South Carolina 2018 General Election

The Green Papers: South Carolina 2018 General Election

This page is for offices up for election in 2018. Find 2019 elections here.

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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. 115^th 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)

		Democratic			William Stone • FEC S0SC00263

		*Republican*			*Senator Lindsey Olin Graham* • FEC S0SC00149
		Republican			Peggy Kandies • FEC S0SC00248
		Republican			Mark Sloan • FEC S0SC00230
		Republican			Eddie White
		Republican			Carey L. Wilson • FEC S0SC00271

		Constitution			Bill Bledsoe

		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

		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)

		Republican	921,342	53.96%	Governor Henry D. McMaster • for Lieutenant Governor: Pamela Evette • Proceeds to Runoff, 26 June 2018

		Democratic	784,182	45.92%	state Representative James E. Smith, Jr. • for Lieutenant Governor: state Representative Mandy Powers Norrell

		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.)

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.

115^th U.S. House of Representatives 2-year term. Election Cycle 2018, 2020. No Term Limit. 115^th 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 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

		Democratic	145,455	50.60%	Joseph K. "Joe" Cunningham • FEC H8SC01116; 26 Nov 18; Tot $2,373,306; Dsb $2,362,190

		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

		Scattering	505	0.18%	Write-In
Total			287,433	100.00%

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 2		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

		Republican	144,642	56.25%	Congressman Addison Graves "Joe" Wilson • FEC H2SC02059; 26 Nov 18; Tot $1,258,452; Dsb $1,663,931

		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

		American	3,111	1.21%	Sanjiv "Sonny" Narang • FEC H8SC02122

		Scattering	187	0.07%	Write-In
Total			257,139	100.00%

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 3		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

		Republican	153,338	67.79%	Congressman Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Duncan • FEC H0SC03077; 26 Nov 18; Tot $888,266; Dsb $695,357

		Democratic	70,046	30.97%	Mary Smith Geren • FEC H8SC03070; 26 Nov 18; Tot $300,528; Dsb $300,436

		American	2,697	1.19%	Dave Moore • FEC H8SC03088

		Scattering	123	0.05%	Write-In
Total			226,204	100.00%

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 4 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

		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

		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

		American	9,203	3.77%	Guy V. Furay • FEC H8SC04391; 26 Nov 18; Tot $50,645; Dsb $69,780

		Scattering	244	0.10%	Write-In
Total			243,950	100.00%

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 5		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

		Republican	141,757	57.03%	Congressman Ralph W. Norman, Jr. • FEC H8SC05158; 26 Nov 18; Tot $2,593,509; Dsb $1,995,786

		Democratic	103,129	41.49%	Archie W. Parnell, Jr. • FEC H8SC05174; 26 Nov 18; Tot $2,039,051; Dsb $2,025,632

		Constitution	3,443	1.39%	Michael Gene Chandler • FEC H2SC04121

		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		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

		Democratic	144,765	70.13%	Congressman James Enos "Jim" Clyburn • FEC H2SC02042; 26 Nov 18; Tot $1,986,137; Dsb $1,929,277

		Republican	58,282	28.23%	Gerhard Ralf Gressmann • FEC H8SC06107; 26 Nov 18; Tot $8,829; Dsb $1,285

		Green	3,214	1.56%	Bryan Kelly Pugh • FEC H8SC06115

		Scattering	172	0.08%	Write-In
Total			206,433	100.00%

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 7		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

		Republican	142,681	59.56%	Congressman Hugh T. "Tom" Rice, Jr. • FEC H2SC07066; 26 Nov 18; Tot $1,566,965; Dsb $1,126,508

		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

		Scattering	309	0.13%	Write-In
Total			239,554	100.00%

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

		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)

		Republican	970,576	57.11%	Secretary of State John Mark "Mark" Hammond

		Democratic	727,952	42.83%	Melvin T. Whittenburg

		Scattering	968	0.06%	Write-In
Total			1,699,496	100.00%

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

		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)

		Republican	938,032	55.05%	Attorney General Michael Alan "Alan" Wilson • Proceeds to Runoff, 26 June 2018

		Democratic; Working Families	764,806	44.89%	Constance Anastopoulo

		Scattering	996	0.06%	Write-In
Total			1,703,834	100.00%

Treasurer 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018

		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)

		Republican	952,233	55.95%	Treasurer Curtis M. "Curt" Loftis, Jr.

		Democratic; Working Families	722,977	42.48%	Rosalyn L. Glenn

		American	25,979	1.53%	Sarah E. Work

		Scattering	711	0.04%	Write-In
Total			1,701,900	100.00%

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

		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)

		Republican	1,136,932	97.76%	Comptroller General Richard A. Eckstrom

		Write-in	26,028	2.24%	Write-In
Total			1,162,960	100.00%

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

		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)

		Republican	1,015,366	75.70%	Agriculture Commissioner Hugh E. Weathers

		Green	202,238	15.08%	David Edmond

		United Citizens	118,671	8.85%	Chris Nelums

		Scattering	5,025	0.37%	Write-In
Total			1,341,300	100.00%

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

		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)

		Republican	998,057	98.14%	Education Superintendent Molly Mitchell Spearman

		Scattering	18,866	1.86%	Write-In

		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.