THE ET CETERA CHRONICLES - PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Over the last 26 presidential elections in Laurens County, Democrats dominated every election from 1912 to 1968, although in that pivotal year in American history, Governor George Wallace of Alabama, a Southern democrat, running as independent garnered 51.6.18 percent of the vote in Laurens County.  That year was the only time that an independent candidate carried Laurens County by a simple majority.

Sen. Barry Goldwater won 58.8 percent of the vote in Laurens County in 1964.

Since 1968, the choices of Laurens Countians has nearly matched those of the country's voters.

In 1972, Richard Nixon carried Laurens County by a margin of 3 to 1.   The trend reversed itself in 1976, when fellow Georgian, Jimmy Carter, nearly equaled Nixon's 1972 percentage.

Although Carter won in Laurens County by 27.3 percent, his strength waned.  Reagan won in 1984 as did George H.W. Bush in 1988.

The entrance of Ross Perot in the 1992 race clouded the issue when he received 1729 votes or 12.3 percent of those votes cast.  Although Bill Clinton did receive 38 more votes than Bush, the county had cleared gone conservative for three straight elections.

The 1996 election was close with Bob Dole gathering 47.8 percent to Bill Clinton's 44.0 percent.

George Bush easily won in 2000 and 2004 as did John McCain in 2008, all with close to sixty percent of the vote.  That trend continued in 2012 and 2016.

It will be interesting to see who wins two and one half years from now and if the political leanings of Laurens County voters change.