Low-key primaries still see problems in South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Low-key state primaries in South Carolina still saw long lines at a few precincts and dozens of problems as poll workers, many of them new hires because of COVID-19, pulled up the wrong ballots.
The polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The state Democratic Party said hundreds of discrepancies were reported to its officials. Poll workers pulled up ballots without all local races, candidates were missing or managers tried to persuade voters to pick a different party's ballot, state Democratic Party Chairman Trav Robertson said in a statement,
Long lines formed at some precincts, especially in Richland County, as polling places were combined because many longtime workers at sites didn't take an assignment this year because of concerns of contracting the novel coronavirus.
“There are problems in every corner of the state,” Robertson said.
Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers decided to allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail. That could slow the counting of results.
The only statewide primary features Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham seeking the nomination for a fourth term against three little-known GOP challengers before perhaps his hardest reelection fight — against Democrat Jaime Harrison in November.
All seven of South Carolina’s U.S. House members are running again, but just one incumbent faces a primary opponent. And only 34 of the 170 members of the General Assembly face a challenger from their own party — or just 20%.
A candidate must get a majority of the votes cast to be nominated. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters must regroup quickly for a June 23 runoff.
1st DISTRICT
The marquee primary race is for the Republican nomination in the 1st District, which runs along the coast from Charleston to Hilton Head Island.
Four Republicans are running to take on incumbent Democrat Joe Cunningham. In his stunning 2018 win, Cunningham flipped the seat from Republican to Democrat for the first time in 40 years, becoming South Carolina’s first new Democrat in Congress since Jim Clyburn in 1992.
The Republicans running are state Rep. Nancy Mace, the first woman to graduate from The Citadel; Kathy Landing, a businesswoman and financial planner who is on the Mount Pleasant Town Council; Chris Cox, the co-founder of Bikers for Trump; and Brad Mole, chairman of the Lowcountry Affordable Housing Coalition who said he was encouraged to run after meeting Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott at an empowerment event.
Mace and Landing have been sizing each other up during the campaign without directly taking each other on. Republicans remember the 2018 primary, when Katie Arrington beat incumbent Mark Sanford by painting him as a sham Republican disloyal to President Donald Trump. Some typical GOP voters then turned to Cunningham in the fall.
The general election race promises to be competitive and expensive. Cunningham has $2.6 million in his campaign bank account, and Mace has raised $1.3 million so far. Landing has raised $629,000, with about half through a personal loan to her campaign. Cox has raised $118,000, and Mole has raised $7,000, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
2nd DISTRICT
The only incumbent U.S. House member on Tuesday’s ballot is Republican Joe Wilson, who is facing Michael Bishop, mayor of the Lexington County town of Springdale, population 2,600.
Bishop has said the 2nd District, which extends from the suburbs of Columbia, through staunchly Republican Lexington County and into Aiken, needs new leadership. Wilson is running for a 10th full term.
The winner of the primary faces Democrat Adair Ford Boroughs, an attorney and founder of a nonprofit law firm that works with people who make too much to qualify for free legal services and need affordable representation.
Boroughs has already raised more than $1 million. Wilson, if he wins renomination, has never faced such a well-funded challenger and has brought just $830,000 into his campaign during the past two years.
3rd DISTRICT
In the 3rd District, in the northwest corner of the state west of Greenville and north of Aiken, Democrats Hosea Cleveland and Mark D. Welch are competing to see who faces Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan.
Cleveland, a retired insurance salesman, is running for the fourth straight time. He only won the Democratic nomination in 2016, when he was unopposed.
Welch, who includes his distinctive handlebar mustache in his campaign logo, has promised to work with anyone from any political party who wants to make South Carolina better.
5th DISTRICT
In the 5th District, Democrat Moe Brown is touting his days working in the state Commerce Department under former Republican Gov. Nikki Haley as he takes on retired businessman Sidney A. Moore.
Brown, also a former wide receiver for the University of South Carolina football team, is making his first run at political office. Moore ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in 2018 and for U.S. Senate in 2014.
The winner takes on Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, who is seeking a second full term in the sprawling district that includes the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, northern sections of the Interstate 85 corridor and areas around Sumter.
7th DISTRICT
In the 7th District, three Democrats are running to face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep Tom Rice, who is seeking a fifth term in the district anchored by Florence and Myrtle Beach.
State Rep. Robert Williams is hedging his bets, also running unopposed for the state House seat he has held since 2007.
William H. “Cowboy” Williams is a U.S. Postal Service retiree who promises to fight crime, push for equal pay and gun rights with his slogan, “Let’s ride together.”
Melissa Watson touts herself as a single mother and teacher who promises to work for economic development, education and infrastructure.
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