South Carolina Attorney General election, 2010
Contents |
Republican Lexington County assistant solicitor Michael Alan Wilson won the race to replace McMaster, defeating Democrat Matthew Richardson and Green Party candidate Leslie Minerd.
Race tracking
Ballotpedia and Governing magazine called the race an easy Republican win.
| 2010 Race Rankings for South Carolina Attorney General | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race Tracker | Race Rating | |||
| Ballotpedia | Likely Republican | |||
| Governing [1] | Likely Republican | |||
| Overall Call | Likely Republican | |||
General Election campaign
Candidates
Republican Party - Lexington County assistant solicitor Michael Alan Wilson
Democratic Party - Greenville attorney Matthew Richardson
Green Party - Activist and small business owner Leslie Minerd
General election results
| 2010 Race for Attorney General - General Election [2] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party |  Michael Alan Wilson
|
53.7% | |
| Democratic Party | Matthew Richardson | 44.2% | |
| Green Party | Leslie Minerd | 2.0% | |
| Total Votes | 1,332,806 | ||
Endorsements
- Communications Workers of America (CWA) [3]
- South Carolina AFL-CIO [4]
- Can-Do Conservatives of America [5]
- Charleston Mercury, local newspaper [6]
- National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) [7]
Finances
According to the South Carolina State Ethics Commission, as of July 27, 2010, here is the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| Matthew Richardson Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [8] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010 | July 9, 2010 | $500.00 | $361,700.44 | $155.06 | $0.00 | $34,841.33 | $327,359.11 | |
June 8, 2010 primaries
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Attorney Matthew Richardson [9]
Drop outs
- Failing to raise sufficient funds to properly campaign for the state’s top prosecutor position, First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe announced in March 2010 that he would not file for the office. [10] [11]
Electoral results
- Matthew Richardson ran unopposed in this contest
Republican primary
Candidates
- Former assistant attorney general Michael Alan Wilson [12]
- William Leighton Lord, III [13]
- Columbia prosecutor Robert Bolchoz [14]
Electoral results
| 2010 Race for Attorney General - Republican Primary [15] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party | Michael Alan Wilson
|
39.0% [16] | |
| Republican Party | William Leighton Lord, III | 37.1% | |
| Republican Party | Robert Bolchoz | 23.9% | |
| Total Votes | 385,312 | ||
Endorsements
- John Barton, former chief of the criminal division in the U.S. attorney’s office [17]
- Charlie Condon, former South Carolina Attorney General (1994-2002) [18]
- Bart Daniel, a former U.S. attorney who prosecuted the Lost Trust case [17]
- Johnny Gasser, a former U.S. attorney [17]
- Sherri Lydon, who was chief of the South Carolina Statewide Grand Jury [17]
- John Simmons, a former U.S. attorney [17]
Finances
According to the South Carolina State Ethics Commission, as of June 8, 2010, here is the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| John Robert Bolchoz, Jr. Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [8] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| Pre-Election 2010 [23] | May 24, 2010 | $204,494.57 | $42,669.16 | $1,284.16 | $0.00 | $144,636.58 | $102,527.15 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010 [24] | April 10, 2010 | $137,643.49 | $118,236.78 | $7,563.78 | $0.00 | $51,385.70 | $204,494.57 | |
| October 1 - December 31, 2009 [25] | January 10, 2010 | $500.00 | $167,791.32 | $4,941.32 | $0.00 | $30,647.83 | $137,643.49 | |
| William Leighton Lord, III Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [8] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| Pre-Election 2010 [23] | May 26, 2010 | $284,118.40 | $47,265.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $231,268.72 | $100,114.68 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010 [24] | April 14, 2010 | $203,357.16 | $176,285.00 | $3,500.00 | $0.00 | $95,523.76 | $284,118.40 | |
| October 1 - December 31, 2009 [25] | January 11, 2010 | $81,389.24 | $168,885.00 | $1,000.00 | $0.00 | $46,917.08 | $203,357.16 | |
| October 1 - December 31, 2009 | October 8, 2009 | $500.00 | $81,090.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $200.76 | $81,389.24 | |
| Michael Alan Wilson Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [8] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| Pre-Election 2010 [23] | May 25, 2010 | $386,300.70 | $43,437.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1,933.76 | $427,803.94 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010 [24] | April 15, 2010 | $45,127.92 | $364,141.60 | $830.00 | $0.00 | $22,968.82 | $386,300.70 | |
| October 1 - December 31, 2009 [25] | January 15, 2010 | $43,359.96 | $29,644.41 | $2,710.41 | $0.00 | $27,876.45 | $45,127.92 | |
| July 1 - September 30, 2009 | October 11, 2009 | $53,477.15 | $11,095.00 | $50.00 | $0.00 | $21,212.19 | $43,359.96 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2009 | July 10, 2009 | $4,750.00 | $53,477.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $47.85 | $53,477.15 | |
| October 1 - December 31, 2008 | January 15, 2009 | $43,359.96 | $29,644.41 | $2,710.41 | $0.00 | $27,876.45 | $45,127.92 | |
June 22, 2010 primary run-off
Election results
| 2010 Race for Attorney General - Republican Primary Run-off [26] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party | Michael Alan Wilson
|
59.8% | |
| Republican Party | William Leighton Lord, III | 40.2% | |
| Total Votes | 343,874 | ||
Endorsements
- Boiling Springs Tea Party [27]
- Robert Bolchoz, former State Attorney General candidate [28] [29]
- Charlie Condon, former State Attorney General [30]
- The State [31]
- The Sun News [32]
- Scarlett Wilson, Ninth Circuit Solicitor [33]
Finances
According to the South Carolina State Ethics Commission, as of July 27, 2010, here is the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| William Leighton Lord, III Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [8] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010 | July 13, 2010 | $100,114.68 | $382,250.35 | $2,014.65 | $0.00 | $482,067.95 | $297.08 | |
| Michael Alan Wilson Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [8] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010 | July 20, 2010 | $113,862.07 | $337,508.00 | $5,580.00 | $0.00 | $379,695.71 | $71,674.36 | |
Controversies
Anti-Wilson advertisement
Two days prior to the state's primary run-off election, a mysterious political group called the South Carolina Truth Squad released a television commercial that criticized Republican candidate Michael Alan Wilson "for failing the state bar exam on the first try, never having held a management position and being the son of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson." [34] [35] Wilson's run-off opponent, Leighton Lord, was quick to assure the public that he had nothing to do with either the organization or its commercial. A Lexington judge issued a restraining order prohibiting the airing of the advertisement after finding the Truth Squad had failed to properly file with the state South Carolina Ethics Commission. However, the Supreme Court reversed the decision.[36]
Boeing tax breaks
The American Future Fund, a conservative advocacy group based out of Iowa, released a radio and television advertisement criticizing Republican South Carolina Attorney General candidate Leighton Lord for his role in securing a tax incentives package for airplane manufacturer Boeing Co. in exchange for them selecting North Charleston as the location for their new Dreamliner airplane plant. For the 3,800 jobs the company would add to the state's economy, South Carolina contributed $270 million in borrowed cash for the $750 million building itself, along with a grant of $5 million to cover site preparation. The state's Commerce Department estimated that while the deal cost South Carolina public taxpayers $353 million, it brought an influx of $5.2 billion into the economy. The ad, however, described the incentives package as a “bailout” and “sweetheart deal.” [37]
Lord, in response, said the commercial from the "shadowy" Washington Beltway organization distracted from the real issues of the attorney general campaign. He then went on to praise the deal that brought the Boeing aircraft plant to North Charleston as “one of the best deals to come to the state of South Carolina in over 50 years.” [37]
See also
External links
- List of candidates qualified for South Carolina's June 22 Attorney General primary run-off
- Green Paper's list of candidates for South Carolina Attorney General, 2010
General Election candidates
- Alan Wilson for Attorney General Campaign website
- Matthew Richardson for South Carolina Attorney General Campaign website
Former candidates
- Robert Bolchoz for Attorney General Campaign website
- Leighton Lord for Attorney General Campaign website
References
- ↑ Governing “Attorney General Race Ratings” 12 Oct. 2010
- ↑ South Carolina State Ethics Commission - 2010 General Election Results
- ↑ Communication Workers of America - Endorsements
- ↑ AFL-CIO - 2010 Endorsements
- ↑ Can-Do Conservatives of America - Endorsements
- ↑ Charleston Mercury "Our Endorsements" 19 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Daily Journal "South Carolina Republican nominees Haley, Wilson get nod from state chapter of national group" 29 Sept. 2010
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 As these are not cash contributions, they are not reflected in the reported ending balance.
- ↑ The Politics of Jamie Anderson "Matthew Richardson files for S.C. Attorney General spot" 31 March, 2010
- ↑ The Times and Democrat "Pascoe joins attorney general's race" 17 Oct. 2009
- ↑ The Palmetto Scoop "David Pascoe Stays Put as Solicitor" 7 March, 2010
- ↑ The Post and Courier "Wilson runs for attorney general" 9 Sept. 2009
- ↑ The Post and Courier "Leighton Lord throws hat in ring" 25 Sept. 2009
- ↑ Palmetto Scoop "Bolchoz Makes 3 Running for AG" 27 Oct. 2009
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission - 2010 Republican and Democratic Primary Election Results
- ↑ Even though Michael Alan Wilson received the most votes, he failed to receive over fifty percent of those votes required by South Carolina state law. A run-off election between the top two vote recipients, therefore, was required to decide who went on to the general election.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 The State "Bolchoz picks up key endorsements" 20 May, 2010
- ↑ S.C. Politics Today "Condon endorses Bolchoz for AG" 3 May, 2010
- ↑ Charleston Mercury "Our Endorsements, Part I" 18 May, 2010
- ↑ The State "Lord best choice for attorney general" 1 June, 2010
- ↑ Earl Capps "Alan Wilson's Sheriff endorsements keep AG race pot stirred" 8 Feb. 2010
- ↑ Go Upstate "Wilson for attorney general" 27 May, 2010
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Wolfe Reports "All GOP AG candidates equal, Wilson more equal" 2 June, 2010
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Wolfe Reports "Wilson leads GOP attorney general candidates" 18 April, 2010
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Wolfe Reports "Alan Wilson severely behind in AG money race" 18 Jan. 2010
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission - 2010 Republican and Democratic Primary Run-off Election Results
- ↑ Boiling Springs TEA Party - Vetted 2010 SC candidates
- ↑ Midlands Connect "Bolchoz endorses Wilson for AG" 14 June, 2010
- ↑ The Post and Courier "Bolchoz endorses Alan Wilson" 15 June, 2010
- ↑ Voting Under the Influence "Alan Wilson gets two big endorsements, Lord supporters attack his mama" 15 June, 2010
- ↑ The State "Leighton Lord for attorney general" 17 June, 2010
- ↑ The Sun News "Runoff Choices Clearer" 18 June, 2010
- ↑ The Post and Courier "Scarlett Wilson endorses Leighton Lord for Attorney General" 17 June, 2010
- ↑ YouTube "Alan Wilson - Good Ole Boy.mov" 19 June, 2010
- ↑ WIS News 10 "GOP race for attorney general gets ugly with anonymous ad" 20 June, 2010
- ↑ WISTV.com, "State Supreme Court rules against Wilson over critical ad," June 21, 2010.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 Greenville Online "Attorney general candidate Leighton Lord defends role in bringing Boeing to S.C." 28 April, 2010
