| Election Name: | 1796 South Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Country: | South Carolina |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1794 South Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1794 |
| Next Election: | 1798 South Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1798 |
| Election Date: | 4 December 1796 |
| Nominee1: | Charles Pinckney |
| Party1: | Democratic-Republican Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 87 |
| Percentage1: | 62.14% |
| Nominee2: | Henry Laurens |
| Party2: | Independent (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 53 |
| Percentage2: | 37.86% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Arnoldus Vanderhorst |
| Before Party: | Federalist Party |
| After Election: | Charles Pinckney |
| After Party: | Democratic-Republican Party |
The 1796 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on 4 December 1796 in order to elect the Governor of South Carolina. Democratic-Republican candidate and former Governor Charles Pinckney was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly against Independent candidate and former Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina Henry Laurens.[1]
On election day, 4 December 1796, Democratic-Republican candidate and former Governor Charles Pinckney was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly by a margin of 34 votes against his opponent Independent candidate Henry Laurens, thereby gaining Democratic-Republican control over the office of Governor. Pinckney was sworn in for his third overall term on 8 December 1796.[2]