Weeks wins in landslide in S.C. House District 51 primary

State Rep. David Weeks, D-Sumter, easily won the Democratic primary for state House District 51 on Tuesday night and is the presumptive winner in November’s general election without Republican opposition.

Weeks captured 79.87% of total votes in a landslide victory over Melissa Weeks Richardson’s 20.13%. The unofficial tallies were 3,333 votes for Weeks and 840 votes for Richardson.

A State House member in the District 51 seat since 2000, Weeks thanked the greater Sumter community for its support and especially the voters in his district following the primary. 

"We've been working together to make our community better, and we will continue to do so in Columbia as well as in Sumter," he said.  "The vote today validates the work that we have done, and it also gives us encouragement and incentive to continue to move positively forward."

District 51 consists of the area around Sumter High School, South Sumter, North Main Street and Morris College, the Crosswell area and extends into the eastern portions of Sumter County. 

Votes will be certified on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Sumter County Voter Registration Office, according to Director Pat Jefferson.