4,483 36.13% 78 0.63% 42 0.34% 29 0.23% 84 0.68% 39 0.31% 3,171 25.55% 12,409Oconee 18,811 68.32% 8,395 30.49% 127 0.46% 72 0.26% 65 0.24% 42 0.15% 20 0.07% 10,416 37.83% 27,532Orangeburg 12,695 33.80% 24,698 65.75% 65 0.17% 53 0.14% 29 0.08% 14 0.04% 10 0.03% -12,003 -31.95% 37,564Pickens 29,759 73.46% 10,287 25.39% 141 0.35% 113 0.28% 130 0.32% 55 0.14% 25 0.06% 19,472 48.07% 40,510Richland 56,212 42.01% 76,283 57.01% 467 0.35% 227 0.17% 313 0.23% 174 0.13% 125 0.09% -20,071 -15.00% 133,801Saluda 4,537 59.87% 3,001 39.60% 24 0.32% 5 0.07% 6 0.08% 1 0.01% 4 0.05% 1,536 20.27% 7,578Spartanburg 62,004 64.08% 33,633 34.76% 300 0.31% 368 0.38% 226 0.23% 159 0.16% 68 0.07% 28,371 29.32% 96,758Sumter 18,074 48.84% 18,695 50.52% 74 0.20% 41 0.11% 64 0.17% 32 0.09% 23 0.06% -621 -1.68% 37,003Union 6,592 55.24% 5,236 43.87% 35 0.29% 27 0.23% 15 0.13% 16 0.13% 13 0.11%1,35611.37%11,934Williamsburg 4,795 34.45% 9,044 64.98% 25 0.18% 13 0.09% 19 0.14% 15 0.11% 7 0.05% -4,249 -30.53% 13,918York 45,234 64.45% 24,226 34.52% 259 0.37% 121 0.17% 206 0.29% 81 0.12% 54 0.08% 21,00829.93%70,181Totals937,97457.98%661,69940.90%5,5200.34%5,3170.33%3,6080.22%2,1240.13%1,4880.09%276,27517.08%1,617,730 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Chester (largest city: Chester) Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Sumter (largest city: Sumter) right 230px Swing by county Legend #09ceff Democratic — +10-12.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5-5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0-2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ff8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #ff2a2a Republican — +10-12.5% 230px Trend by county Legend #09ceff Democratic — +10-12.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5-5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0-2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ff8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #ff2a2a Republican — +10-12.5% 230px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold #0671b0 Flip Republican #f48882 Hold #ca0120 Flip Results by congressional district Bush won five of six congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - County Data https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2004&fips=45&f=0&off=0&elect=0&datatype=cd&def=1 2025-08-18 uselectionatlas.org District Bush KerryRepresentativeSouth Carolina 1 1st 61% 38%Henry E. Brown Jr.South Carolina 2 2nd 60% 39%Joe WilsonSouth Carolina 3 3rd 65% 34%Gresham BarrettSouth Carolina 4 4th65%34%Jim DeMintBob InglisSouth Carolina 5 5th 58% 41%John SprattSouth Carolina 6 6th 39% 60% Jim Clyburn Electors List of 2004 United States presidential electors Technically the voters of South Carolina cast their ballots for electors: representatives to the Electoral College. South Carolina is allocated eight electors because it has six congressional districts and two senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of eight electors, who pledge to vote for their candidate and his or her running mate. Whoever wins the majority of votes in the state is awarded all eight electoral votes. Their chosen electors then vote for president and vice president. Although electors are pledged to their candidate and running mate, they are not obligated to vote for them. An elector who votes for someone other than his or her candidate is known as a faithless elector. The electors of each state and the District of Columbia met on December 13, 2004, to cast their votes for president and vice president. The Electoral College itself never meets as one body. Instead, the electors from each state and the District of Columbia met in their respective capitols. The following were the members of the Electoral College from the state. All 8 were pledged for Bush/Cheney. Katon Dawson Buddy Witherspoon Wayland Moody Thomas McLean Brenda Bedenbaugh Edwin Foulke Robert Reagan Drew McKissick References South Carolina 2004 Presidential