The Green Papers: South Carolina 2018 General Election
 
This page is for offices up for election in 2018. Find 2019 elections here.

Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ South Carolina
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
✓ Primary: Tuesday 12 June 2018
✓ Runoff (Gov-R, US House 2-D, 4-D&R, 7-D; AG-R): Tuesday 26 June 2018
✓ General Election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Friday 30 March 2018 - Filing Deadline - Primary .
Tuesday 12 June 2018 - Primary . Polling hours 7:00a-7:00p EDT (1100-2300 UTC).
Tuesday 26 June 2018 - Runoff (Gov-R, US House 2-D, 4-D&R, 7-D; AG-R) . Polling hours 7:00a-7:00p EDT (1100-2300 UTC).
Monday 16 July 2018 - Filing Deadline - Independent .
Tuesday 6 November 2018 - General Election . Polling hours 7:00a-7:00p EST (1200-0000 UTC).
 
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)
Capital:Columbia
 

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South Carolina State and Local Government


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 political party's primary may vote in either political 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. [Section 7-11-10]


The American, Constitution, Green, Independence, Labor, Libertarian, United Citizens, and Working Families Parties may nominate by convention.

2018 Election Calendar from the South Carolina State Election Commission.

Candidate Tracking System from the South Carolina State Election Commission.

12 June 2018 Primary:
Returns from the South Carolina State Election Commission.
Results from The New York Times
Results from Politico.
Results from WIS TV.

Since no candidate received a majority of the vote in the 12 June primary, a 26 June runoff will be held between the two top vote-getters:
Governor Republican
U.S. House CD 2 Democratic
U.S. House CD 4 Democratic
U.S. House CD 4 Republican
U.S. House CD 7 Democratic
Attorney General Republican

26 June 2018 Runoff
Returns from South Carolina State Election Commission.
Results from The New York Times.
Results from Politico.


6 November 2018:
2018 Election Information from South Carolina State Election Commission.
Certified returns from South Carolina State Election Commission.

 
           

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 115th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 2 Republican Senator Lindsey Olin Graham
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2008, 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
 Candidate list (8)
  Candidate Democratic     William Stone
FEC S0SC00263
  Candidate Republican     Senator Lindsey Olin Graham
FEC S0SC00149
  Candidate Republican     Peggy Kandies
FEC S0SC00248
  Candidate Republican     Mark Sloan
FEC S0SC00230
  Candidate Republican     Eddie White
  Candidate Republican     Carey L. Wilson
FEC S0SC00271
  Candidate Constitution     Bill Bledsoe
  Candidate Independent     Matthew Baldwin Knights
FEC S0SC00255

Class 3 Republican Senator Timothy E. "Tim" Scott
Served in U.S. House- first elected: 2010; re-elected: 2012. Appointed to the U.S. Senate: 2 January 2013 (re: resignation of Senator James W. "Jim" DeMint [Republican]); first elected in a special election: 4 November 2014; re-elected: 2016.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms, All Governors

Chair up for regular election Republican Governor Henry D. McMaster
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
24 January 2017: Ascended to the Governor's Chair following the resignation of Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) who became United Nations Ambassador.
Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.
Renominated
 Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 921,342 53.96% Governor Henry D. McMaster
for Lieutenant Governor: Pamela Evette

Proceeds to Runoff, 26 June 2018
  Candidate Democratic 784,182 45.92% state Representative James E. Smith, Jr.
for Lieutenant Governor: state Representative Mandy Powers Norrell
  Candidate Scattering 2,045 0.12% Write-In
Total 1,707,569 100.00%  
  

23 November 2016: President-elect Trump nominates Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) for the position of United Nations Ambassador.
24 January 2017: Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican), who was first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014, was confirmed as United Nations Ambassador by the U.S. Senate, 96-4. She resigned as Governor shortly after and Lieutenant Governor Henry D. McMaster (Republican) ascended to the Governor's chair.


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

Seat up for regular election
Open
Republican Lieutenant Governor Kevin L. Bryant
Appointed: 25 January 2017
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Open Seat - Ran for but lost the Primary for Governor in 2018.
 24 January 2017: Lieutenant Governor Henry D. McMaster (Republican), who was first elected in 2014, ascended to the Governor's chair.
Wednesday 25 January 2017: State Senator Kevin L. Bryant (Republican) was "elevated" to the Lieutenant Governor's chair by his fellow State Senators.

115th U.S. House of Representatives  2-year term. Election Cycle 2018, 2020. No Term Limit. 115th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
6 Republican (1 Lost / No longer running, 4 Renominated, 1 Open);
1 Democratic (1 Renominated)

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 1
Seat up for regular election
Lost
Republican Congressman Marshall Clement "Mark" Sanford, Jr.
First elected: 1994, re-elected: 1996, 1998. Governor of South Carolina: 2003-2011. Re-elected to Congress: 7 May 2013 in a Special Election (to fill the vacant seat caused by the appointment of Congressman Timothy E. "Tim" Scott to the U.S. Senate).
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Lost Primary / No Longer Running
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (2, 1 write-in) - 116th Congress
  Elected Democratic 145,455 50.60% Joseph K. "Joe" Cunningham
FEC H8SC01116; 26 Nov 18; Tot $2,373,306; Dsb $2,362,190
  Candidate Republican 141,473 49.22% state Representative Katherine Elizabeth "Katie" Arrington
22 June 2018: Seriously injured in an automobile accident.

FEC H8SC01124; 31 Dec 18; Tot $1,675,864; Dsb $1,674,900
  Candidate Scattering 505 0.18% Write-In
Total 287,433 100.00%  

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 2
Seat up for regular election
Republican Congressman Addison Graves "Joe" Wilson
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First Elected 18 December 2001 in a special election to fill the seat vacated by the death of Floyd Spence.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (3, 1 write-in) - 116th Congress
  Elected Republican 144,642 56.25% Congressman Addison Graves "Joe" Wilson
FEC H2SC02059; 26 Nov 18; Tot $1,258,452; Dsb $1,663,931
  Candidate Democratic 109,199 42.47% Sean J. Carrigan
Proceeds to Runoff, 26 June 2018

FEC H8SC02106; 26 Nov 18; Tot $151,953; Dsb $151,208
  Candidate American 3,111 1.21% Sanjiv "Sonny" Narang
FEC H8SC02122
  Candidate Scattering 187 0.07% Write-In
Total 257,139 100.00%  

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 3
Seat up for regular election
Republican Congressman Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Duncan
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected: 2010
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (3, 1 write-in) - 116th Congress
  Elected Republican 153,338 67.79% Congressman Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Duncan
FEC H0SC03077; 26 Nov 18; Tot $888,266; Dsb $695,357
  Candidate Democratic 70,046 30.97% Mary Smith Geren
FEC H8SC03070; 26 Nov 18; Tot $300,528; Dsb $300,436
  Candidate American 2,697 1.19% Dave Moore
FEC H8SC03088
  Candidate Scattering 123 0.05% Write-In
Total 226,204 100.00%  

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 4
Seat up for regular election
Open
Republican Congressman Harold W. "Trey" Gowdy, III
First elected: 2010
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Open Seat - 31 January 2018: "... This is the right time, for me, to leave politics and return to the justice system...."
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (3, 1 write-in) - 116th Congress
  Elected Republican 145,321 59.57% state Senator William R. Timmons, IV
Proceeds to Runoff, 26 June 2018

FEC H8SC04250; 26 Nov 18; Tot $1,820,632; Dsb $1,805,660
  Candidate Democratic 89,182 36.56% Brandon Pendarvis Brown
Proceeds to Runoff, 26 June 2018

FEC H8SC04300; 26 Nov 18; Tot $68,547; Dsb $72,311
  Candidate American 9,203 3.77% Guy V. Furay
FEC H8SC04391; 26 Nov 18; Tot $50,645; Dsb $69,780
  Candidate Scattering 244 0.10% Write-In
Total 243,950 100.00%  

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 5
Seat up for regular election
Republican Congressman Ralph W. Norman, Jr.
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected in a Special Election: 20 June 2017 [re: resignation of Congressman John Michael "Mick" Mulvaney (Republican) to become Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Trump Administration]
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (3, 1 write-in) - 116th Congress
  Elected Republican 141,757 57.03% Congressman Ralph W. Norman, Jr.
FEC H8SC05158; 26 Nov 18; Tot $2,593,509; Dsb $1,995,786
  Candidate Democratic 103,129 41.49% Archie W. Parnell, Jr.
FEC H8SC05174; 26 Nov 18; Tot $2,039,051; Dsb $2,025,632
  Candidate Constitution 3,443 1.39% Michael Gene Chandler
FEC H2SC04121
  Candidate Scattering 250 0.10% Write-In
Total 248,579 100.00%  
 Congressman John Michael "Mick" Mulvaney (Republican), who was first elected in 2010, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Trump Administration on 16 February 2017. He was nominated on 16 December 2016 by President-elect Trump.
A special partisan primary to fill his vacant seat was held on 2 May 2017. Since no one received a majority in either party, there was a partisan primary runoff on 16 May 2017. The general election was 20 June 2017.
16 February 2017: U.S. House of Representatives District 5 Special Election from the South Carolina State Election Commission.
20 June 2017: state Representative Ralph W. Norman, Jr. is elected in a Special Election. U.S. House of Representatives District 5 Special Election from the South Carolina State Election Commission.

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 6
Seat up for regular election
Democratic Congressman James Enos "Jim" Clyburn
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected: 1992
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (3, 1 write-in) - 116th Congress
  Elected Democratic 144,765 70.13% Congressman James Enos "Jim" Clyburn
FEC H2SC02042; 26 Nov 18; Tot $1,986,137; Dsb $1,929,277
  Candidate Republican 58,282 28.23% Gerhard Ralf Gressmann
FEC H8SC06107; 26 Nov 18; Tot $8,829; Dsb $1,285
  Candidate Green 3,214 1.56% Bryan Kelly Pugh
FEC H8SC06115
  Candidate Scattering 172 0.08% Write-In
Total 206,433 100.00%  

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 7
Seat up for regular election
Republican Congressman Hugh T. "Tom" Rice, Jr.
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (2, 1 write-in) - 116th Congress
  Elected Republican 142,681 59.56% Congressman Hugh T. "Tom" Rice, Jr.
FEC H2SC07066; 26 Nov 18; Tot $1,566,965; Dsb $1,126,508
  Candidate Democratic 96,564 40.31% state Representative Robert Q. Williams
Proceeds to Runoff, 26 June 2018

FEC H8SC07063; 26 Nov 18; Tot $26,214; Dsb $26,188
  Candidate Scattering 309 0.13% Write-In
Total 239,554 100.00%  

Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018

Seat up for regular election Republican Secretary of State John Mark "Mark" Hammond
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006, 2010, 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 970,576 57.11% Secretary of State John Mark "Mark" Hammond
  Candidate Democratic 727,952 42.83% Melvin T. Whittenburg
  Candidate Scattering 968 0.06% Write-In
Total 1,699,496 100.00%  

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018

Seat up for regular election Republican Attorney General Michael Alan "Alan" Wilson
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 938,032 55.05% Attorney General Michael Alan "Alan" Wilson
Proceeds to Runoff, 26 June 2018
  Candidate Democratic; Working Families 764,806 44.89% Constance Anastopoulo
  Candidate Scattering 996 0.06% Write-In
Total 1,703,834 100.00%  

Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018

Seat up for regular election Republican Treasurer Curtis M. "Curt" Loftis, Jr.
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (3, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 952,233 55.95% Treasurer Curtis M. "Curt" Loftis, Jr.
  Candidate Democratic; Working Families 722,977 42.48% Rosalyn L. Glenn
  Candidate American 25,979 1.53% Sarah E. Work
  Candidate Scattering 711 0.04% Write-In
Total 1,701,900 100.00%  

Comptroller General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018

Seat up for regular election Republican Comptroller General Richard A. Eckstrom
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006, 2010, 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 ** Uncontested Race **
 Candidate list (1, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 1,136,932 97.76% Comptroller General Richard A. Eckstrom
  Candidate Write-in 26,028 2.24% Write-In
Total 1,162,960 100.00%  

Commissioner of Agriculture  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018

Seat up for regular election Republican Agriculture Commissioner Hugh E. Weathers
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
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, 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (3, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 1,015,366 75.70% Agriculture Commissioner Hugh E. Weathers
  Candidate Green 202,238 15.08% David Edmond
  Candidate United Citizens 118,671 8.85% Chris Nelums
  Candidate Scattering 5,025 0.37% Write-In
Total 1,341,300 100.00%  

Superintendent of Education  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018

Seat up for regular election Republican Education Superintendent Molly Mitchell Spearman
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected: 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 998,057 98.14% Education Superintendent Molly Mitchell Spearman
  Candidate Scattering 18,866 1.86% Write-In
  Candidate Democratic     Israel Romero
Total 1,016,923 100.00%  
 

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   Those parties which received electoral votes through winning a plurality of a state's [or the District of Columbia's] popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
  Democratic (affiliates): 1 incumbent, 2 candidates
  Republican: 16 incumbents, 19 candidates
Major Third Parties   Any Party, other than a Major Party, receiving a minimum of 15/100ths of 1 percent of the nationwide popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
  Constitution (affiliates): 2 candidates
  Green (affiliates): 2 candidates
Other Third Parties
  American: 4 candidates
  United Citizens: 1 candidate
  Working Families: 1 candidate
Independents
  Independent: 1 candidate
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
  Scattering: 13 candidates
  Write-in: 1 candidate
 
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.

Primary dates marked "presumably" and polling times marked "reportedly" are based on unofficial or estimated data (especially as regards local variations from a jurisdictionwide statutory and/or regulatory standard) and are, thereby, subject to change.

"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.


 


  2018 General Election Home  
 
  116th U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Gubernatorial Popular Vote by Party  
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  Close Contests Summary - Decision by 2% or less  
  Contests Where No Candidate Received a Majority  
 
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  Comparative Political Party Predominance in each State, 2000 thru 2016  
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History
  Political Party Floor Leaders in the Congress of the United States  
  Dates of DIRECT PRIMARY Elections re: Major Party Nominations for Statewide and/or Federal Office  
  Length of Terms of Office of STATE Governors throughout American History  
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