2018 South Carolina elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of South Carolina on November 6, 2018. All of South Carolina's executive officers were up for election as well as all of South Carolina's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives.

United States Congress edit

All of South Carolina's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2018.

Governor and lieutenant governor edit

Beginning with the 2018 gubernatorial election, the offices of governor and lieutenant governor were elected jointly as a ticket instead of being elected separately as in prior years.^[1]

Former incumbent Republican governor Nikki Haley was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third consecutive term. Haley was selected as United States Ambassador to the United Nations in the Donald Trump administration.^[2] Haley's nomination was confirmed.^[3] Former lieutenant governor Henry McMaster became governor on January 24, 2017, for the remainder of the term.^[4]

Attorney general edit

Incumbent Republican attorney general Alan Wilson ran for re-election to a third term.^[5]

Other Republican candidates included State Representative Todd Atwater, like Wilson, from Lexington ^[6] and Greenville attorney William Herlong.^[7]

Potential Democratic candidates include 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe.^[8]^{[needs update]}

Secretary of state edit

Incumbent Republican secretary of state Mark Hammond ran for re-election to a fifth term in office.^[9]

State Representative Joshua Putnam is challenged Hammond for the Republican nomination.^[9]

Governing magazine had projected the race as "safe Republican".^[10]

Treasurer edit

Incumbent Republican Treasurer Curtis M. Loftis, Jr. ran for re-election to a third term in office.

Comptroller general edit

Incumbent Republican Richard Eckstrom won re-election to a fifth term in office.

Superintendent of Education edit

Incumbent Republican Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman ran for re-election to a second term.

Commissioner of Agriculture edit

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, who was appointed to the position in September 2004, ran for re-election to a fourth full term in office.

State legislature edit

All 124 seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. On election day 2018, Republicans controlled 80 seats as compared to the Democrats' 44. Although four seats flipped party, there was no net change in the composition of the state House because Republicans flipped Districts 42 and 97 while Democrats flipped Districts 15 and 117. Republicans maintained their 80-to-44 seat majority in the South Carolina House following the 2018 election.

References edit

^ "SC voters in favor of governor-lieutenant governor ticket". WBTV. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
^ Haberman, Maggie (November 23, 2016). "Nikki Haley Chosen as U.N. Ambassador". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
^ "Nikki Haley easily confirmed as UN ambassador". CNN. January 24, 2017.
^ Stevens, Matthew (November 23, 2016). "McMaster set to get coveted governor's seat". WACH. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
^ Self, Jamie (February 7, 2018). "Attorney General Wilson says no one has done more to fight SC corruption than he has". The State. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
^ "South Carolina Rep. Todd Atwater launches GOP primary challenge against Attorney General Alan Wilson". Post and Courier. December 6, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
^ "Greenville lawyer William Herlong kicks off campaign for S.C. attorney general". Greenville Online. January 8, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
^ Jones, Tyler (September 13, 2016). "2018 SC Governor's Race - 8 Democrats to Watch". Speak Strategic. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Brown, Kirk (May 2, 2017). "Rep. Putnam to run for S.C. secretary of state". The Anderson Independent-Mail. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
^ Jacobson, Louis (June 4, 2018). "Secretary of State Races Are More Competitive and Important Than Ever". Governing. Retrieved September 22, 2019.

External links edit

Official Attorney General campaign websites

Official Secretary of State campaign websites

Official State Treasurer campaign websites

Official Superintendent of Education campaign websites

Molly Spearman (R) for Superintendent

Official Commissioner of Agriculture campaign websites

Hugh Weathers (R) for Agriculture Commissioner

[1] "SC voters in favor of governor-lieutenant governor ticket". WBTV. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.

[2] Haberman, Maggie (November 23, 2016). "Nikki Haley Chosen as U.N. Ambassador". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2016.

[3] "Nikki Haley easily confirmed as UN ambassador". CNN. January 24, 2017.

[4] Stevens, Matthew (November 23, 2016). "McMaster set to get coveted governor's seat". WACH. Retrieved November 28, 2016.

[5] Self, Jamie (February 7, 2018). "Attorney General Wilson says no one has done more to fight SC corruption than he has". The State. Retrieved April 29, 2018.

[6] "South Carolina Rep. Todd Atwater launches GOP primary challenge against Attorney General Alan Wilson". Post and Courier. December 6, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.

[7] "Greenville lawyer William Herlong kicks off campaign for S.C. attorney general". Greenville Online. January 8, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.

[8] Jones, Tyler (September 13, 2016). "2018 SC Governor's Race - 8 Democrats to Watch". Speak Strategic. Retrieved September 21, 2016.

[putnamtorun-9] Brown, Kirk (May 2, 2017). "Rep. Putnam to run for S.C. secretary of state". The Anderson Independent-Mail. Retrieved June 24, 2017.

[10] Jacobson, Louis (June 4, 2018). "Secretary of State Races Are More Competitive and Important Than Ever". Governing. Retrieved September 22, 2019.

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