By Skyler Baldwin | State and local elections are right around the corner with two political primaries kicking off Tuesday. But just in case you haven’t been keeping up with the campaigns for the last year, you can get updated here.
With one U.S. Senate seat and seven U.S. House seats up for grabs, along with several state House positions and local seats on the ballot, here’s a one-stop shop for voters ahead of the polls’ opening on Tuesday.
Big elections to watch
Governor: The governor’s race is packed this year, though most analysts are predicting an easy win for Republican incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster in next week’s primary. Harrison “Trucker Bob” Musselwhite has been a name to watch as an active leader of the state’s MAGA movement. On the other side of the aisle, former U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham and S.C. Sen. Mia McLeod are the top picks for the Democratic primary, but won’t be the only names on the ballot.
The full rundown:
- Democrats: Carlton Boyd, Joe Cunningham, Mia McLeod Calvin CJ Mack McMillan and William H. Williams.
- Republicans: Henry McMaster (incumbent), Harrison Musselwhite and Mindy L. Steele (Republican)
State superintendent of education: Republican frontrunners are Kathy Maness, who is the executive director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, and Ellen Weaver, who has collected endorsements from high-profile Republicans. But she has no formal background in education and does not yet meet the requirement of holding a master’s degree to serve in the office. Weaver, a past aide of the former GOP U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, promises she will have the degree by election time by way of an online degree in educational leadership from Bob Jones University. Both Republican frontrunners have been vocal supporters of school choice. Democratic candidates include former Anderson County School Board member and educator Gary Burgess (who has run twice for the seat as a Republican), career educator Lisa Ellis and S.C. Rep. Jerry Govan. The full rundown of candidates on ballots:
- Democrats: Gary L. Burges, Lisa Ellis and S.C. Rep. Jerry Govan.
- Republicans: Travis Bedson, Bryan Chapman, Cindy Coats, Sheri Few, Kizzi Gibson, Lynda Leventis-Wells and Kathy Maness.
U.S. House, district 1: U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Charleston, is seeking reelection in what has become the most high-profile congressional primaries this election cycle. She is being opposed by Katie Arrington, who has received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Mace, however, has the backing of former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley. Arrington won the GOP nomination in 2018 only to lose the general election to Cunningham, who flipped the seat for the first time in 32 years. Mace beat Cunningham in 2020. Former Republican candidate Lynz Piper Loomis dropped out of the race at a recent debate, throwing Arrington her endorsement.
Other U.S. House seats: All of the state’s other incumbents are expected to make it through their primaries, with the possible exception of GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Rice, who represents the Pee Dee and Grand Strand and who was one of the few Republican votes to impeach Trump. He’s being challenged by six Republicans, including S.C. Rep. Russell Fry.
U.S. Senate: U.S. Sen. Tim Scott is up for reelection with a clear path to nomination with no Republican challengers. Three Democrats, however, have lined up to take their shot at the Republican incumbent: Catherine Fleming Bruce, Angela Geter and S.C. Rep. Krystle Matthews.
Other statewide primary elections
Secretary of State
- Republicans: Keith Blandford and Mark Hammond (incumbent).
Attorney General
- Republicans: Lauren Martel and Alan Wilson (incumbent).
Agriculture Commissioner
- Republicans: Bill Bledsoe, Rob Rozier and Hugh Weathers (incumbent).
- Skyler Baldwin is a reporter for the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com.
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