Overview
- Voters cast ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time and anyone in line at closing allowed to vote.
- The special U.S. Senate contest features interim Republican Darline Graham, Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews, Libertarian Kasie Whitener, and Constitution Party candidate Mark Hackett in a race that polling showed tied.
- The governor's race pairs Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson against Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson along with Green and United Citizens Party candidates, with the winner set to replace Gov. Henry McMaster.
- Unofficial returns began arriving when polls closed and county election offices are transmitting counts to the state, with heavy early voting and turnout patterns likely to slow clarity on night one.
- A stronger-than-usual Democratic performance could reduce the Republican supermajority in the state legislature and shift policy on education, criminal justice, and health care.