1996Final results
1996 election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina
U.S. Senate · South Carolina
Strom Thurmond (R) won with 53.4% of the vote, defeating Elliot Springs Close (D) by 9.4 points.
Strom ThurmondRepublican · winner
53.4%619,859
Elliot Springs CloseDemocrat
44.0%510,951
Richard T. QuillianLibertarian
1.1%12,988
Peter J. AshyReform
0.8%9,740
Annette C. EstesNatural Law
0.7%7,693
1,161,231 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 1996
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.
Elliot Springs CloseStrom Thurmond
$1.9M
Raised by the campaign
$2.3M
$1.9M
Spent by the campaign
$2.4M
$6.2K
Cash on hand
$34.4K
Other candidates' campaigns: Peter J. Ashy $7.8K · Richard T. Quillian $3.9K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Strom Thurmond (R)Elliot Springs Close (D)
Also on the ballot: Richard T. Quillian (Libertarian), 1.1%; Peter J. Ashy (Reform), 0.8%; Annette C. Estes (Natural Law), 0.7%