South Carolina candidates file as virus throws election calendar into question; all but 1 Sumter incumbent seeking re-election

Posted

The field is set for South Carolina's 2020 primaries leading up to the November general election, though the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the doors to questions surrounding how the elections will be conducted.

South Carolina's Democratic and Republican primaries are scheduled for June 9, and state Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire has forecasted several potential problems, according to The Associated Press, including:

- Will health officials still be recommending people not gather in large groups like at polling places?

- Will a pandemic harm or compromise poll managers, who tend to be older than the state's population as a whole?

- Will some buildings used as polling places like schools, churches or a nursing home in Greenwood allow them to be used for a large gathering of people?

To change the date of the primary or the rules, the Election Commission would need a law passed by the General Assembly, which took this week off without setting a date to return.

The primaries are not the only virus-related dilemma on their plate for when they do come back. Other weighty matters include rewriting the state budget after the virus caused an unexpected, sudden, massive economic downturn and handling graduation requirements after weeks of school were moved to online learning.

There is a precedent: AP reported the 1992 and 1994 primaries were held in August after redistricting problems delayed filing.

Whitmire said regardless of when the 2020 primaries take place in South Carolina, the Election Commission is sending a number of possible changes to the governor and House and Senate leaders including voting by mail, no-excuse-needed absentee voting and arranging early voting centers for weeks to spread out the crowds at polling places.

In Sumter, 18 of Sumter's 19 incumbents filed for re-election.

Five will be on either the Democratic or Republican primary ballot facing challengers from their own party. Three are unopposed by candidates from their own party but will face at least one challenger from a different party in November. Ten incumbents are running unopposed.

The District 64 seat in the state House of Representatives will see a new face next term as Rep. Robert Ridgeway is not seeking re-election.

Ridgeway, a Democrat from Manning whose district also covers parts of Sumter, directed The Sumter Item to a Facebook post he wrote Monday thanking his constituents for allowing him to represent them since 2012.

"Within the past two weeks, I have realized that my family will probably be requiring more and more of my attention over the next two years," he wrote in the post. "I don't feel that it would be proper for me to ask for another term realizing that I would not be able to devote the attention that this position deserves."

Candidates vying for the seat include Republicans Hal Cercopely and Cindy Risher and Democrats Robert McFadden Sr., Jack Furse and Kimberly Johnson.

Johnson is the daughter of state Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Manning, who will be on the primary ticket against Eleazer Carter.

At the county level, Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker faces a challenge from Isaac Johnson on the Democratic primary ticket, and two Democratic county council members also face challengers.

District 1 Councilman Chris Sumpter faces Carlton Washington and Caleb Kershaw Jr., and District 5 Councilwoman Vivian Fleming-McGhaney faces Kenny Rose.

Perhaps the most highly anticipated contest in South Carolina is U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham's pursuit of a fourth term. His matchup in November with Democrat Jaime Harrison is all but certain, but Graham first will face three Republican challengers in June.

According to AP, Harrison, whose primary opponent dropped out to support him, is an associate chairman with the Democratic National Committee and former chairman of the state Democratic Party. Submitting his candidacy papers on the first day of filing in mid-March, Harrison is backed by former presidential hopefuls and current U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris as well as U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, who is from Sumter County.

Graham, a popular incumbent, is support by President Donald Trump in a state where the administration's favorability remains high and Republicans currently occupy all statewide offices and control both legislative chambers.

All of South Carolina's U.S. House members filed for re-election, each drawing at least a couple challengers from opposing parties, according to the AP.

According to Sumter's candidate data from the state Election Commission, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman will not be on the primary ticket but will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Sidney A. Moore and Moe Brown for the 5th District.

Republican John McCollum and Constitution Party's Mark Hackett filed for the 6th District, held by Clyburn.

Also come November, Jimmy Byrd, District 3 representative on Sumter County Council, will face Democrat Ronnie Eldridge.

Elected officials running unopposed in the general election include Auditor Lauretha McCants, Clerk of Court Jamie Campbell, District 7 Councilman Eugene Baten, Treasurer Carolina Richardson, Sheriff Anthony Dennis, state Rep. Will Wheeler, state Rep. David Weeks, state Rep. Murrell Smith, state Rep. Wendy Brawley and state Sen. Thomas McElveen.

A statewide search for candidates via Election Commission data shows 1,041 candidates filed for partisan elected positions.

Non-partisan races, including for mayor, three city council seats and three school district seats, will also be on the November ballot. Filing for those seats is scheduled for July.