South Carolina Republican primary winners over the years

Maya Marchel Hoff, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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While Trump overwhelmingly won South Carolina's Republican primary, here's a look at which Republican candidates have previously won the Palmetto State's primaries.

More: 2024 Elections Voter Guide

2020

In 2020, the Republican party canceled primaries and caucuses in four states, including South Carolina, to ward off challengers and consolidate support for Trump.

2016

  1. Businessman Donald Trump: 32.51%

  2. Florida Senator Marco Rubio: 22.48%

  3. Texas Senator Ted Cruz: 22.33%

Trump ended up winning South Carolina in 2016, beating Florida Senator Marco Rubio by nearly 10 points. He later went on to win the party nomination and beat former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the general election.

More: South Carolina presidential primary results since 2000

2012

  1. Former Speaker of the House Rep. Newt Gingrich: 40.4%

  2. Utah Senator Mitt Romney: 27.8%

  3. Virginia Senator Rick Santorum: 17%

In 2012, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won the primary, while Utah Sen. Mitt Romney came in second, over 10 points behind him. Romney went on to win the party nomination and lost the general election to former President Barack Obama.

2008

  1. Arizona Senator John McCain: 33.15%

  2. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: 29.84%

  3. Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson: 15.63%

Former Arizona Sen. John McCain won the primary in 2008, beating former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee by fewer than four points. McCain later went on to secure the party nomination but lost to Obama in the general election.

2004

In 2004, the South Carolina GOP former President George W. Bush all of its delegates ahead of the primary. Bush went on to win the party nomination and beat former Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in the general election.

2000

  1. Texas Gov. George W. Bush: 53.39%

  2. Senator John McCain: 41.87%

Bush won the primary in 2000, beating McCain by over 10 points. He went on to win the party nomination and beat former Vice President Al Gore in the general election.

More: 3 takeaways from President Biden's blowout win in the South Carolina Democratic Primary

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Previous South Carolina Republican primary winners