York, South Carolina Sees Trump Lead Harris in Election Results
In a significant electoral outcome on November 5, 2024, former Republican President Donald Trump emerged victorious against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the counties of York, Chester, and Lancaster in South Carolina. The polls closed at 7 p.m., and by 8:01 p.m., it was confirmed that Trump had secured his win in the state.
As of 11 p.m., with 85% of counties reporting, Trump held a commanding lead of 59% to 40% over Harris statewide. Detailed local results from the three counties illustrate Trump’s strong support base among the electorate.
County Breakdown
- York County: Trump received 59% of the votes, with early and election day numbers reflecting this support. The county, which has approximately 196,000 registered voters, saw around 54% opting for early voting.
- Lancaster County: Here, Trump earned an impressive 62% of the votes compared to Harris’s 37%. Out of its 70,000 registered voters, about 54% chose to vote early.
- Chester County: Trump secured 58%, while Harris garnered 41% of the votes. Chester County has about 20,000 registered voters, with 46% participating in early voting.
This year marks a shift in South Carolina’s voting procedures as early voting was made permanent following the adjustments during the 2020 pandemic. Prior to this, absentee voting was extended to facilitate participation amid health concerns.
Historical Context
Political analysts from Winthrop University, Scott Huffmon and Adolphus Belk, pointed out that South Carolina is generally regarded as a safe Republican state. York, Chester, and Lancaster counties have shown a trend of leaning Republican in previous elections, supporting the view that Trump’s favor remains strong in the region.
Historically, Trump won South Carolina in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. In 2016, he claimed 55% of the state vote while defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton and again won the state in 2020 against Joe Biden with 55% to Biden’s 44%.
The Campaign Trail
Despite the intense competition, neither Trump nor Harris made campaign stops in the Rock Hill region prior to the election. Both candidates focused their efforts more on the nearby Charlotte, North Carolina area. Trump held a rally in Gastonia, N.C., while Harris appeared in Charlotte just days before the election.
During the 2020 election, Trump scored a notable victory in York County, taking home 57% of the vote against Biden’s 41%. In the previous election cycle of 2016, Trump’s margin was even more pronounced at 58% over Clinton’s 36%. Similar trends were evident in Chester and Lancaster counties, projecting a consistent Republican stronghold in the region.
As the counting continues and the final results of the election day voting are compiled, these preliminary figures underscore a clear preference among voters in these counties for Trump over Harris.
