Henry McMaster
Percent: 53.96%
Votes: 921,342
James Smith
Percent: 45.92%
Votes: 784,182
The 2018 South Carolina gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018. It was notable as the first gubernatorial race in South Carolina, where governor and lieutenant governor candidates ran on the same ticket following a constitutional amendment. Incumbent Republican Governor Henry McMaster, who assumed office in 2017 after Nikki Haley's resignation to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, sought a full term. McMaster faced Democratic nominee James Smith, a state representative, and his running mate, Mandy Powers Norrell. Key campaign issues included education, healthcare, and economic growth. McMaster won the election with approximately 53.96 percent of the vote, solidifying his position as governor.
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 53.96%
Votes: 921,342
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 45.92%
Votes: 784,182
Write-In
Percent: 0.12%
Votes: 2,045
Total votes: 1,707,569
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 63.59%
Votes: 5,451
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 36.32%
Votes: 3,113
Write-In
Percent: 0.09%
Votes: 8
Total votes: 8,572
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 35.42%
Votes: 1,552
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 64.54%
Votes: 2,828
Write-In
Percent: 0.05%
Votes: 2
Total votes: 4,382
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 49.63%
Votes: 2,952
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 50.27%
Votes: 2,990
Write-In
Percent: 0.10%
Votes: 6
Total votes: 5,948
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 56.19%
Votes: 6,730
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 43.76%
Votes: 5,241
Write-In
Percent: 0.05%
Votes: 6
Total votes: 11,977
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 49.45%
Votes: 4,052
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 50.54%
Votes: 4,141
Write-In
Percent: 0.01%
Votes: 1
Total votes: 8,194
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 50.42%
Votes: 22,947
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 49.51%
Votes: 22,533
Write-In
Percent: 0.08%
Votes: 36
Total votes: 45,516
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 38.62%
Votes: 2,558
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 61.16%
Votes: 4,051
Write-In
Percent: 0.23%
Votes: 15
Total votes: 6,624
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 59.49%
Votes: 19,554
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 40.45%
Votes: 13,297
Write-In
Percent: 0.06%
Votes: 21
Total votes: 32,872
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 38.03%
Votes: 3,963
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 61.89%
Votes: 6,450
Write-In
Percent: 0.08%
Votes: 8
Total votes: 10,421
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 71.06%
Votes: 19,599
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 28.81%
Votes: 7,945
Write-In
Percent: 0.14%
Votes: 38
Total votes: 27,582
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 65.68%
Votes: 4,516
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 34.26%
Votes: 2,356
Write-In
Percent: 0.06%
Votes: 4
Total votes: 6,876
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 32.66%
Votes: 3,774
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 67.24%
Votes: 7,769
Write-In
Percent: 0.10%
Votes: 11
Total votes: 11,554
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 61.73%
Votes: 36,801
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 38.17%
Votes: 22,754
Write-In
Percent: 0.10%
Votes: 57
Total votes: 59,612
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 51.23%
Votes: 3,734
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 48.69%
Votes: 3,549
Write-In
Percent: 0.08%
Votes: 6
Total votes: 7,289
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 42.48%
Votes: 62,642
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 57.40%
Votes: 84,634
Write-In
Percent: 0.12%
Votes: 175
Total votes: 147,451
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 47.33%
Votes: 5,722
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 52.65%
Votes: 6,365
Write-In
Percent: 0.02%
Votes: 3
Total votes: 12,090
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 54.16%
Votes: 27,563
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 45.73%
Votes: 23,275
Write-In
Percent: 0.11%
Votes: 58
Total votes: 50,896
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 54.46%
Votes: 14,083
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 45.48%
Votes: 11,760
Write-In
Percent: 0.06%
Votes: 15
Total votes: 25,858
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 65.06%
Votes: 71,985
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 34.87%
Votes: 38,574
Write-In
Percent: 0.07%
Votes: 79
Total votes: 110,638
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 63.39%
Votes: 12,899
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 36.44%
Votes: 7,415
Write-In
Percent: 0.17%
Votes: 34
Total votes: 20,348
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 40.76%
Votes: 3,166
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 59.15%
Votes: 4,594
Write-In
Percent: 0.09%
Votes: 7
Total votes: 7,767
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 30.09%
Votes: 9,222
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 69.84%
Votes: 21,402
Write-In
Percent: 0.06%
Votes: 19
Total votes: 30,643
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 61.60%
Votes: 58,442
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 38.22%
Votes: 36,264
Write-In
Percent: 0.18%
Votes: 168
Total votes: 94,874
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 58.52%
Votes: 55,905
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 41.42%
Votes: 39,571
Write-In
Percent: 0.06%
Votes: 54
Total votes: 95,530
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 20.98%
Votes: 608
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 78.99%
Votes: 2,289
Write-In
Percent: 0.03%
Votes: 1
Total votes: 2,898
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 54.52%
Votes: 38,399
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 45.39%
Votes: 31,971
Write-In
Percent: 0.09%
Votes: 63
Total votes: 70,433
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 70.19%
Votes: 11,730
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 29.70%
Votes: 4,964
Write-In
Percent: 0.10%
Votes: 17
Total votes: 16,711
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 52.10%
Votes: 6,891
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 47.79%
Votes: 6,321
Write-In
Percent: 0.11%
Votes: 14
Total votes: 13,226
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 60.01%
Votes: 5,636
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 39.90%
Votes: 3,747
Write-In
Percent: 0.10%
Votes: 9
Total votes: 9,392
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 57.88%
Votes: 102,195
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 41.91%
Votes: 74,007
Write-In
Percent: 0.21%
Votes: 369
Total votes: 176,571
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 46.43%
Votes: 4,346
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 53.44%
Votes: 5,002
Write-In
Percent: 0.13%
Votes: 12
Total votes: 9,360
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 34.14%
Votes: 2,174
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 65.80%
Votes: 4,190
Write-In
Percent: 0.06%
Votes: 4
Total votes: 6,368
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 52.52%
Votes: 2,327
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 47.46%
Votes: 2,103
Write-In
Percent: 0.02%
Votes: 1
Total votes: 4,431
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 72.87%
Votes: 28,139
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 26.92%
Votes: 10,393
Write-In
Percent: 0.21%
Votes: 82
Total votes: 38,614
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 42.35%
Votes: 14,578
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 57.60%
Votes: 19,830
Write-In
Percent: 0.05%
Votes: 18
Total votes: 34,426
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 69.03%
Votes: 43,412
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 30.82%
Votes: 19,386
Write-In
Percent: 0.15%
Votes: 95
Total votes: 62,893
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 53.46%
Votes: 35,107
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 46.37%
Votes: 30,452
Write-In
Percent: 0.17%
Votes: 110
Total votes: 65,669
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 52.15%
Votes: 5,665
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 47.82%
Votes: 5,195
Write-In
Percent: 0.03%
Votes: 3
Total votes: 10,863
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 50.92%
Votes: 11,871
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 49.05%
Votes: 11,436
Write-In
Percent: 0.03%
Votes: 8
Total votes: 23,315
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 36.74%
Votes: 3,409
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 63.21%
Votes: 5,865
Write-In
Percent: 0.05%
Votes: 5
Total votes: 9,279
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 60.37%
Votes: 13,973
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 39.49%
Votes: 9,140
Write-In
Percent: 0.15%
Votes: 34
Total votes: 23,147
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 59.08%
Votes: 13,881
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 40.81%
Votes: 9,588
Write-In
Percent: 0.12%
Votes: 28
Total votes: 23,497
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 62.83%
Votes: 62,544
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 37.02%
Votes: 36,854
Write-In
Percent: 0.15%
Votes: 153
Total votes: 99,551
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 58.66%
Votes: 7,644
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 41.24%
Votes: 5,374
Write-In
Percent: 0.09%
Votes: 12
Total votes: 13,030
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 29.55%
Votes: 41,793
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 70.33%
Votes: 99,476
Write-In
Percent: 0.12%
Votes: 169
Total votes: 141,438
Henry McMaster (REP)
Percent: 58.24%
Votes: 5,208
James Smith (DEM)
Percent: 41.69%
Votes: 3,728
Write-In
Percent: 0.08%
Votes: 7
Total votes: 8,943