99chambers
2026CalledUnofficial results

2026 election for South Carolina Secretary of State

Secretary of State · South Carolina

Mark Hammond (R) won re-election with 53.0% of the vote, defeating Jason Belton (D) by 6.0 points.

Mark HammondRepublican · winner · incumbent
53.0%1,073,652
Jason BeltonDemocrat
47.0%952,186
Write-inOther party
0.0%961
2,026,799 votes

Source: South Carolina Election Commission unofficial resultsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:35 PM ET

Where the race moved

Against the 2024 presidential vote

Every county, 2024 to 2026

Each dot is a county, sized by votes cast and colored by who carried it in 2026. Dots above the line moved toward Belton compared with the 2024 presidential vote; 46 of 46 did. The largest shift among the bigger counties: Orangeburg, +23.2 points.

R+60R+60R+30R+30EvenEvenD+30D+30D+60D+60Moved toward Democrats ↑↓ Moved toward RepublicansGreenvilleCharlestonHorryRichlandSpartanburgYork2024 presidential margin →2026 margin →

Source: civicAPI county results (unofficial); 2024 president: MEDSL precinct returnsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:34 PM ET

The seat's recent races

EvenR+14.32018R+26.72022R+18.12024 Pres.R+6.02026

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

By county

CountyShareMarginShift
GreenvilleR+10.9+11.3
CharlestonD+11.0+5.3
HorryR+29.5+9.0
RichlandD+43.6+9.0
SpartanburgR+16.3+17.3
YorkR+6.6+12.4
LexingtonR+22.1+11.4
BerkeleyR+0.4+15.8
Show 38 more
BeaufortR+12.8+1.6
AndersonR+34.5+12.8
AikenR+12.8+13.0
DorchesterR+0.5+14.1
FlorenceD+6.6+14.7
PickensR+42.0+10.6
LancasterR+13.3+11.4
SumterD+20.7+15.8
OrangeburgD+47.8+23.2
OconeeR+44.0+7.5
GeorgetownR+13.4+6.1
KershawR+12.3+15.9
GreenwoodR+16.3+12.6
DarlingtonD+1.9+15.2
LaurensR+26.1+14.7
CherokeeR+37.1+14.2
JasperR+4.8+4.8
NewberryR+24.4+9.9
ChesterfieldR+13.4+14.7
ColletonR+5.2+13.0
ClarendonR+1.4+10.9
ChesterR+0.3+16.9
WilliamsburgD+34.6+12.9
MarionD+21.9+11.4
EdgefieldR+19.8+12.1
FairfieldD+20.7+7.4
UnionR+20.5+12.2
AbbevilleR+29.9+12.5
DillonD+4.1+14.9
BarnwellR+2.3+13.2
MarlboroD+18.6+16.2
SaludaR+34.7+9.7
HamptonD+12.5+6.1
LeeD+32.2+14.5
CalhounR+2.3+12.1
McCormickR+13.6+3.5
BambergD+26.1+10.8
AllendaleD+53.4+8.7

Bar: share of the state's vote. Shift: change in margin from the 2024 presidential vote, + toward Democrats.

Source: civicAPI county results (unofficial); 2024 president: MEDSL precinct returnsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:34 PM ET

Pre-election forecast (final, Nov 3)

Our model's last run before Election Day, Nov 3, 2026. It no longer updates.

Jason Belton
3%
Mark Hammond
97%
Projected margin
R+13.6
How the forecast works →

The candidates

Mark Hammond (R)
Incumbent secretary of stateJason Belton (D)
Vice President of the Greater Columbia Central Labor Council

Also on the ballot: Write-in (Other party), 0.0%

Also on this ballot here

U.S. SenateD+4.5
GovernorR+4.5
Attorney GeneralR+4.7
TreasurerR+5.1
ComptrollerR+4.1

Results within this state. Source: Results and race calls: South Carolina Election Commission (unofficial)Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:35 PM ET