Bethune leans heavily Republican by roughly 40 points: about 30% of voters vote Democratic and 70% Republican.
About 62% of adults in Bethune typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Bethune, ~19% vote Democratic, ~43% Republican, and ~38% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Bethune compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Bethune leans more Republican than 23 of 40 neighbors.
Bethune runs about 23 points more Republican than South Carolina as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by neighborhood within Bethune. The northwest side is the most Republican-leaning (R+47) and the northeast side is the least Republican-leaning (R+35), a spread of about 12 points.
Why Bethune leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Bethune. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Population density and Republican lean
Places with low population density tend to lean Republican; Bethune, SC sits below the national average on this measure.
Why turnout in Bethune looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. Bethune is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Cities
- McBee, SC R+31
- Lucknow, SC R+29
- Catarrh, SC R+53
- Cassatt, SC R+40
- Ashland, SC R+38
- Taxahaw, SC R+69
- Shepard, SC R+26
- Segars, SC R+56
- Westville, SC R+55
- Kellytown, SC R+52
Cities with Similar Populations
- Allenton, WI R+50
- Walstonburg, NC R+24
- Polk, OH R+59
- Humansville, MO R+67
- Bismarck, MO R+64
- West Winfield, NY R+45
- Kinsey, AL Even
- Louisville, NE R+42
- Oakes, ND R+54
- Paris, MO R+54
All Local Stats
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Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from South Carolina State Election Commission, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.