Split-Ticket Voting Shapes South Carolina Election
Voters split between parties in 2026, with Republicans losing one House seat and one Senate seat in a Democratic wave.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Political Parties
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Francis Marion University political science professor Kyle Morgan said split-ticket voting was a big part of the 2026 South Carolina election. Some voters chose Wilson for governor and Andrews for Senate.
Why it matters
Rising food and rent costs have frustrated voters, including in traditionally Republican areas, and contributed to a Democratic wave that cost Republicans one House seat and one Senate seat. Candidates are already turning their attention to 2028.
Republicans lost one U.S. House seat and one Senate seat in the 2026 election, a shift attributed to a Democratic wave. The source does not provide vote tallies or margins for the split-ticket races.
The players
Kyle Morgan
Kyle Morgan is a political science professor at Francis Marion University who commented on the role of split-ticket voting in the South Carolina election.
The details
Voters in South Carolina cast split-ticket ballots in the 2026 election, with some choosing Wilson for governor and Andrews for Senate. Rising grocery and housing costs drove voter frustration, including in traditionally Republican areas.
Timeline
2026: South Carolina election with split-ticket voting
2028: Candidates turn their attention to the next elections
Political Context
The 2026 split-ticket results continue a pattern of South Carolina voters separating their choices across party lines rather than voting a straight ticket. The Democratic wave's cost to Republicans, one House seat and one Senate seat, marks a notable shift in the state's congressional delegation.
Grocery and rent increases are affecting household budgets across South Carolina, which is shaping how residents vote. Voters willing to split tickets may influence which candidates hold office in the coming years.
The takeaway
Voters in South Carolina are increasingly willing to split their ballots across parties when economic pressures rise. Watching how candidates respond to cost-of-living concerns will signal where the state's politics heads next.
What happens next
Candidates are expected to shift their focus toward the 2028 elections.
Further reading
Explore more on Political Parties to see how party strategies are shaping South Carolina's electoral landscape.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wmbfnews.
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