South Carolina, U.S. Senate
Race Forecast: Safe Republican
Vote for winner in 2002: 54 percent
Graham easily cleared a challenge from the right in the state ’ s June primary and appears set for a strong win over pilot Bob Conley, the Democratic nominee, in the incumbent-friendly state.
Race Information
- Incumbent: Sen. Lindsey Graham, R
- First Elected: 2002 (1st term)
- Last Elected: 2002 (54.35%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Challengers: Bob Conley, D
- Race Forecast: Safe Republican
State Information
- U.S. Senate Delegation: 2 Republicans
- U.S. House Delegation: 2 Democrats, 4 Republicans
- South Carolina's Other Senator
- Sen. Jim DeMint-R
- First Elected: 2004 (1st term)
- Last Elected: 2004 (53.67%)
- State Offices
- Governor: Gov. Mark Sanford, R
- First Elected: 2002 (2nd term)
- State House Control: Republican
- State Senate Control: Republican
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population (2005):4,255,083
- Under 18:25.2%
- Over 65:12.1%
- Non-Hispanic White:66.1%
- Black:29.4%
- Hispanic:2.4%
- Asian:0.9%
- American Indian:0.3%
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander:0.0%
- Median Household Income: 37,082
- Median Household Income Rank: 38
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | general | Lindsey Graham (R) | 1,014,396 | 57.6% |
| Bob Conley (D) | 742,362 | 42.2% | ||
| 2002 | general | Lindsey Graham (R) | 595,218 | 54.4% |
| Alex Sanders (D) | 484,422 | 44.2% | ||
| Ted Adams (CNSTP) | 8,202 | 0.8% | ||
| Victor Kocher (LIBERT) | 6,648 | 0.6% | ||
| 1996 | general | Strom Thurmond (R) | 619,739 | 53.4% |
| Elliott Close (D) | 510,810 | 44% | ||
| Richard T. Quillian (LIBERT) | 12,988 | 1.1% | ||
| Peter J. Ashy (REF) | 9,740 | 0.8% | ||
| Annette C. Estes (NL) | 7,691 | 0.7% | ||
| 1990 | general | Strom Thurmond (R) | 482,032 | 64.2% |
| Bob Cunningham (D) | 244,112 | 32.5% | ||
| 1984 | general | Strom Thurmond (R) | 644,815 | 66.8% |
| Melvin Purvis Jr. (D) | 306,982 | 31.8% | ||
| 1978 | general | Strom Thurmond (R) | 351,733 | 55.6% |
| 1972 | general | Strom Thurmond (R) | 426,601 | 63.5% |
| 1966 | general | Strom Thurmond (R) | 271,297 | 62.2% |
| 1960 | general | Strom Thurmond (D) | 330,164 | 100% |
| 1954 | general | Strom Thurmond (ID) | 143,444 | 63.1% |
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Kerry: 41% | George W. Bush: 58% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 41% | George W. Bush: 57% | |
| 1996 | Bill Clinton: 44% | Robert Dole: 50% | |
| 1992 | Bill Clinton: 40% | George H. W. Bush: 48% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
| Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAVENEL, THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON (R) | September 30, 2008 | $9,680.00 | $9,712.00 | $0 | $0 | $394.00 | $234,946.00 |
| HOLLINGS, ERNEST F (D) | December 31, 2007 | $0 | $154,329.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| DEMINT, JAMES W (R) | September 30, 2008 | $1,954,841.00 | $687,660.00 | $5,000.00 | $1,419,839.00 | $1,526,799.00 | $0 |
| MCBRIDE, MARK STRUTHERS (R) | March 31, 2006 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $24,690.00 |
| BELK, MARCUS TYRONE (D) | December 31, 2005 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| GRAHAM, LINDSEY OLIN (R) | November 24, 2008 | $4,619,062.00 | $4,368,638.00 | $232,000.00 | $2,689,240.00 | $2,895,298.00 | $0 |
| WITHERSPOON, WALTER P (BUDDY) DR (R) | September 30, 2008 | $441,452.00 | $423,265.00 | $0 | $216,729.00 | $18,546.00 | $220,000.00 |
| CONLEY, ROBERT M (D) | June 30, 2008 | $17,105.00 | $15,202.00 | $0 | $12,918.00 | $983.00 | $3,692.00 |
| CONE, MICHAEL JOSEPH (D) | May 21, 2008 | $11,854.00 | $11,482.00 | $0 | $1,975.00 | $371.00 | $9,500.00 |
