Two military veterans squared off Tuesday as part of the nationwide General Election, with State Rep. Doug Gilliam, Republican, coming out on top in a race against Democratic challenger Larry Williams.
House District 42 is a Union County-based seat but, based on reapportionment, it includes all of Clinton. Districtwide, Gilliam won with 59% of the vote - 7,723 - to Williams’ 5,213 votes. In Laurens County/Clinton, Gilliam outpolled Williams, 2,003 to 1,565.
In SC House District 14, which includes an area of West Clinton around Charlotte’s Road, Cross Hill businessman and farmer Rick Shealy, Republican, won election with 62% of the vote. Shealy had ousted incumbent state representative Luke Rankin in the GOP primary.
For Congress, another member of the military, Republican Sheri Biggs, won re-election in District 3 with 63% of the vote. However, when she returns to Washington, she will be in the minority - nationwide, a “Blue Tsunami” of Democrats have taken control of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, tapping voters’ frustrations with affordability, alleged corruption in office, and the United States’ 8-month war against Iran.
Part of that tsunami was a stunning upset for South Carolina’s junior senator.
For the U.S. Senate, Dr. Annie Andrews, Democrat, unseated Senator Darline Graham with 51% of the vote. Laurens County broke for Graham, 13,267 votes to Andrews' 9,454.
Elsewhere, Republicans kept a solid hold on South Carolina Constitutional offices: statewide, Alan Wilson, Governor, 51%; Mark Hammond, Secretary of State, 52%; Curtis Loftis, Treasurer, 52%; David Stumbo, Attorney General, 52%; Mike Burkhold, 52%; Ellen Weaver, Secretary of Education, 50%; and Cody Simpson, Secretary of Agriculture, 51%.
Stumbo is the Solicitor (chief prosecutor) for the 8th Judicial Circuit, which includes Laurens County.
The same is true for Laurens County Government, which saw local Democrats miss out on an opportunity to field viable candidates at a time of high voter dissatisfaction, as reflected in the national results.
In addition to Gilliam and Shealy, Laurens County has 3 other state representatives with a piece of the county in their districts: House 16, Mark Willis wins re-election with 58% of the vote; House 11, Craig Gagnon wins with 67%; and House 13, John McCray earns re-election with 66% of the votes cast.
Statewide, voter turnout was registered at 56% of eligible voters.
That is a state record, based on the total number of votes in the Governor’s race in proportion to the total number of registered voters.
Local Democrats fielded no candidates for Laurens County government offices or 3 open County Council seats. Winners are all Republicans: Probate Judge, Kevin Nix; Auditor, Linda Hodges; Treasurer, Cynthia Burke; County Council Seat 1, Nancy Garrison; Seat 4, Jimmy Poole; and Seat 5, Darryl Halbert.
For School District 56 seats, winners are: Teresa Corley, unopposed for Seat 5; Elizabeth Lollis for Seat 6; and David Nabors for Seat 7.
For School District 55 seats, winners are: Cathy Little, 56%, Seat 2; Mike Hughes, unopposed, Seat 4; and Nick Babb, 50%, Seat 6 (Babb leads Lee McDaniel, 694 to 673, in uncertified results).
Watershed seats are filled by Maxcy Hunter, unopposed; and Harold McClinton and Samuel Roper; and Soil & Water seats are filled by Nelson Crisp and Patrick Nelson.
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Attorney General-Elect David Stumbo Issues Statement Following General Election Victory
GREENWOOD – Following a decisive General Election victory tonight, the next Attorney General for South Carolina David Stumbo, issued the following statement:
"Tonight is all about one thing, gratitude. I cannot begin to express the overwhelming appreciation that I have for every single person who contributed their time, talents, endorsement, resources, but most importantly prayers to help us secure victory,” said David Stumbo. “We ran this campaign from the beginning on a centralized theme of supporting law enforcement, defending the rule of law, and providing the public confidence that their next Attorney General is a conservative prosecutor ready to step into the office on day one. The voters responded and I am incredibly thankful to have the support of South Carolina and move forward into the next step of making South Carolina safer and greater than at any time before.”
Following the election night victory, David Stumbo will immediately begin the necessary transition process to ensure the transfer of official duties is as seamless and efficient as possible. For future inquires during the transition period, please direct to Lance Williams at info@surgepa.com
Statement: Congressional Candidate Eunice Lehmacher Thanks Supporters and Concedes Election to Congresswoman Sheri Biggs
CLEMSON – Eunice Lehmacher, the Democratic candidate for Congress in South Carolina's 3rd District, issued the following statement after the results of Tuesday's election:
"A few minutes ago, I called Congresswoman Sheri Biggs to concede and to congratulate her on her victory. I wished her well, and I meant it. The people of the Upstate deserve a representative who listens and gets results, and I hope she will be that for every family in this district, whether they voted for her or not.
"I want to start with the people who made this campaign possible: our volunteers.
"Dozens upon dozens of you sat at kitchen tables and wrote postcards to your neighbors, one handwritten note at a time. Multiple volunteer counselors called me every Friday to check in on me, so that I could keep showing up for everyone else. Several volunteers prayed with me every single week. And most of you had never worked on a campaign before. You didn't do this because someone paid you or because it was easy. You did it because you love this place and believe it can be better. I will never forget that.
"To everyone who knocked a door, made a call, sent a text, donated, put up a yard sign, or simply told a friend about us: thank you. To my staff who were my eyes, ears and hands for such a big district. Thank you! To my husband and our two sons: thank you for your patience and your love.
"We didn't win this race, but the ideas we ran on haven't gone anywhere. Freedom starts with affordability: being able to pay for your medicine and still pay your bills. Protecting our mountains, rivers, and clean air isn't political, it's practical. And Washington should give us more results and less chaos. Thousands of our neighbors stood up for those ideas this year, and they'll still be true tomorrow.
“The campaign prepared people for running for office, including interns and staff who were under 25 and plan to run in the future. And neighbors saw how others cared when they spotted their sign in a neighbor’s yard.
“I think today people feel less alone in the Upstate. Volunteers, voters, and donors have been part of a movement in SC for change. And we will keep working.
"I got into this race because I believe the job of a representative starts with listening. That doesn't end tonight. I'll keep listening, keep volunteering in my community, and keep working alongside all of you to protect what we love about the Upstate.
Thank you, South Carolina."
