South Carolina is gearing up for runoff elections on Tuesday, where several races are still up for grabs after no candidate secured a majority in the recent primary election. One of the key races to watch is in the 3rd Congressional District, where a candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump is facing off against the preferred candidate of Republican Governor Henry McMaster. The outcome of this contest will likely determine who will succeed retiring GOP U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan.
In the primary election held on June 11, pastor Mark Burns emerged as the top vote-getter with about 33% of the vote, while nurse practitioner Sheryl Biggs came in second with about 29%. Burns has the backing of Trump, while Biggs has the support of McMaster. Both candidates are vying for the opportunity to face Democratic nominee Byron Best in the general election.
In addition to the congressional race, there are eight state Senate and four state House runoff elections taking place on Tuesday. With all 170 state legislative seats up for election in November, these runoff races will play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape in South Carolina.
As voters head to the polls, it’s important to note that registered voters can participate in a partisan primary runoff election if they voted in the same party’s primary on June 11 or if they did not vote in the primary at all. This means that Republican primary voters cannot participate in a Democratic runoff, and vice versa.
The 3rd Congressional District covers a substantial area, with Anderson and Pickens counties being key players in determining the outcome of the race. Trump’s strong performance in these counties in previous elections could provide some insight into how the candidates may fare in the runoff.
With voter turnout and early voting numbers in mind, it’s clear that interest in these runoff elections remains high. The state does not register voters by party, but the June 11 primary saw a turnout of 14% of registered voters, with a significant portion of votes being cast before primary day.
As the results start to come in on Tuesday evening, it will be interesting to see how the races unfold and which candidates emerge victorious. Stay tuned for updates on the runoff elections in South Carolina as the state prepares for the November general election.
