ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – The latest Winthrop Poll finds that 67% of South Carolinians believe that states drawing legislative districts that intentionally favor one party is a major problem right now. A majority (66%) thinks it should be illegal to draw electoral districts in a way that makes it harder for members of a particular party to elect their preferred candidates and a greater majority (73%) thinks it should be illegal to draw electoral districts in a way that makes it harder for members of a particular racial group to elect their preferred candidates.
Other results from the survey of South Carolinians:
See full results, commentary, and methodology below.
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).
Among all registered voters in South Carolina, 51% of those who expressed an opinion disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, and 49% approve. Among all residents who expressed an opinion – regardless of voter registration status – 53% disapprove and 47% approve. Among his base in the state, however, nearly 90% approve of Trump.
Winthrop Poll Director, Dr. Scott Huffmon, noted, “Among the South Carolina general population, the state hews fairly closely to national numbers with regard to Trump. However, when you look only at registered voters in South Carolina, Trump’s numbers are higher. Among Trump’s base, his support in South Carolina is strong with 9 out of 10 Republicans approving of the job he’s doing.”
Half of all registered voters approve of the way Henry McMaster is handling his job as governor, while 39% disapprove.
Huffmon added, “Henry McMaster enters his final year as South Carolina’s governor with positive approval ratings. Among Republicans, Governor McMaster’s approval ratings hover near those of President Trump.”
Fifty-eight percent of registered voters who expressed an opinion disapprove of the way Lindsey Graham is handling his job as U.S. Senator for South Carolina and 42% approve. Disapproval decreases slightly when considering the general population, with 55% of everyone who expressed an opinion saying they disapprove of the senator’s job, while 45% approve.
According to Huffmon, “Since Senator Graham will be facing a primary challenge, his campaign staff might not currently see the use of looking at Graham’s approval among all registered voters, much less all South Carolinians. Graham’s rating among Republicans who are registered to vote is strongly positive, with approximately 7 out of 10 approving. However, while these numbers are strong, Graham’s approval among Republicans who are registered to vote is significantly lower than those of other statewide elected officials, as well as those of President Trump, who has endorsed Senator Graham.”
When it comes to Tim Scott, the junior U.S. Senator for South Carolina, 62% of registered voters who expressed an opinion approve of the way he is handling his job, while 38% disapprove. Scott’s approval among Republican registered voters sits at 93% - the highest among the federal officials asked in this survey. Of the general population who expressed an opinion, 60% approve and 40% disapprove.
Half of South Carolinians disapprove of the way Trump is handling jobs and the economy. Forty-six percent approve.
Sixty-one percent disapprove of how Trump is handling inflation and prices, while 36% approve.
On the topic of immigration, South Carolinians are more evenly split. Forty-nine percent approve of the way Trump is handling this issue, and 47% disapprove.
For each issue, Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to approve of Trump’s decision-making.
A majority of South Carolinians (54%) approve of the US military’s lethal strikes on boats suspected of containing drugs being smuggled in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. Republicans and Democrats differ. A strong majority of Republicans (87%) approve of these strikes, while 9% disapprove. Among Democrats, 25% approve of the strikes, while 64% disapprove.
According to Huffmon, “President Trump’s messaging regarding drug smugglers - labeling them as narco-terrorists and describing them as poisoning the American population – seems to be driving attitudes in South Carolina in favor of these strikes. However, it will be hard to predict the evolution of opinion on this issue as the public gets more information about these strikes, including whether the survivors of an initial strike were targeted a second time.”
A majority of South Carolinians (58%) do not think the federal government should declare the US a Christian nation. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say that the US should be declared a Christian nation.
Sixty-seven percent of South Carolinians believe that states drawing legislative districts that intentionally favor one party is a major problem.
A majority (66%) thinks it should be illegal to draw electoral districts in a way that makes it harder for members of a particular party to elect their preferred candidates. Twenty-three percent say they are not sure, while 10% say this should be legal.
A greater majority (73%) thinks it should be illegal to draw electoral districts in a way that makes it harder for members of a particular racial group to elect their preferred candidates. Eighteen percent are not sure, and 9% say this should be legal.
Regarding the Texas Legislature’s decision to engage in a mid-decade redistricting to gain more Republican seats in the 2026 midterm elections and California’s proposal to counter this action by redistricting to favor Democrats, South Carolinians were asked to indicate their point of view. A majority (54%) say that neither party should be allowed to use mid-decade redistricting to gain an advantage. Twenty-three percent believe that if one party uses mid-decade redistricting to gain an advantage, then the other party should do the same. Seven percent say, even if a party uses mid-decade redistricting to gain an advantage, the other party should not respond in kind. Republicans and Democrats are generally in agreement.
According to Huffmon, “Even as elected officials across many states jockey for any electoral advantage to be gained through gerrymandering, the public – both nationally and in South Carolina – remains strongly opposed to the concept. In all likelihood, the broad concept of gerrymandering may rub against people’s sense of ‘fair play.’ Nonetheless, it is possible that if gerrymandering were described in specific terms as to how it could affect the control of Congress, the strongest partisans on each side may place political gain over the notion of fair play.”
Twenty-eight percent of South Carolinians feel they have been discriminated against in the past year because of their race or ethnicity. Black respondents are more likely than white respondents to report experiencing recent racial or ethnic discrimination.
Twenty-four percent feel they have been discriminated against in the past year because of their sex or gender. Female respondents are more likely than male respondents to report experiencing discrimination related to their sex or gender.
Thirty-six percent of South Carolinians prefer to leave monuments or memorials to Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War but also add a plaque or marker for context and historical interpretation. Similarly, 34% say to simply leave them just as they are – no additions necessary. Nineteen percent would like them to be moved to a museum, and 6% say to remove them completely.
Most white respondents want these monuments and memorials to be left as they are (42%) or left, but with a plaque or marker for context and interpretation (37%). Black respondents are more likely to say to move them to a museum (32%). Nearly half of Republicans in the state (49%) would like them to be left just as they are, while most Democrats would prefer that they be moved to a museum or left, but with a plaque or marker.
Thirty-six percent of South Carolinians think the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of Southern pride, whereas 30% see it as more of a symbol of racial conflict. Twenty-six percent view the flag as a symbol of both Southern pride and racial conflict equally. Nearly half of Black respondents view the Confederate battle flag as more a symbol of racial conflict, while nearly half of white respondents see it as more of a symbol of Southern pride. Republicans and Democrats differ in their point of view, as well.
While 27% believe the Civil War was mainly about slavery and 17% believe it was mainly about states’ rights, half of South Carolinians believe slavery and states’ rights were equal contributors. Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to see slavery as the main cause of the Civil War.
RESULTS MAY NOT SUM TO 100 DUE TO ROUNDING
NOTE: Political Independents are included in “All Respondents” and do not always have attitudes “in between” Republicans and Democrats. They are also often more likely to respond to questions with Not Sure or No Answer.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President of the United States?
|
|
GOP, registered to vote, ONLY THOSE EXPRESSING AN OPINION |
GOP, registered to vote |
Registered Voters, ONLY THOSE EXPRESSING AN OPINION |
Registered Voters, ALL |
|
Approve |
89 |
87 |
49 |
46 |
|
Disapprove |
11 |
10 |
51 |
49 |
|
Prefer not to answer |
Not incuded |
2 |
Not included |
5 |
|
|
Republicans Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
All Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
All Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
All Respondents |
|
Approve |
89 |
86 |
5 |
5 |
47 |
43 |
|
Disapprove |
11 |
10 |
95 |
91 |
53 |
49 |
|
Prefer not to answer |
Not included |
4 |
Not included |
3 |
Not included |
9 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Henry McMaster is handling his job as Governor of South Carolina?
|
|
GOP, registered to vote, ONLY THOSE EXPRESSING AN OPINION |
GOP, registered to vote |
Registered Voters, ONLY THOSE EXPRESSING AN OPINION |
Registered Voters, ALL |
|
Approve |
88 |
82 |
56 |
50 |
|
Disapprove |
12 |
11 |
44 |
39 |
|
Prefer not to answer |
Not included |
7 |
Not included |
11 |
|
|
Republicans Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
All Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
All Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
All Respondents |
|
Approve |
87 |
78 |
22 |
18 |
55 |
45 |
|
Disapprove |
13 |
12 |
78 |
68 |
45 |
37 |
|
Prefer not to answer |
Not included |
11 |
Not included |
14 |
Not included |
18 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Lindsey Graham is handling his job as a United States Senator for South Carolina?
|
|
GOP, registered to vote, ONLY THOSE EXPRESSING AN OPINION |
GOP, registered to vote |
Registered Voters, ONLY THOSE EXPRESSING AN OPINION |
Registered Voters, ALL |
|
Approve |
72 |
67 |
42 |
38 |
|
Disapprove |
28 |
26 |
58 |
53 |
|
Prefer not to answer |
Not included |
8 |
Not included |
9 |
|
|
Republicans Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
All Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
All Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
All Respondents |
|
Approve |
74 |
66 |
17 |
15 |
45 |
38 |
|
Disapprove |
26 |
24 |
82 |
75 |
55 |
46 |
|
Prefer not to answer |
Not included |
10 |
Not included |
9 |
Not included |
16 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tim Scott is handling his job as a United States Senator for South Carolina?
|
|
GOP, registered to vote, ONLY THOSE EXPRESSING AN OPINION |
GOP, registered to vote |
Registered Voters, ONLY THOSE EXPRESSING AN OPINION |
Registered Voters, ALL |
|
Approve |
93 |
84 |
62 |
52 |
|
Disapprove |
7 |
7 |
38 |
33 |
|
Prefer not to answer |
Not included |
10 |
Not included |
15 |
|
|
Republicans Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
All Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
All Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
All Respondents |
|
Approve |
91 |
80 |
25 |
21 |
60 |
47 |
|
Disapprove |
9 |
8 |
75 |
62 |
40 |
31 |
|
Prefer not to answer |
Not included |
13 |
Not included |
17 |
Not included |
2 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling these specific issues? (Tables 5-7)
Jobs and the economy
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats, registered to vote |
Registered Voters, ALL |
|
Strongly Approve |
24 |
52 |
4 |
55 |
4 |
27 |
|
Somewhat Approve |
22 |
35 |
6 |
33 |
5 |
21 |
|
Somewhat Disapprove |
14 |
6 |
14 |
6 |
12 |
11 |
|
Strongly Disapprove |
36 |
5 |
73 |
6 |
78 |
38 |
|
Not sure |
5 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Refused |
0 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
0 |
Inflation and prices
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats, registered to vote |
Registered Voters, ALL |
|
Strongly Approve |
17 |
36 |
3 |
38 |
2 |
19 |
|
Somewhat Approve |
19 |
36 |
5 |
38 |
4 |
21 |
|
Somewhat Disapprove |
16 |
14 |
13 |
13 |
12 |
14 |
|
Strongly Disapprove |
45 |
9 |
79 |
9 |
81 |
45 |
|
Not sure |
4 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
Refused |
0 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
0 |
Immigration
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats, registered to vote |
Registered Voters, ALL |
|
Strongly Approve |
34 |
72 |
6 |
77 |
5 |
38 |
|
Somewhat Approve |
15 |
15 |
7 |
13 |
8 |
13 |
|
Somewhat Disapprove |
11 |
4 |
11 |
4 |
11 |
10 |
|
Strongly Disapprove |
36 |
7 |
70 |
6 |
73 |
36 |
|
Not sure |
5 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
|
Refused |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the U.S. military conducting lethal strikes on boats suspected of containing drugs being smuggled from the Caribbean or the Pacific?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly Approve |
36 |
65 |
12 |
|
Somewhat Approve |
18 |
22 |
13 |
|
Somewhat Disapprove |
13 |
4 |
21 |
|
Strongly Disapprove |
23 |
5 |
43 |
|
Not sure |
10 |
3 |
12 |
|
Refused |
1 |
1 |
0 |
The federal government should declare the United States a Christian nation.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly agree |
21 |
40 |
11 |
|
Somewhat agree |
19 |
27 |
17 |
|
Somewhat disagree |
23 |
16 |
23 |
|
Strongly disagree |
35 |
16 |
47 |
|
Refused |
1 |
1 |
1 |
How big of a problem do you think it is when states draw legislative districts that intentionally favor one party?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats, registered to vote |
US General Population* |
|
Major problem |
67 |
62 |
77 |
62 |
82 |
75 |
|
Minor problem |
19 |
25 |
11 |
24 |
9 |
19 |
|
Not a problem |
5 |
8 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
6 |
|
Not sure |
8 |
5 |
8 |
5 |
7 |
N/A |
|
Refused |
0 |
0 |
-- |
0 |
-- |
N/A |
*August 2025 National YouGov poll
In the United States, do you think it should be legal or illegal to draw electoral districts in a way that makes it harder for members of a particular party to elect their preferred candidates?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats, registered to vote |
US General Population* |
|
Should be legal |
10 |
15 |
9 |
14 |
9 |
9 |
|
Should be illegal |
66 |
65 |
74 |
68 |
75 |
69 |
|
Not sure |
23 |
19 |
17 |
17 |
15 |
22 |
|
Refused |
1 |
1 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
N/A |
*August 2025 National YouGov poll
In the United States, do you think it should be legal or illegal to draw electoral districts in a way that makes it harder for members of a particular racial group to elect their preferred candidates?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats, registered to vote |
US General Population* |
|
Should be legal |
9 |
12 |
9 |
11 |
9 |
6 |
|
Should be illegal |
73 |
71 |
79 |
73 |
82 |
74 |
|
Not sure |
18 |
17 |
11 |
15 |
9 |
20 |
|
Refused |
1 |
1 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
N/A |
*August 2025 National YouGov poll
As you may know, the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature decided to engage in a mid-decade redistricting to gain more seats in the 2026 midterm elections. Democratic states like California have considered redrawing their maps to gain more seats to counter Republicans. Which of the following best reflects your point of view?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats, registered to vote |
|
Neither party should be allowed to use mid-decade redistricting to gain an advantage |
54 |
53 |
51 |
55 |
52 |
|
If one party uses mid-decade redistricting to gain an advantage, then the other party should do the same |
23 |
25 |
30 |
25 |
32 |
|
If one party uses mid-decade redistricting to gain an advantage, then the other party should not respond in kind because it only makes things worse |
7 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
|
Not sure |
16 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
9 |
|
Refused |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
In the past year, do you feel that you have been discriminated against because of your race or ethnicity?
|
|
All Respondents |
Black Respondents |
White Respondents |
|
Yes |
28 |
48 |
16 |
|
No |
67 |
42 |
80 |
|
Not sure |
6 |
10 |
4 |
|
Refused |
0 |
-- |
0 |
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Democrats, registered to vote |
|
Yes |
23 |
22 |
34 |
31 |
|
No |
75 |
75 |
60 |
65 |
|
Not sure |
3 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
|
Refused |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
In the past year, do you feel that you have been discriminated against because of your sex or gender?
|
|
All Respondents |
Male Respondents |
Female Respondents |
|
Yes |
24 |
15 |
31 |
|
No |
73 |
83 |
64 |
|
Not sure |
4 |
3 |
5 |
|
Refused |
0 |
0 |
-- |
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Democrats, registered to vote |
|
Yes |
16 |
15 |
27 |
27 |
|
No |
82 |
83 |
68 |
69 |
|
Not sure |
2 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
|
Refused |
0 |
0 |
-- |
-- |
Which of the following comes closest to your opinion about what to do with monuments or memorials to Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War?
(options 1-4 listed in random order)
|
|
All Respondents |
White Respondents |
Black Respondents |
|
Leave them just as they are |
34 |
42 |
20 |
|
Leave them, but add a plaque or marker for context and historical interpretation |
36 |
37 |
23 |
|
Move them to a museum |
19 |
14 |
32 |
|
Remove them completely |
6 |
4 |
13 |
|
Not sure |
5 |
3 |
12 |
|
Refused |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Democrats, registered to vote |
|
Leave them just as they are |
49 |
50 |
18 |
17 |
|
Leave them, but add a plaque or marker for context and historical interpretation |
37 |
38 |
30 |
27 |
|
Move them to a museum |
10 |
8 |
34 |
39 |
|
Remove them completely |
2 |
2 |
11 |
12 |
|
Not sure |
3 |
2 |
7 |
6 |
|
Refused |
0 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Some people say the confederate battle flag reminds them of white supremacy and racial conflict. Other people say the confederate battle flag is a symbol of southern heritage and pride.
Do you think the flag is more a symbol of racial conflict or of southern pride?
(options 1-2 listed in random order)
|
|
All Respondents |
White Respondents |
Black Respondents |
|
Racial Conflict |
30 |
22 |
48 |
|
Southern Pride |
36 |
48 |
11 |
|
Equally Both |
26 |
24 |
30 |
|
Not sure |
8 |
6 |
10 |
|
Refused |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Democrats, registered to vote |
|
Racial Conflict |
8 |
8 |
58 |
64 |
|
Southern Pride |
66 |
67 |
12 |
11 |
|
Equally Both |
21 |
20 |
24 |
22 |
|
Not sure |
5 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
|
Refused |
0 |
1 |
0 |
-- |
In your opinion, was the Civil War mainly about slavery, mainly about states’ rights, or about both equally?
(options 1-2 listed in random order)
|
|
All Respondents |
White Respondents |
Black Respondents |
|
Slavery |
27 |
25 |
33 |
|
States’ rights |
17 |
20 |
10 |
|
Equally Both |
49 |
49 |
47 |
|
Not sure |
7 |
6 |
10 |
|
Refused |
0 |
1 |
-- |
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Republicans, registered to vote |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Democrats, registered to vote |
|
Slavery |
15 |
17 |
40 |
41 |
|
States’ rights |
27 |
28 |
8 |
7 |
|
Equally Both |
53 |
51 |
46 |
47 |
|
Not sure |
5 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
|
Refused |
0 |
0 |
-- |
-- |
