Weaver wins Republican nomination for S.C. education superintendent

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COLUMBIA (AP) - The South Carolina education superintendent candidate backed by the Republican establishment came back from her second-place finish in the primary to win the runoff.

Conservative think tank CEO and chairwoman of the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee Ellen Weaver won her party's nomination on Tuesday, but she still could face a rough road to the job even in a GOP-dominated state.

A new South Carolina law requires education superintendents to have at least a master's degree. Weaver doesn't have one but started a program in April. She said she should earn her degree in time.

Election officials said there is no precedent for what happens if she wins in November without an advanced degree, meaning the issue could be decided in court if someone sues.

Weaver will face Democrat Lisa Ellis in November. Ellis is a high school English teacher who founded the group SC for Ed on social media. Hundreds of teachers joined the group, calling for education improvements and higher pay and better treatment for teachers. The group brought 10,000 people to rally at the Statehouse, one of the biggest crowds of the past 20 years.

Ellis already has an advanced degree, as does the opponent Weaver defeated in the runoff, Palmetto State Teachers Association Executive Director Kathy Maness.

Maness won the primary but fell well short of the 50% needed to avoid a runoff. She had grassroots support from teachers and educators.

Maness faced an onslaught of television ads, campaign mailers and appearances by prominent Republicans who painted her as a Democrat posing as a member of their party.

Maness secured one big endorsement when Republican Education Superintendent Molly Spearman, who is leaving the job after eight years, threw her support behind Maness. Spearman said Maness has been a teacher, knows what goes on in schools and is familiar with the legislative process.

Weaver has raised more money - $327,000 to Maness' $115,000.

Ellis has raised just under $15,000, according to state campaign finance reports, but won the three-way Democratic primary without a runoff.