Darlington County voters weigh in at primaries
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Voters headed to the polls on Tuesday, June 12 to cast their ballots in local and state primaries, and weighed in on the future of medical marijuana, Medicare, and the tax code in South Carolina.
In the Democratic Primary, voters were asked (1) Do you support passing a state law allowing doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to patients? (2) Do you support passing a state law requiring the governor of South Carolina to accept all federal revenues offered to support Medicaid and Medicaid expansion efforts in the state?
In the Republican Primary, voters were asked (1) Do you believe that voters should have the option to choose to affiliate with a political party when they register to vote or change their voter registration in South Carolina? (2) Do you believe that South Carolina’s tax code should be brought into conformity with the new Trump tax cuts in the federal tax code for maximum simplification and to lower the overall tax burden on South Carolina taxpayers and businesses?
All of these ballot questions received overwhelming voter approval from their respective parties, and will be put to the test again in the fall general election.
Locally, two seats on Darlington County Council were on the ballot. District 8 incumbent David Coker topped challengers Eldon Henderson and Tim Bazen. Coker received 587 votes, Henderson received 373, and Bazen received 85 votes.
In the race for County Council District 6 (currently held by the retiring Mozella “Pennie” Nicholson), candidate Albert Davis III topped Gerald Mack by a count of 378 to 270.
Republican incumbent Governor Henry McMaster failed to secure over fifty percent of the vote (155,723 = 42.32 percent) and will face his closest challenger John Warren (102,390 = 27.82 percent) in a June 26 runoff.
In the race for the Democratic nomination for Governor, James Smith was the statewide winner, with 148,633 votes (61.81 percent). Smith defeated contenders Marguerite Willis (66,248) and Phil Noble (25,587) and will be the party’s nominee in the November general election.
Secretary of State Mark Hammond handily defeated three Republican challengers and secured 218,215 votes, equaling 65.43 percent of the vote.
In the race for Attorney General, Republican Alan Wilson (166,860 = 48.63 percent) will face challenger Todd Atwater (102,038 = 29.74 percent) in a June 26 runoff.
Republican Congressman Tom Rice (US District 7) secured 83.58 percent of the vote (38,346) against challenger Larry Guy Hammond, and will face the winner of the runoff between Democratic contenders Robert Williams (14,222 = 41.30 percent) and Mal Hyman (10,225 = 29.70 percent) in the fall general election.
Robert Williams easily won re-nomination for his State House District 62 seat, securing 63.30 percent of the 2,834 votes cast. Williams was challenged by candidates Linda Byrd Spearman (879 votes) and Joe Ard (161 votes).
To learn more about polling locations and voting procedures, contact Darlington County Elections and Registrations at 843-398-4900
