South Carolina Post-Election Newsletter
SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ELECTION UPDATE
South Carolina Elections 2014
The highlights of South Carolina’s races include Governor Nikki Haley fending off Democratic State Senator Vincent Sheheen to return to the governor’s mansion for a second term; U.S. Senator Tim Scott defeating Democratic Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson to retain the seat to which Governor Haley appointed him; and incumbent Republican Lindsey Graham defeating Democratic State Senator Brad Hutto and Independent Thomas Ravenel to keep his seat in the U.S. Senate for a third term.
In the state house, the Republicans maintained their margin over the Democrats in the South Carolina House of Representatives - 78 Republicans to 46 Democrats. The South Carolina House of Representatives will meet December 2-3 for organizational session. The session will consist of the election of officers (including a new speaker), the adoption of rules, committee assignments, and other administrative functions. During the interim a select committee met to consider changes to the House rules and recently approved several recommendations, which include term limits on the speaker of the house and the elimination of leadership political action committees.
A few of the more contested races are highlighted below.
- Greenville County voters shot down a penny sales tax increase, money that was supposed to go toward road and bridge repair. Oconee County voters also rejected the increase, while Anderson County voters approved the 1-cent hike to fund schools.
- McMaster wins South Carolina’s final lieutenant governor’s race
- Molly Spearman to lead South Carolina Schools
- Finlay beats McCulloch for Richland House seat
- S.C. likely will appoint adjutant general
- Lexington County penny sales tax crushed
- Voters change Richland 2 board’s racial makeup
- Lexington 2 voters approve school upgrades; Kershaw County voters reject similar plan
- Richland declares election a success; Lexington’s long ballot did not cause big delays
Read more here.
United States Senate
1. U.S. Senate
Lindsey Graham (R) 54.27% 661,379 (Winner)
Brad Hutto (D) 36.79% 448,419
2. U.S. Senate
Tim Scott (R) 61.16% 744,759 (Winner)
Joyce Dickerson (D) 37.05% 451,137
United States House of Representatives
1. First Congressional District
Mark Sanford (R) 93.39% 115,212 (Winner)
2. Second Congressional District
Joe Wilson (R) 62.29% 118,072 (Winner)
Phil Black (D) 35.41% 67,114
3. Third Congressional District
Jeff Duncan (R) 71.33% 116,021 (Winner)
Barbara Jo Mullis (D) 28.62% 46,556
4. Fourth Congressional District
Trey Gowdy (R) 84.86% 125,930 (Winner)
Curtis McLaughlin, Jr. (L) 14.72% 21,849
5. Fifth Congressional District
Tom Adams (D) 38.11% 66,011
Mick Mulvaney (R) 58.90% 102,017 (Winner)
6. Sixth Congressional District
Anthony Culler (R) 25.33% 42,841
Jim Clyburn (D) 72.74% 123,048 (Winner)
7. Seventh Congressional District
Gloria Bromell-Tinubu (D)39.98% 68,412
Tom Rice(R) 59.95% 102,576 (Winner)
State Constitutional Officers
1. Governor
Nikki Haley (R) 55.96% 685,490 (Winner)
Vincent Sheheen (D) 41.36% 506,562
2. Lieutenant Governor
Henry McMaster (R) 58.78% 714,670 (Winner)
Bakari Sellers (D) 41.10% 499,672
3. State Treasurer
Curtis Loftis (R) 98.76% 843,534 (Winner)
4. Attorney General
Alan Wilson (R) 60.30% 726,123 (Winner)
Parnell Diggs (D) 39.63% 477,265
5. Secretary of State
Ginny Deerin (D) 40.38% 487,308
Mark Hammond (R) 59.55% 718,683 (Winner)
4. Adjutant General
Bob Livingston (R) 98.98% 844,255 (Winner)
5. Comptroller General
Kyle Herbert (D) 40.10% 480,171
Richard Eckstrom (R) 59.85% 716,649 (Winner)
South Carolina Senate
1. District 32 – Berkeley, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg
Ronnie Sabb (D) 96.71% 21,453 (Winner)
South Carolina House of Representatives
1. District 11 – Abbeville and Anderson
Craig Gagnon (R) 55.02% 4,591 (Winner)
Tombo Hite, III (D) 44.97% 3,752
2. District 15 – Berkeley and Charleston
Marian Redish (D) 43.57% 2,655
Samuel Rivers, Jr. (R) 56.37% 3,435 (Winner)
3. District 53 – Chesterfield and Lancaster
Amy Brown (D) 40.51% 3,181
Richie Yow (R) 59.28% 4,655 (Winner)
4. District 75 – Richland
Joseph McCulloch (D) 47.5% 4,814
Kirkman Finley, III (R) 52.56% 5,343 (Winner)
5. District 101 – Clarendon and Williamsburg
Cezar McKnight (D) 63.99% 7,240 (Winner)
Al Smith (R) 35.76% 4,046
6. District 108 – Charleston and Georgetown
Stephen Goldfinch, Jr. (R) 57.49% 8,351 (Winner)
Vida Miller (D) 42.41% 6,161
7. District 114 – Charleston and Dorchester
Mary Tinkler (D) 82.87% 5,391 (Winner)
Sue Edward (G) 15.16% 986
Constitutional Ballot Questions
Constitutional Amendment 1 - This amendment authorizes nonprofits to conduct raffles.
Yes 83% 978,208 (Winner)
No 17% 204,808
Constitutional Amendment 2 – Adjutant General to become a gubernatorial appointment.
Yes 56% 659,061 (Winner)
No 44% 510,266
South Carolina in the News
- Now, South Carolina Governor Haley faces choice
Republican Gov. Nikki Haley won re-election Tuesday over Democrat state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, but allies and experts acknowledge there’s a chance that she might not finish her term if the GOP wins the White House in 2016. Read more here. - Scott makes history: South Carolina elects first African American to Senate
Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott cruised to victory Tuesday in a historic win as South Carolina’s first African American elected to the U.S. Senate and the first black elected to statewide office since Reconstruction. The win ensures a place in the GOP firmament for rising star Scott – a North Charleston native appointed to the Senate seat in 2012 when conservative icon Jim DeMint resigned. Scott said he is “thankful for the evolution that's occurred in South Carolina, where we are a state where we've seen more progress made ... than perhaps any other state in the nation.” Read more here. - Graham, South Carolina incumbents win
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham easily won a third term to the Senate Tuesday – adding three more vanquished challengers to the half-dozen Republicans he defeated in the June GOP primary. “I return to the Senate not to seek revenge, but with a burning desire to right the ship of state before it’s too late,” Graham said in a statement from his campaign. “I’m seeking willing partners on both sides of the aisle. Read more here.