Primary runoff election set for June 26

LANDRUM — South Carolina voters sent current Gov.  Henry McMaster to a runoff against John Warren during Tuesday’s primary election.

The Republican primary ended with McMaster receiving 155,104 votes (42.3 percent) and Warren receiving 102,048 (27.83 percent).

McMaster would have had to win by 50 percent plus one of the votes to secure the GOP bid. Runoffs are required in races with three or more candidates in South Carolina, unless the top vote getter receives 50 percent, plus one, of the votes.

The runoff election will be on Tuesday, June 26.

Democrats chose James Smith with 148,044 (61.81 percent) for Governor, over Marguerite Willis, who received 65,954 votes and Phil Noble, who received 25,475 votes.

Smith will face either McMaster or Warren in November.

Republicans also chose Mark Hammond for secretary of state, who won with 65.42 percent of the votes. GOP candidates Alan Wilson and Todd Atwater could be heading for a runoff for attorney general. Wilson was winning with 48.64 percent of the votes with 96 percent of precincts reporting Wednesday morning.

Former state senator Lee Bright will face a runoff for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives District 4, left open by former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy. Bright’s runoff opponent was not clear after Tuesday’s primary.

His opponent will either be William Timmons or Dan Hamilton, who were within 400 votes of each other, according to unofficial results.

For the democratic bid for U.S. House of Representatives District 4, Brandon P. Brown and Doris Lee Turner look to be heading for a runoff. Brown received 30.89 percent of the votes and Turner received 29.55 percent of the votes.

Spartanburg County voters also chose incumbent Josiah Magnuson as the GOP winner for the State House of Representatives District 38 by 69.03 percent of the votes over Joan Clyborne.

Manning Lynch won the County Council Chair for the Republicans by 74.95 percent over Brian Andre Turnage.

South Carolina voters were also asked advisory questions on Tuesday’s primary ballot. The answers to the questions will not change laws, but were meant as a way to get public opinion on four subjects.

Democrats were asked if they support passing a law allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to patients, which passed by 82.03 percent statewide.

Democrats were also asked if they support passing a state law requiring the governor of South Carolina to accept all federal revenues offered to support Medicaid and Medicaid expansion efforts in the state, which passed by 92.75 percent statewide.

Republicans were asked if they believe that voters should have the option to choose to affiliate with a political party when they register to vote or change their voter registration in South Carolina, which passed by 82.34 percent statewide.

Republicans were also asked if they believe that South Carolina’s tax code should be brought into conformity with the recent tax cuts in the federal tax code for maximum simplification and to lower the overall tax burn on South Carolina taxpayers and businesses, which passed by 92.3 percent statewide.