1986Final results
1986 election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina
U.S. Senate · South Carolina
Ernest Hollings (D) won with 63.1% of the vote, defeating Henry D. McMaster (R) by 27.5 points.
Ernest HollingsDemocrat · winner
63.1%465,500
Henry D. McMasterRepublican
35.6%262,886
Steven B. VanderveldeLibertarian
0.6%4,789
Ray HillyardOther party
0.6%4,588
737,962 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1986
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Ernest HollingsHenry D. McMaster
$2.4M
Raised by the campaign
$584.8K
$2.2M
Spent by the campaign
$584.3K
$197.9K
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986
The candidates
Ernest Hollings (D)Henry D. McMaster (R)
Also on the ballot: Steven B. Vandervelde (Libertarian), 0.6%; Ray Hillyard (Other party), 0.6%