Pickens County leans heavily Republican by roughly 42 points: about 29% of voters vote Democratic and 71% Republican.
About 69% of adults in Pickens County typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Pickens County, ~20% vote Democratic, ~49% Republican, and ~31% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Pickens County compares
Among counties within 50 miles, Pickens County leans more Republican than 10 of 16 neighbors.
Pickens County runs about 25 points more Republican than South Carolina as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by city within Pickens County. The northeast side is the most split-leaning (R+70) and the southwest side is the least split-leaning (R+3), a spread of about 67 points.
Why Pickens County leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Pickens County. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Population density and Democratic lean
Places with high population density tend to lean Democratic; Pickens County, SC sits above the national average on this measure.
Why turnout in Pickens County looks the way it does
Turnout in Pickens County sits close to the national pattern. Routine healthcare access, homeownership, education, and food security all land near their national averages here. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Counties
- Anderson County, SC R+43
- Oconee County, SC R+54
- Greenville County, SC R+14
- Transylvania County, NC R+17
- Hart County, GA R+47
- Stephens County, GA R+53
- Henderson County, NC R+16
- Spartanburg County, SC R+25
- Franklin County, GA R+66
- Rabun County, GA R+56
Counties with Similar Populations
- Tazewell County, IL R+29
- Black Hawk County, IA D+3
- Kendall County, IL Even
- Strafford County, NH D+4
- Wood County, OH R+11
- Madison County, IN R+25
- Rapides Parish, LA R+24
- Washington County, RI D+11
- Washington County, TN R+37
- Sumter County, FL R+31
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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.