South Carolina’s open race for governor and two other statewide Republican primaries are headed to June 23 runoffs after no candidate captured a majority Tuesday, while the contest with the most direct bearing on York and Lancaster Counties took shape in the open race for Congress.
In the 5th Congressional District, which covers York and Lancaster Counties, Democrat Mallory Dittmer won her primary and will face Republican Wes Climer in November for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman. Norman, the Rock Hill Republican who has held the seat, ran for governor instead of seeking reelection and finished third in his party’s primary, missing the runoff.
The outcomes matter locally because York and Lancaster voters will choose a new member of Congress for the first time in years, and the statewide runoffs will set the November ballot for governor, attorney general and agriculture commissioner. All races reported 100 percent of counties in by Wednesday.
Governor
No Republican came close to the majority needed to win outright in a crowded field. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette led with 136,390 votes, or 28.86 percent, and Attorney General Alan Wilson followed with 123,559 votes, or 26.15 percent. The two advance to a runoff on June 23.
Norman finished third with 80,722 votes, or 17.08 percent. Rom Reddy took 66,922 votes, or 14.16 percent, and U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace drew 57,332 votes, or 12.13 percent. Joshua Kimbrell received 3,955 votes, or 0.84 percent. Jacqueline Hicks DuBose, listed on the results as decertified before the primary, recorded 3,708 votes, or 0.78 percent. A total of 472,588 ballots were cast.
On the Democratic side, state Rep. Jermaine Johnson won the nomination outright with 221,751 votes, or 59.65 percent. Billy Webster finished with 110,267 votes, or 29.66 percent, and Mullins McLeod received 39,710 votes, or 10.68 percent. Johnson advances to face the winner of the Republican runoff. The seat is open because Gov. Henry McMaster cannot seek another term.
U.S. Senate
Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham won renomination outright in a six candidate field, taking 263,895 votes, or 56.79 percent, and avoiding a runoff. Mark Lynch was the nearest challenger with 134,246 votes, or 28.89 percent. Thomas Keith Dismukes, Pat Herrmann, Calvin Cowen and Darius L. Mitchell trailed well behind. The Republican primary drew 464,709 ballots.
In the Democratic primary, Annie Andrews won the nomination with 225,924 votes, or 61.53 percent. Brandon P. Brown finished with 110,878 votes, or 30.20 percent, and Kyle Freeman received 30,350 votes, or 8.27 percent. Andrews advances to challenge Graham in November.
U.S. House District 5
The race closest to home is the open contest in the 5th Congressional District. Mallory Dittmer won the Democratic primary with 25,395 votes, or 55.79 percent, over Andrew Clough, who received 20,122 votes, or 44.21 percent, from the 45,517 ballots cast.
Dittmer will face Republican Wes Climer, a state senator from York County who was unopposed in his party’s primary, in the general election. The seat opened when Norman left the congressional race to run for governor, setting up the district’s first open House contest in years.
Attorney General
The Republican primary for attorney general, an open seat because Wilson is running for governor, is headed to a runoff. Stephen Goldfinch led with 175,921 votes, or 39.99 percent, and David Stumbo followed with 156,876 votes, or 35.66 percent. David M. Pascoe finished third with 107,086 votes, or 24.34 percent, and was eliminated. A total of 439,883 ballots were cast.
Goldfinch and Stumbo meet in the June 23 runoff. The winner will face Democrat Richard Hricik in November.
Commissioner of Agriculture
The Republican primary for commissioner of agriculture also produced no majority and advances to a runoff. Cody Simpson led with 163,973 votes, or 38.14 percent, and Danny Ford followed closely with 160,137 votes, or 37.25 percent. Jeremy B. Cannon and Fred West were eliminated, with Cannon at 58,975 votes, or 13.72 percent, and West at 46,814 votes, or 10.89 percent. The race drew 429,899 ballots.
Simpson and Ford meet in the June 23 runoff. The winner will face Democrat DeShawn Blanding in the fall. The office is open because Commissioner Hugh Weathers is not seeking another term.
Other constitutional offices
Four statewide offices were settled in their primaries without a runoff, each setting up a fall matchup.
In the Democratic primary for secretary of state, Jason Belton won the closest statewide contest of the night, clearing a majority by a narrow margin with 179,659 votes, or 50.57 percent, over Edwina Winter, who took 175,628 votes, or 49.43 percent. Because Belton cleared 50 percent, no runoff was required. He will face Republican incumbent Mark Hammond in November.
In the Democratic primary for state treasurer, Vincent Coe won with 195,339 votes, or 55.76 percent, over Trav Robertson Jr., who received 154,989 votes, or 44.24 percent. Coe will face Republican incumbent Curtis Loftis in the general election.
In the Democratic primary for comptroller general, Tiffany Boozer won with 261,773 votes, or 74.48 percent, over Bruce K. Cole, who took 89,699 votes, or 25.52 percent. Boozer will face Republican Mike Burkhold in November for an office that is open because the current appointed comptroller is not running.
In the Democratic primary for state superintendent of education, Sylvia Wright won with 218,037 votes, or 61.02 percent, over Lisa Ellis, who received 139,305 votes, or 38.98 percent. Wright will face Republican incumbent Ellen Weaver in the fall.
The June 23 runoffs
Three statewide Republican races head to runoffs on Tuesday, June 23, the contests for governor, attorney general and agriculture commissioner. Under state law, voters who cast a ballot in the June 9 Democratic primary may not vote in the Republican runoff, but voters who skipped the June 9 primaries may participate.
What comes next
The runoff winners join the candidates already nominated on the November general election ballot. The general election is set for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Results reported on election night are unofficial until certified. Voters can review official totals and contest details through the South Carolina Election Commission at scvotes.gov and their county election offices.
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