South Carolina 2012 General Election

The Green Papers: South Carolina 2012 General Election

This page is for offices up for election in 2012. Find 2013 elections here.

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South Carolina
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary: Tuesday 12 June 2012
Runoff - CD 7 (D&R): Tuesday 26 June 2012
General Election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Senators:	2	(Electoral Classes 2 and 3)
Governor:	1
2010 Census:	4,645,975	(1.50% of 309,785,186)
2012, 2016, 2020 Electoral Votes:	9	(1.67% of 538)
2012-2020 Representatives:	7	(1.61% of 435)
2000 Census:	4,025,061	(1.43% of 281,998,273)
2004, 2008 Electoral Votes:	8	(1.49% of 538)
2002-2010 Representatives:	6	(1.38% of 435)
Capital:	Columbia
Tuesday 12 June 2012 polling hours 7:00a EDT (1100 UTC) to 7:00p EDT (2300 UTC).
Tuesday 26 June 2012 polling hours 7:00a EDT (1100 UTC) to 7:00p EDT (2300 UTC).
Tuesday 6 November 2012 polling hours 7:00a EST (1200 UTC) to 7:00p EST (0000 UTC).

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South Carolina State and Local Government

South Carolina 2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

If no candidate receives at least 50% of the vote in the primary, a runoff will be held between the top two vote-getters.

Voters who voted in a party's primary, can vote only in the runoff of the same party. Voters who did not vote in the primary, may vote in either party's runoff.

The primary is for Democratic and Republican candidates only. Candidates running unopposed for their Party's nomination will not appear on primary ballots.

Voters may not vote in a political party’s runoff if they voted in another political party’s primary. However, voters who did not vote in either politicial party’s primary may vote in either politicial party’s runoff.

A defeated primary candidate may not actively offer or campaign as a write-in candidate for the ensuing election. The use of posters or stickers on the ballot is not permitted. The voting machine provides for a voter to write-in a candidate. Write-in votes are not allowed in primary elections or the election of President or Vice-president.

While the state permits fusion (a candidate may be nominated by multiple parties), if a candidate runs for and looses a primary (of any party), the candidate cannot appear on the November ballot.

6 November 2012 General Election candidate list from the South Carolina State Election Commission.

6 November 2012 returns from the South Carolina State Election Commission.



President 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2012, 2016. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 9 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.


		Republican	1,071,645	54.56%	former Massachusetts Governor Willard "Mitt" Romney (9 Electoral Votes) • Vice President: Wisconsin Congressman Paul D. Ryan • FEC P80003353; 26 Nov 12; Tot $478,704,347; Dsb $465,787,141

		Democratic	865,941	44.09%	President Barack Hussein Obama • Vice President: Vice President Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. • FEC P80003338; 26 Nov 12; Tot $732,741,988; Dsb $729,647,987

		Libertarian	16,321	0.83%	former New Mexico Governor Gary Earl Johnson • Vice President: James P. "Jim" Gray • FEC P20002671; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,575,529; Dsb $2,572,585

		Green	5,446	0.28%	Jill E. Stein • Vice President: Cheri Honkala • FEC P20003984; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,005,788; Dsb $1,093,022

		Constitution	4,765	0.24%	former Congressman Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. • Vice President: James N. "Jim" Clymer • FEC P20004685; 26 Nov 12; Tot $202,258; Dsb $202,253
Total			1,964,118	100.00%

U.S. Senate 6 year term. No Term Limit. 112^th Senate Senate Electoral Classes

Class 2		Republican	Senator Lindsey Olin Graham • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2008 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Class 3		Republican	Senator James W. "Jim" DeMint • First elected: 2004; re-elected: 2010. (also served in U.S. House- first elected: 1998; re-elected: 2000, 2002) • Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016 • Open Seat - 30 August 2011: Announced he will not run for re-election in 2016. 6 December 2012: Resigned effective January 2013 to lead the Heritage Foundation. "It's been an honor to serve the people of South Carolina in the United States Senate for the past eight years, but now it's time for me to pass the torch to someone else and take on a new role in the fight for America's future." Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) will appoint a replacement to serve until a special election is called. 17 December 2012: Media reports indicate Congressman Timothy E. "Tim" Scott (Republican CD 1) will be appointed by Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) to this U. S. Senate seat.

Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms, All Governors

		Republican	Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley • First elected: 2010 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Lieutenant Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014. (Beginning in 2018, the Lieutenant Governor will be elected on same ticket with the Governor.)

		Republican	Lieutenant Governor Glenn F. McConnell • Assumed office 9 March 2012 re: resignation of Lieutenant Goveror James Ken "Ken" Ard • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
	Lieutenant Governor James Ken "Ken" Ard (Republican) was first elected in 2010 and resigned on 9 March 2012. 27 July 2011: Media coverage of ethics violations. 8 March 2012: Media reports state Lieutenant Governor Ard will resign as part of a plea deal re: 2010 92 counts ethics/campaign finance violations. 9 March 2012: Resigned after pleading guilty to 4 counts of unlawful reimbursement of campaign contributions, 2 counts of filing false campaign reports, and 1 count of personal use of campaign funds. "... it was my responsibility to make sure things were done correctly ... there are no excuses nor is there need to share blame ... it is my fault ..." 9 March 2012: Per the state constitution, state Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn F. McConnell (Republican) is the Lieutenant Governor.

112^th U.S. House of Representatives 2-year term. Election Cycle 2010, 2012. No Term Limit. 112^th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition): 5 Republican (1 Open, 4 Renominated); 1 Democratic (1 Renominated)

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 1 Open		Republican	Congressman Timothy E. "Tim" Scott • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Open Seat - 17 December 2012: Media reports indicate Congressman Scott will be appointed by Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) to the U. S. Senate. The Congressman had been re-elected to the U. S. House on 6 November 2012. Renominated by primary on 12 June 2012 Primary.
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	179,908	62.03%	Congressman Timothy E. "Tim" Scott • FEC H0SC01279; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,661,963; Dsb $1,319,250

		Democratic; Working Families	103,557	35.71%	Bobbie G. Rose • FEC H2SC01069; 26 Nov 12; Tot $157,767; Dsb $156,296

		Libertarian	6,334	2.18%	Keith Warrick Blandford • FEC H0SC01352

		Scattering	214	0.07%	Write-In
Total			290,013	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 2		Republican	Congressman Addison Graves "Joe" Wilson • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First Elected 18 December 2001 in a special election to fill the seat vacated by the death of Floyd Spence. • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary
			Uncontested Race
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	196,116	96.27%	Congressman Addison Graves "Joe" Wilson • FEC H2SC02059; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,023,365; Dsb $1,019,253

		Scattering	7,602	3.73%	Write-In
Total			203,718	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 3		Republican	Congressman Jeff D. Duncan • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	169,512	66.54%	Congressman Jeff D. Duncan • FEC H0SC03077; 26 Nov 12; Tot $694,018; Dsb $575,436

		Democratic	84,735	33.26%	Brian Lamont "Ryan B" Doyle • FEC H8SC03062; 07 Nov 12; Tot $18,372; Dsb $17,965

		Scattering	516	0.20%	Write-In
Total			254,763	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 4		Republican	Congressman Harold W. "Trey" Gowdy, III • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	173,201	64.90%	Congressman Harold W. "Trey" Gowdy, III • FEC H0SC04257; 26 Nov 12; Tot $728,767; Dsb $526,214

		Democratic; Working Families	89,964	33.71%	Deb Morrow • FEC H2SC04105; 06 Dec 12; Tot $4,190; Dsb $200

		Green	3,390	1.27%	Jeff Sumerel • FEC H2SC04113

		Scattering	329	0.12%	Write-In
Total			266,884	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 5		Republican	Congressman John Michael "Mick" Mulvaney • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	154,324	55.51%	Congressman John Michael "Mick" Mulvaney • FEC H0SC05031; 26 Nov 12; Tot $791,805; Dsb $728,012

		Democratic; Working Families	123,443	44.40%	Joyce Knott • FEC H2SC05086; 26 Nov 12; Tot $33,916; Dsb $32,636

		Scattering	236	0.08%	Write-In
Total			278,003	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 6		Democratic	Congressman James E. "Jim" Clyburn • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Democratic	218,717	93.62%	Congressman James E. "Jim" Clyburn • FEC H2SC02042; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,380,323; Dsb $2,223,870

		Green	12,920	5.53%	Nammu Y. Muhammad • FEC H0SC06211

		Scattering	1,978	0.85%	Write-In
Total			233,615	100.00%

No Incumbent - New Seat in 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment - First election in 2012
CD 7			• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

		Republican	153,068	55.51%	Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice • Won Runoff on 26 June 2012 Received 27% in the 12 June 2012 primary. Proceeds to Runoff on 26 June 2012 • FEC H2SC07066; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,466,459; Dsb $1,335,728

		Democratic; Working Families	122,389	44.39%	former state Representative Gloria Bromell Tinubu • Won Runoff on 26 June 2012 13 June 2012: The South Carolina Election Commission indicated that votets cast for Mr. Vick do not count in the run-off computations. If these votes are not counted, Ms. Tinubu won the primary. If they are counted, there will be a runoff between Gloria Tinubu and Preston Brittian. 15 June 2012: Election Commission voted to certify Ms. Tinubu as the winner. 22 June 2012: Horry County Circuit Court Judge Larry Hyman decided that votes cast for Ted Vick in the Tuesday 12 June 2012 primary must be counted and ordered a 26 June run off between Gloria Bromell Tinubu and Preston Brittain. • FEC H2SC07108; 26 Nov 12; Tot $625,074; Dsb $624,714

		Scattering	281	0.10%	Write-In
Total			275,738	100.00%

Secretary of State 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Secretary of State John Mark "Mark" Hammond • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006, 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Attorney General 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Attorney General Michael Alan "Alan" Wilson • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Treasurer 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Treasurer Curtis M. "Curt" Loftis, Jr. • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Comptroller General 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Comptroller General Richard A. Eckstrom • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006, 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Adjutant General 4 year term, Final Election Cycle: 2002. The South Carolina Constitution was amended in 2015 to provide for the appointment of the Adjutant General by the Governor with advice and consent of the State Senate. The Adjutant General is no longer an elected office.

		Republican	Adjutant General Robert E. "Bob" Livingston, Jr. • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Commissioner of Agriculture 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Agriculture Commissioner Hugh E. Weathers • Named Interim Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of South Carolina on 14 September 2004 by Governor Mark Sanford upon the suspension of Republican Agriculture Commissioner Charles "Charlie" Sharpe; first elected: 2006; re-elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Superintendent of Education 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Education Superintendent Mitchell M. "Mick" Zais • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic (affiliates): 1 incumbent, 7 candidates
	• Republican: 16 incumbents, 7 candidates
Major Third Parties
	• Constitution (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Green (affiliates): 3 candidates
	• Libertarian: 2 candidates
Other Third Parties
	• Working Families: 4 candidates
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• Scattering: 7 candidates
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.