1944 United States presidential election in South Carolina 1944 United States presidential election in South Carolina The 1944 United States presidential election in South Carolina took place on November 7, 1944, as part of the 1944 United States presidential election. State voters chose eight electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president. South Carolina was won by Democratic candidate, incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt won the state over New York governor Thomas E. Dewey by a landslide margin of 83.18 percent. Unpledged Southern Democrats – foreshadowing the Dixiecrat bolt that would begin in the following election to completely transform the state’s politics – received
Governorship of Franklin D. Roosevelt wait; as Herbert Hoover would surely defeat Smith and likely serve two terms as president, being elected governor in 1932 would be better timing for the 1936 presidential election. After failing to persuade Roosevelt through many phone calls and telegrams from late September, on October 2, Smith finally got him to agree to run if nominated; the state convention did so the next day. Roosevelt had to make his peace with Tammany Hall to obtain its support, which he did with some reluctance. In the November election, Smith was heavily defeated nationwide by Republican candidate Herbert Hoover, and narrowly lost