The Democratic Party, which had not been active in state politics since the Civil War, reorganized themselves for the election. They nominated William D. Porter for governor, although he declined the nomination; he remained on the ballot nonetheless. The state Democratic Party's platform for the election called for maintaining a policy of white supremacy and disapproval of South Carolina's newly ratified constitution.
General election
Robert Kingston Scott, who received an overwhelming amount of support from South Carolina's newly enfranchised black voters, defeated William D. Porter in a landslide to become the state's first Republican governor.