2028 Republican primary in South Carolina

South Carolina has traditionally held one of the first contests of the nominating season, which gives its 2028 Republican primary or caucus outsized early influence. South Carolina has leaned Republican in recent presidential elections (it voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024), so this primary effectively picks the favorite to carry the state in November 2028. The official 2028 Republican primary date and the calendar order are not finalized yet.

South Carolina at a glance

Electoral votes9
RegionSouth
CapitalColumbia
General-election leanSafe Republican
2024 resultTrump (R)
2020 resultTrump (R)
2016 resultTrump (R)
Calendar positionTraditionally early

See the South Carolina general-election outlook.

The Republican field

The candidates South Carolina Republican voters would choose among:

JD Vance Marco Rubio Ron DeSantis Dan Greaney Brian Kemp Byron Donalds Donald Trump Jr.Elise Stefanik Glenn Youngkin

Full field and process on the 2028 Republican primary hub.

Why South Carolina matters in the 2028 Republican race

South Carolina is reliable Republican turf in general elections, so its Republican primary is closely watched as a read on where the party's voters stand, even though the state itself is not a top November battleground.

Recent presidential results in South Carolina: it voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024. Compare the 2028 nomination odds and the latest 2028 primary polls.

Keep exploring

Other early-state Republican primaries

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Quick answers

South Carolina 2028 Republican primary FAQ

When is the 2028 Republican primary in South Carolina?

The official 2028 date has not been set. South Carolina has traditionally voted early in the calendar. Check back as the calendar is confirmed.

How does South Carolina usually vote in presidential elections?

South Carolina voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024. Analysts currently rate it Safe Republican for 2028. See the full South Carolina general-election outlook for detail.

Who is running in the 2028 Republican primary?

As of June 2026 no candidate has formally declared. The most-discussed Republican contenders include JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Ron DeSantis, Dan Greaney.

How many delegates does South Carolina have?

Exact 2028 delegate counts are set by the Republican National Committee (RNC) closer to the election. As a rough guide, states with more delegates than South Carolina (9 electoral votes) carry more delegates than smaller ones.