Daniel Prince
Local contested races set in June primaries for SC House (R) and Union County Supervisor (D)
The filing period for partisan offices officially closed Wednesday at noon. Here are the names you will see on the ballot. In the House District 42 race, Rep. Doug Gilliam will face a challenge in the June 14 Republican primary, as Melinda Butler filed to run for the seat as a Republican, as well. There is no Democratic opposition, so the winner of the primary will win the seat.
There will be a Democratic primary held for the Union County Supervisor seat, as current County Council member Ben Ivey will take on LTC (Ret.) Timika M. Wilson for the Democratic nomination. The winner of the primary will face Republican Phillip G. Russell II in November. Those are the only local primary races that will be held on June 14.
For the November 8 general election, the County Council District 1 race will be between incumbent Tracie Farr Campbell, who filed as a Democrat, and challenger Danny Bright, who filed as a Republican.
The County Council District 4 race will be between Annie Smith, who filed as a Republican, and Jennifer Wood, who filed as a Democrat.
Running unopposed will be Probate Judge Toni Horne Allen, Coroner William Holcombe, Auditor Brad Valentine, and County Treasurer Deborah Robertson.
In statewide races, filing to run as a Republican for governor are incumbent Governor Henry McMaster and challengers Harrison Musselwhite and Mindy Steele. On the Democratic side, Carlton Boyd, Joe Cunningham, Mia McLeod, Calvin CJ Mack McMillan, and William H Williams have all filed. Jokie Beckett Jr. and Michael Copland have filed to run for the Independence Party. Bruce Reeves filed for the Libertarian Party, and Gary Votour filed for the Labor Party.
Secretary of State Mark Hammond will face primary opposition from Keith Blandford, who also filed to run as a Republican. The winner will face Rosemounda Peggy Butler in November. She filed as a Democrat.
State Treasurer Curtis Loftis will not face a Democratic challenger in November, but Sarah E. Work filed to run for the Alliance Party.
Attorney General Alan Wilson will face a primary opponent in Lauren Martel. There is no Democratic opposition.
Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom is running unopposed for another term.
The State Superintendent of Education race is crowded. Running as Republicans are Travis Bedson, Bryan Chapman, Cindy Coats, Sheri Few, Kizzi Gibson, Lynda Leventis-Wells, Kathy Maness, and Ellen Weaver. Running as Democrats are Gary L Burgess, Lisa Ellis, and Jerry Govan. Patricia M. Mickel is running as a Green Party candidate.
Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers will face primary opposition from Bill Bledsoe, who along with filing as a Republican also filed as a Constitution Party candidate, and Bob Rozier. David Edmond filed for the Green Party, and Chris Nelums filed with the United Citizens Party.
For the US Senate District 2 seat, there will be a Democratic Party primary, as Catherine Fleming Bruce, Angela Geter, and Krystle Matthews all filed. The winner will take on Republican Senator Tim Scott in November.
There will be a Democratic primary for the US House District 5 seat, as well. Kevin Eckert and Evangeline Hundley both filed. The winner will face Republican Representative Ralph Norman and Green Party challenger Larry Gaither in November.