ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Leading up to the holiday season, the Winthrop Poll asked South Carolinians about holiday spending, finances, and ease of discussing politics with different people.
The following are GENERAL POPULATION results from the survey of South Carolinians:
Results of the GENERAL POPULATION from the survey are of 1,434 (weighted) South Carolinians and have a Margin of Error of +/-2.59%.
The survey was conducted online between Nov 8-16. Data are weighted by sex, race, age, and education.
The Winthrop Poll is conducted and paid for by Winthrop University.
Forty-two percent of South Carolinians expect to spend less this holiday season than in previous years. Thirty-eight percent expect to spend about the same as in previous years, while 20% expect to spend more. Most residents with annual household incomes of $100,000 or less expect to spend less this year, while most of those making more than $100,000 per year plan to spend about the same as last year.
Winthrop Poll Director Scott Huffmon noted, “Compared to national numbers, all but the highest earners in South Carolina expect to spend less for the holiday season. People deciding to spend less are likely doing so in response to uncertainty about the economy. It is hard to predict how much various stocking stuffers will cost with prices in flux due to tariffs and other pressures.”
Forty-two percent of South Carolinians report that their financial situation remains about the same as it was a year ago. Thirty-eight percent are worse off financially than they were last year, while 20% are better off. The most likely population to report being worse off financially than they were a year ago is those with annual household incomes of less than $50,000.
According to Huffmon, “South Carolinians are a bit more likely to say they are better off than they were a year ago compared to national numbers. This could be a result of economic growth in South Carolina compared to economic contraction nationally. According to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, South Carolina’s GDP grew by 1.7% while the national GDP shrank by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2025.” (source: https://dew.sc.gov/labor-market-information-blog/2025-08/gdp-personal-income-1st-quarter-2025)
Over half of South Carolinians (58%) find it very or somewhat easy to talk about politics with close family. While more Republicans are comfortable talking politics with close family than Independents or Democrats, a majority of each group find ease speaking openly with this group of people.
Huffmon stated, “It appears that political independents are the most likely to be uncomfortable around the table at Thanksgiving dinner if the talk turns to politics. While overwhelming majorities of partisans feel comfortable talking politics with their family, fewer than half of independents feel that way.”
Thirty-one percent find it easy to talk about politics with work colleagues, while 23% find talking politics with this group somewhat or very difficult. Republicans are more likely to find ease in these conversations with work colleagues than Independents or Democrats, who are more split.
Twenty-nine percent say talking about politics with acquaintances or people they don’t know well is somewhat or very easy. Thirty-seven percent find these conversations difficult. Republicans differ from Independents and Democrats again, with more Republicans finding political conversations with this group easier than non-Republicans do.
Thirty-five percent find talking about politics with people from a different racial or ethnic background easy, while 29% say conversations with these people are difficult. Republicans are still the most likely people to find ease in having these types of conversations.
More than half of South Carolinians are very or somewhat concerned about themselves or someone they know being targeted for holding certain political beliefs. Democrats in South Carolina are more concerned than Republicans that they or someone they know could be targeted because of their political beliefs. Sixty-one percent of Democrats say they are very or somewhat concerned compared to 49% of Republicans.
“In this era of hyper-polarization, a majority of South Carolinians fear that they, or a friend or family member, could be targeted because of their political beliefs. While a majority reported that there had not been a time in the previous year when they were afraid to express their political opinions, there is clearly concern for political targeting,” according to Huffmon.
Forty-five percent say there has been a time in the past year when they felt like they could not express their political opinions out of fear of being verbally attacked or harassed, while half say they have not felt this way. Republicans are less likely than Democrats to feel as if they would be attacked for expressing their opinions.
See full results and methodology here.
For additional information or to set up an interview with Scott Huffmon, contact Judy Longshaw at longshawj@winthrop.edu or 803/323-2404 (office) or 803/984-0586 (cell).
