Gary Votour
Gary Votour (Workers Party) ran for election to the South Carolina State Senate to represent District 22. He did not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 5, 2024.
Votour also ran for election to the South Carolina House of Representatives to represent District 76. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Gary Votour was born in Norfolk, Virginia. Votour served in the U.S. Navy. He earned a degree in public communications and law enforcement.[1]
Elections
2024
State Senate
General election
General election for South Carolina State Senate District 22
Overture Walker won election in the general election for South Carolina State Senate District 22 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Overture Walker (D) | 98.5 | 41,207 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.5 | 609 | ||
| Total votes: 41,816 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Gary Votour (Workers Party)
Democratic primary runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for South Carolina State Senate District 22
Overture Walker defeated Ivory Thigpen in the Democratic primary runoff for South Carolina State Senate District 22 on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Overture Walker | 53.7 | 2,862 |
 | Ivory Thigpen | 46.3 | 2,472 | |
| Total votes: 5,334 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for South Carolina State Senate District 22
Ivory Thigpen and Overture Walker advanced to a runoff. They defeated Monica Elkins in the Democratic primary for South Carolina State Senate District 22 on June 11, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ivory Thigpen | 42.9 | 3,208 |
| ✔ | | Overture Walker | 40.4 | 3,019 |
 | Monica Elkins | 16.8 | 1,254 | |
| Total votes: 7,481 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Lee Blatt (R)
Convention
Convention for South Carolina State Senate District 22
Gary Votour advanced from the convention for South Carolina State Senate District 22 on March 16, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ |  | Gary Votour (Workers Party) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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State House
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 76
Incumbent Leon Howard defeated Gary Votour in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 76 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Leon Howard (D) | 92.0 | 12,651 |
| Gary Votour (Workers Party) | 7.7 | 1,052 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 48 | ||
| Total votes: 13,751 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Leon Howard advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 76.
Workers Party convention
Workers Party convention for South Carolina House of Representatives District 76
Gary Votour advanced from the Workers Party convention for South Carolina House of Representatives District 76 on March 16, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Gary Votour (Workers Party) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Votour in this election.
2022
See also: South Carolina gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of South Carolina
Incumbent Henry McMaster defeated Joe Cunningham and Morgan Bruce Reeves in the general election for Governor of South Carolina on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Henry McMaster (R) | 58.0 | 988,501 |
 | Joe Cunningham (D) | 40.7 | 692,691 | |
 | Morgan Bruce Reeves (L) | 1.2 | 20,826 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 1,174 | ||
| Total votes: 1,703,192 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jokie Beckett Jr. (Independence Party)
- Michael Copland (Independence Party)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of South Carolina
Joe Cunningham defeated Mia McLeod, Carlton Boyd, William Williams, and Calvin McMillan in the Democratic primary for Governor of South Carolina on June 14, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joe Cunningham | 56.4 | 102,473 |
 | Mia McLeod | 31.1 | 56,406 | |
 | Carlton Boyd | 5.3 | 9,579 | |
 | William Williams | 3.8 | 6,829 | |
 | Calvin McMillan | 3.5 | 6,303 | |
| Total votes: 181,590 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of South Carolina
Incumbent Henry McMaster defeated Harrison Musselwhite in the Republican primary for Governor of South Carolina on June 14, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Henry McMaster | 83.3 | 306,543 |
 | Harrison Musselwhite | 16.7 | 61,462 | |
| Total votes: 368,005 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Al BellaVance (R)
- Mindy Steele (R)
Independence Party convention
Independence Party convention for Governor of South Carolina
Jokie Beckett Jr. and Michael Copland advanced from the Independence Party convention for Governor of South Carolina on May 27, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Jokie Beckett Jr. (Independence Party) | |
| ✔ |  | Michael Copland (Independence Party) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Labor Party convention
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Gary Votour (Labor Party)
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of South Carolina
Morgan Bruce Reeves advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of South Carolina on June 18, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Morgan Bruce Reeves (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2024
State Senate
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gary Votour did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
State House
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gary Votour did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Gary Votour did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Votour's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Healthcare: We must ensure equal access to health insurance that will include the working poor. This includes the immediate expansion of Medicaid under the ACA, improving access to healthcare in rural areas and lowering the cost of health insurance for all South Carolinians. (See below for more) Living Wages: We must establish a living wage that let's people live. This includes not just creating a state minimum wage of at least $15 per hour, but also creating a mechanism that updates it annually based on the actual cost of living. (See below for more) Unions: We must allow the people of our state to decide for themselves whether or not they want to form Unions and use the power of collective bargaining to improve their working conditions and ensure their rights. This includes repealing the so called "Right to Work" laws that effectively prevent Unions from being created. (See below for more) Public Health: For nearly two years, our state has grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic that has taken 14,000 lives and made countless others ill for months on end. We need to have a Public Health Policy in place that will deal with this issue that is based in actual science, not political opinions. (See below for more) Gun Violence: We must take steps to reduce gun violence and the devastation this is causing in our communities. This includes improvements to the background check system already in place and advocating for a ban on high capacity weapons. Domestic Violence: We must reduce the level of domestic violence and supporting those affected by it. This includes not only increasing public awareness about this issue but also establishing a safety net for victims that includes counseling, housing, and when needed appropriate intervention by authorities. Hate Crime: We must establish and enforce hate crime legislation that will allow law enforcement agencies to better protect the safety of everyone. Justice Reforms: We must enact criminal justice reforms that will end the mass incarceration of the poor but also re-examine how existing laws are used to discriminate based on race, ethnicity, and sexual identity. This extends far beyond the legalization of marijuana and includes the function of law enforcement in our society. Environmental Protection: We must creating environmental protections that will ensure clean coasts, safe water and combat global warming. Existing regulations can not continue to be ignored and must be fully enforced. Investing in green technologies that safeguard our environment must become a statewide priority. Immigration: We must strengthen the rights of all who choose to work and live in South Carolina, regardless of nationality or citizenship status. This includes establishing a work permit program in our state to allow seasonal workers to earn competitive wages and have equal employment rights. Equal Rights: We must ensure equal rights to every citizen of our state, regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation. This includes equal representation in employment and access to government services. Education: We must provide affordable education opportunities to anyone who wants them. This includes fully funding all public schools equally and making community college more affordable for lower income families. Health Care: Medicaid A central issue for this campaign is healthcare. As Governor of South Carolina, I will expand Medicaid under the ACA on the first day of my term if elected. It is also vitally important that we address rural health care access, remove existing barriers to accessing health care, and lower the cost of health care for everyone. This detailed position statement explains the how and why of the health care policy I will implement as Governor of our state. Worker's Rights: Unions Worker's Rights: Unions As Governor, I will fight to protect the rights of all workers in our state. I believe the Right to Work law in our state should be amended or rescinded to allow employees to collectively decide if they want to join together in creating unions that would protect their rights. As Governor of South Carolina, I will unequivocally support the rights of workers to form Unions that represent them. It's past time we let the power of collective bargaining and union representation be allowed for everyone in SC. Worker's Rights: A Living Wage As Governor, I will demand that the SC General Assembly pass a minimum wage law. I support a living wage of at least $15 per hour. Our society has a huge wage gap based on race. This must change, and increasing the minimum wage for ALL South Carolinians will help close the gap. It will also lift people out of poverty, reducing the need for public assistance programs that tax payers now fund. I will oppose tax breaks for any business in South Carolina that does not pay a living wage and create full time jobs with employer funded health insurance. It is important that these incentives to businesses to create jobs here in our state be used to create decent jobs. Public Health: Covid-19 For nearly two years, our state has grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic that has taken 14,000 lives and made countless others ill for months on end. Although Covid-19 rates seem to be finally decreasing, we have to realize that Covid-19 may be with us for years to come, and that future variants could be even more severe and spread even easier. We must have a Public Health Policy in place that will deal with this issue that is based in actual science, not political opinions. We must look at how our State's responses impacted people's lives and livelihood and ensure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.[2] |
” |
| —Gary Votour's campaign website (2022)[3] | ||
Campaign finance summary
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Gary Votour for Governor of South Carolina, "About," accessed June 21, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Gary Votour for Governor of South Carolina, “Issues,” accessed June 16, 2022
