South Carolina's 5th Congressional District special election, 2017

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South Carolina's 5th Congressional District

General Election Date June 20, 2017

Primary Runoff Date May 16, 2017

Primary Date May 2, 2017

Election Winner: Ralph Norman

Incumbent prior to the election: Mick Mulvaney

Race Ratings Cook Political Report: Safe R Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe R Rothenberg & Gonzales: Safe R

2017-2018 Special Elections

The 5th Congressional District of South Carolina held a special election for the U.S. House of Representatives on June 20, 2017.

Republican Ralph Norman defeated Democrat Archie Parnell and three third-party candidates on June 20, 2017. The election replaced Mick Mulvaney (R), who was confirmed as director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Compared to the tens of millions spent in Georgia's 6th Congressional District special election, which was held on the same day, fundraising and campaigning were more typical in South Carolina's 5th District. Norman raised $1.25 million between January and May, nearly double Parnell's $763,000 in contributions.

U.S. House, South Carolina District 5 Special Election, 2017
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ralph Norman	51%	45,076
	Democratic	Archie Parnell	47.9%	42,341
	American	Josh Thornton	0.4%	319
	Libertarian	Victor Kocher	0.3%	273
	Green	David Kulma	0.3%	242
Total Votes				88,316
Source: South Carolina Secretary of State

Ballotpedia compiled the following resources to help voters better understand the policy positions of the candidates prior to the Republican primary runoff election on May 16, 2017 and the general election on June 20, 2017, the same day as a special election runoff to fill the vacancy left by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price representing Georgia's 6th Congressional District:

• An overview of each candidate's career and policy priorities;
• A comparison of their voting records in the South Carolina House of Representatives;
• Interviews with local and national political figures on what distinguishes the candidates; and
• Background information about each candidate's endorsements, campaign spending, and advertising.

Candidate Filing Deadline	Primary Election	General Election
March 13, 2017	May 2, 2017	June 20, 2017

The 5th District is located in northern South Carolina along the border of North Carolina. The district includes all of Cherokee, Chester, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Union, and York counties. Portions of Newberry, Spartanburg, and Sumter counties also lie within the district.

Election results

General election

U.S. House, South Carolina District 5 Special Election, 2017
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ralph Norman	51%	45,076
	Democratic	Archie Parnell	47.9%	42,341
	American	Josh Thornton	0.4%	319
	Libertarian	Victor Kocher	0.3%	273
	Green	David Kulma	0.3%	242
Total Votes				88,316
Source: South Carolina Secretary of State

Primary election

U.S. House, South Carolina District 5 Republican Runoff Primary, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Ralph Norman	50.3%	17,823
Tommy Pope	49.7%	17,602
Total Votes		35,425
Source: South Carolina Secretary of State

U.S. House, South Carolina District 5 Republican Primary, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Tommy Pope	30.4%	11,943
Ralph Norman	30.1%	11,808
Tom Mullikin	19.8%	7,759
Chad Connelly	14.1%	5,546
Sheri Few	4.9%	1,930
Kris Wampler	0.5%	197
Ray Craig	0.2%	87
Total Votes		39,270
Source: South Carolina Secretary of State

U.S. House, South Carolina District 5 Democratic Primary, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Archie Parnell	71.3%	13,333
Alexis Frank	21.5%	4,030
Les Murphy	7.2%	1,346
Total Votes		18,709
Source: South Carolina Secretary of State

General election polling

South Carolina's 5th Congressional District Special Election
Poll	Archie Parnell	Ralph Norman	Undecided	Margin of Error	Sample Size
Victory Enterprises May 17-18, 2017	36%	53%	11%	+/-3.9	629
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Candidates

General election candidates:

Ralph Norman a
Archie Parnell
David Kulma
Josh Thornton (American)
Victor Kocher

Runoff candidates:

Democratic

A Democratic runoff was not required.

Republican

Ralph Norman a
Tommy Pope

Primary candidates:

Democratic

Alexis Frank
Les Murphy
Archie Parnell - Fmr. Goldman Sachs attorney a

Republican

Chad Connelly
Ray Craig
Sheri Few
Tom Mullikin - S.C. State Guard commander
Ralph Norman - Fmr. State House rep. a
Tommy Pope - State House Speaker Pro Tempore a
Kris Wampler

Third Party/Other

David Kulma
Josh Thornton (American)
Bill Bledsoe
N. Cooper
Victor Kocher

Withdrew:
Penry Gustafson (R)

Republican primary runoff candidate overviews

Ralph Norman (R)

Ralph Norman represented District 48 in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2008 to 2017. After announcing his candidacy for the open 5th District seat, he resigned from the state House of Representatives on February 16, 2017, saying, "I think it’s unfair to take a paycheck from the taxpayers while I’m running." On his campaign website, Norman identified introducing term limit and balanced budget legislation, repealing the Affordable Care Act, increasing the retirement age and reducing benefits to sustain Social Security, cutting taxes, and the construction of a border wall as key elements of his platform. The fiscally conservative group South Carolina Club for Growth gave Norman an A in its 2015-2016 scorecard for the South Carolina House of Representatives. The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, a pro-business advocacy organization, gave Norman a 35 in its 2016 scorecard; his four-year average was 74.3. As a state representative, Norman was one of two representatives to vote against an infrastructure funding plan to provide up to $2.2 billion through bonding of vehicle sales tax and DMV fees. "We need to reform [the Department of Transportation] before we throw a bucket of money at them," he said. He voted in favor of allowing the governor to appoint a superintendent of education and removing the Confederate flag from the statehouse.

Tommy Pope (R)

Tommy Pope was first elected to represent District 47 in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2010. His campaign website listed a complete review of regulations, lowering individual and corporate taxes, repealing the Affordable Care Act, constructing a border wall, defunding sanctuary cities, promoting state governing authority, and abolishing agencies like the Department of Education as key issues. He said in a statement announcing his intention to run in February 2017, "The 5th District’s next representative must fight to cut our bloated government, protect the unborn, and restore our God-given rights to the states." The fiscally conservative group South Carolina Club for Growth gave Pope an F in its 2015-2016 scorecard for the South Carolina House of Representatives. The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, a pro-business advocacy organization, gave Pope a 90 in its 2016 scorecard; his four-year average was 87.5. As a state representative, Pope voted in favor of the South Carolina Farm Aid Fund to benefit farmers with significant agricultural damage from flooding and a bill to invest up to $2.2 billion in infrastructure projects.

Voting record comparison

Both Norman and Pope served in the South Carolina House of Representatives together for an overlapping period of time between 2011 and 2017. This table highlights key votes from their legislative records on infrastructure, taxes, abortion, gun policy, and education.

Legislation	Summary	Year	Norman	Pope
H 3516 – SC Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act	Designed to increase gas tax by 12 cents over six years and impose other driver-related fees to raise approximately $600 million per year for road projects. Pope voted yes to override the governor's veto of the legislation.	2017
S 1258 – SCDOT Governance Reform and Infrastructure Funding	Established a transportation infrastructure funding plan of up to $2.2 billion and new guidelines for the governance of the Department of Transportation. Norman was one of two House members to vote against the bill.	2016
H 4717 – SC Farm Aid Fund	Created the South Carolina Farm Aid Fund to assist farmers who had suffered crop damage as a result of major flooding in October 2015 with $40 million in aid. Norman voted against overriding the governor's veto of the bill.	2016
H 3114 - SC Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act	Banned the abortion of fetuses 20 weeks or more after post-fertilization unless the life of the mother is in danger or the fetus will not be viable outside of the womb.	2016
S 1258 – SC Infrastructure Finance Reform and Tax Relief Act	Increased cost of gas by 10 centers per gallon and maximum sales tax on vehicles. Offsets expense by lowering income taxes by approximately $48 per year. Norman and Pope voted in support of the bill.	2015
H 3041 – Constitutional Officers of SC	Would have amended the state constitution to allow the governor to appoint the superintendent of education.	2015
S 0897 – SC Infantry Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America	Removed the Confederate battle flag from the state capitol grounds.	2015
H 3147 - Workers' Compensation	Would have expanded workers' compensation for police officers who suffer post-tramautic stress disorder after shooting someone in the line of duty. Pope sponsored the bill.	2015
S 0308 - Firearms Bill	Permitted individuals with concealed carry permits to carry a firearm in establishments that serve food and alcohol if they do not consume alcohol.	2014
H 3435 - Comprehensive Health Education Act	Would have revised sexual education curriculum to provide medically accurate information about reproductive health.	2014
S 0578 – Boeing Incentive Bill	Provided Boeing with $120 million in economic incentives to expand its North Charleston manufacturing complex.	2013
H 3584 - Cigarette Tax	Increased tax on cigarettes from 7 cents to 57 cents. Norman voted against overriding the governor's veto.	2010

Race background

The general election on June 20, 2017, included Democrat Archie Parnell and Republican Ralph Norman. According to The State, South Carolina election officials confirmed that Parnell was first registered to vote in South Carolina in 1972 and did not vote in any elections until 2017, when he voted in the Democratic primary.

The candidates of the Republican runoff, as a result of being the top two vote-getters from the May 2 primary election, were Fmr. State House Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina House District 48 and State House Rep. Tommy Pope of South Carolina House District 47. House Districts 47 and 48 border one another and both districts sit entirely within South Carolina's 5th Congressional District.

The borders of South Carolina State House Districts 47 and 48 within a map of South Carolina's U.S. congressional districts

June 16 candidates forum

June 16 SC-ETV candidates forum

On June 16, Green Party candidate David Kulma, American Party candidate Josh Thornton, Republican Ralph Norman, and Democrat Archie Parnell participated in a forum hosted and broadcast by SC-ETV. Candidates participated in a structured discussion that included healthcare legislation, tax policy, President Trump's time in office, other domestic issues, and the local South Carolina economy.

Candidate quotes

Ralph Norman

• "Number one issue in this country is to get on a firm financial footing. $20 trillion in debt is unacceptable… If we get on a firm financial footing we can afford the security, the military, and the other vital services this country provides."

• "I want to bring in free market principles… to buy insurance across state lines… to have expanded HSA [Health Savings Account] accounts… and having choice. Having one insurer in any state is not acceptable"

• "Pre-existing conditions, we're going to have to address those people that had no choice, the cancer or whatever they had that was pre-existing. That's one thing the plan does, it has a pool and it has federal and state subsidies to help those people."

• "Putting Neil Gorsuch on the supreme court excited the people we're in contact with. [President Trump] proved his mettle."

• "I'm excited about bringing jobs, high-paying quality jobs [to the district] … and that's where my business background really comes in."

• "I'm going to support the 2nd Amendment, that's why the NRA endorsed me."

Archie Parnell

• "I think that we do have a very very stark difference between my opponent, the Republican candidate. My opponent has very extreme positions on many of these issues. His voting record demonstrates that on many occasions. He should be held accountable."

• "What's happening with healthcare in the Republican Congress has gone off the track and I don't think we need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. We need to fix Obamacare, not repeal it… I think we should think about importing prescription drugs as long as they're FDA approved."

• "[The AHCA] would punt pre-existing conditions back to the states."

• "A lot of people that I talk with actually say they are frightened about what's happening. When they see the President in the oval office handing over American intelligence to the Russians, that's frightening."

• "We need higher paying jobs, we need to improve our infrastructure. To bring in better businesses we need training… We need all of these things, we need to bring the economy up."

• "I support the 2nd Amendment and also look forward to closing the Charleston gun show loophole."

David Kulma

• "The most important issue I'm running on is the end of slavery in our prisons and an end to the exception clause in the 13th Amendment… We need to end this and the first thing I'll do as Congressman from this district is to call for congressional hearings into that amendment and how it enables slavery for this day."

• "The way we guarantee healthcare as a human right in this country is by doing Medicare-for-all universal healthcare… [There would be] no copays, no deductibles, and no premium."

• "Many of the people that are excited about the elections that are going on here and in Georgia, people are upset about what happened in November..., but I think it's important that we don't limit ourselves to just advocating against specific policies that our right-wing government is advocating right now. We have to advocate real, progressive solutions like universal healthcare, free public college, and affordable housing to help people that really need our help in this country.

• "People who make minimum wage in our district are cost-burdened, they're having to pay too much money of their income into housing."

Josh Thornton

• "The number one priority for our campaign is to try to end this gridlock in politics… We're really trying to lead from the center and to meet people where they are. Most people aren't on the extreme right or left and they're trying to find that voice for them."

• "We have three principles [related to healthcare]. It has to be affordable, it has to be efficient, and it has to be available. No matter what vehicle we [use to] get there, if it's medicare-for-all, if it's free market healthcare, it doesn't bother us, as long as it meets those three principles."*

• "We're not running against a Republican or Democratic nominee. In this case, we're running against a failed system."

• "Let's get kids healthy because we need preventative healthcare. Let's have healthy kids and then let's educate them, so then they're ready to be able to sift through all of this media that they're getting, that they're going to be able to independently make up their mind of what they know is the truth and not just what they see on TV."

• "We have to use some common sense as far as background checks go and really vet those people who are trying to get a gun, but we're not going to take away guns and we support the 2nd Amendment."

Endorsements

Republican primary runoff candidates

Ralph Norman

• Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) - "We have an historic opportunity before us in Congress. Help us take advantage of it by electing Ralph Norman in South Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District so we have the reinforcements we need to repeal Obamacare, enact major regulatory reform, and pass fundamental tax reform."

• Club for Growth Action - "Norman is very strong on pro-growth issues."

• Chad Connelly (R) - “If you have to lose, it’s best to lose to somebody who thinks like you. At debates, there was a lot of, ‘Hey, you used my line.'"

• Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) - "Ralph Norman knows how important it is to stand with taxpayers against the big government special interests, and his record in both the private sector and the state legislature prove it."

• Rep. Joe Wilson (R - S.C.) “I learned firsthand of the competence and dedication of Ralph, who I know would be an effective member of Congress.”

• Fmr. Sen. Jim DeMint (R - S.C.) - “His conservative voting record shows that he will stand up for taxpayers against the special interests, and fight for personal freedom, lower taxes and a smaller government.”

Notable donations

• On May 10, 2017, Ralph Norman's campaign announced that it had received a $100 donation from United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley and her husband.

Tommy Pope

• U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) - "Fifteen years ago I was a brand new prosecutor in the Upstate of South Carolina trying to work with law enforcement, help victims get justice and preserve public safety. But I needed help. Lots of it. And another prosecutor from the Upstate of South Carolina—named Tommy Pope—gave and lent me counsel, advice, support, and the full weight of his own experience in law enforcement and prosecution. I need his help again, this time in the U.S. House of Representatives."

• State House Speaker Jay Lucas - "Tommy Pope is a proven conservative and the right choice for Congress. His pro-business and fiscally responsible record in the South Carolina House of Representatives is what Washington needs to practice to put America back on the right track."

• State Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers - "The farmers that I’ve talked to in the 5th District are supporting Tommy because they recognize what he did for them in Columbia. When the flood hit two years ago, we really needed help and it was not coming from anywhere else. But Tommy stood up and showed leadership on behalf of all farmers."

Democratic general election candidate

Archie Parnell

• Former Gov. Dick Riley - "Archie Parnell knows firsthand that a kid from Sumter blessed with a good public school education goes far. He knows that education and affordable college mean better jobs and a stronger local economy."

Primary candidates

Chad Connelly

• Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03) - "Chad's the right guy to send to Washington. I look forward to having another fighter in the guise of Mick Mulvaney, who was a true fighter in the 5th District. Chad Connelly will be that way, too, on budget constraint, family values and conservative principles."

• Rep. Mark Meadows (NC-11) - "In Congress, we need more conservative leaders like Chad Connelly who will work with our coalition for limited government, lower taxes and a true repeal of Obamacare."

Sheri Few

• Former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay - "Sheri Few understands that you make America great again with servant leaders who want to deconstruct the federal administrative state and return power to people and their communities."

Tom Mullikin

• Al Simpson - Former chief of staff for former incumbent Mick Mulvaney

Alexis Frank

• The National Women’s Political Caucus

Spending

Candidate fundraising and spending

Satellite spending

• The Washington Post reported on June 6, 2017, that the National Republican Congressional Committee made a $97,000 ad buy to support Ralph Norman's run.

• The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced that it would spend $275,000 to support Archie Parnell's congressional run through hiring three field organizers and voter outreach programs targeting African American voters and faith communities. In comparison, the DCCC spent $5 million to back Jon Ossoff in Georgia's 6th Congressional District special election against Karen Handel (R).

Campaign fundraising

As of the Federal Election Commission Pre-Special Report, Ralph Norman (R) led the field in total fundraising with $590,360, $305,000 of which he loaned his campaign. Tom Mullikin (R) raised the second most of any Republican with $235,683 in total contributions, $144,000 of which was self-funded. Tommy Pope (R) raised $226,002 and loaned his campaign $30,000. Chad Connelly received $189,550 in contributions.

Archie Parnell led the Democratic field by a sizeable margin with $243,032 in contributions. Alexis Frank (D) and Les Murphy (D) trailed with $44,223 and $8,960, respectively.

Full data for all candidates who filed with the FEC is displayed below.

Pre-Special FEC Report
Candidate	Contributions	Expenditures	Cash on Hand
Archie Parnell	$243,032	$64,603	$178,429
Ralph Norman	$590,360	$183,146	$407,213
Tommy Pope	$226,002	$83,431	$142,571
Chad Connelly	$189,550	$177,285	$12,264
Sheri Few	$60,742	$38,940	$37,876
Tom Mullikin	$235,683	$175,929	$59,753
Kris Wampler	$2,880	$4,886	-$2,006
Alexis Frank	$44,223	$9,242	$34,980
Les Murphy	$8,960	$3,824	$5,135

Campaign themes

Archie Parnell

The following issues are listed on Parnell's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	Taxes and Big Corporations: Archie will use his decades of experience and detailed knowledge of the tax code to make big corporations pay their fair share. He knows how to close the loopholes that allow big companies to stash trillions of dollars overseas, and will use that revenue to strengthen our infrastructure and create jobs here at home. Education: As a product of South Carolina public schools, Archie knows the life-changing power of teachers. This Congressional district is home to 95 Title I schools – schools that are a majority low-income and are recipients of Federal funds. Archie will stand up for all South Carolina public schools, and will fight to keep the US Department of Education funded and in existence. Our schools must give every child in every zip code the opportunity to succeed and fulfill their potential. Jobs and Infrastructure: While much of the economy has improved since the crash of 2008, real wages have not gone up for many working Americans in over three decades. Archie’s plan to close tax loopholes for corporations would allow the country to invest in its citizens and infrastructure and make manufacturing in this part of South Carolina more competitive for businesses. Archie believes that infrastructure enables small businesses to grow locally and attracts larger businesses to move here from elsewhere in the US and abroad. Healthcare and Medicare: Archie will stand up for families and defend healthcare and Medicare from Washington’s attempts to weaken them. Archie believes that if you have paid into Social Security and Medicare, you have earned it -- it should never be taken away from you. He opposed the Republican bill to replace the Affordable Care Act, which would have raised premiums on older Americans and weakened Medicare, and has called on all candidates in the race to do the same. Shaw Air Force Base: Archie will protect Shaw Air Force Base, the installation that brought his family to Sumter and allowed him the blessing of growing up in South Carolina. Thousands of men and women in the 20th Fighter Wing and United States Army Central (USARCENT) call South Carolina home during their service, and many stay to raise families and contribute to the community after their commitment ends. The thousands of civilian jobs that depend upon Shaw AFB offer vital economic impact to this district and to the state as a whole.	”
—Archie Parnell's campaign website

Ralph Norman

The following issues are listed on Norman's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	Introduce a Term Limits bill that would cap the number of years Congressmen can serve. It’s time we end the rein of career politicians and make them come home to live under the laws they pass. Term limits would cut the influence of special interest lobbyists and encourage a true citizen-legislature. Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment: The greatest threat to our national and economic security as a nation is our ever-growing $19 trillion debt. Forcing Congress (like we force our State Legislature) to have a balanced budget each year will end the out-of-control government spending. Keep America Safe from Terrorism: After Barack Obama’s 8-year world apology tour, it’s time we had a real focus and a real plan to make America the most respected country in the world again. If we don’t take the fight to ISIS on their turf, we will face them on American soil. Repeal Obamacare: Republicans need to keep their promise to repeal and replace Obamacare, along with its massive taxes and unfair mandates, with an affordable, free-market based health care plan. We should offer patients more choices, greater control and lower costs. Reform Social Security and Strengthen Medicare: America must keep its promise to those who are in or soon to be in the Social Security system. It’s a contract we must honor. To sustain its long-term viability we must have the political courage to raise the retirement age by 2 months and lower benefits for the top 10% of earners.	”
—Ralph Norman's campaign website

Tommy Pope

The following issues are listed on Pope's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	Economy and Jobs: Government doesn’t create jobs. Americans do. We need to get the government out of the way so businesses can thrive and grow. As the owner of a small business in the 5th district, Tommy Pope knows what it means to sign both sides of a paycheck, and he’ll take that knowledge with him to Washington. Security: As a former police officer and prosecutor, Tommy Pope knows firsthand what evil looks like, and he knows how important it is to secure our communities. The Constitution: Tommy Pope has sworn an oath to defend the Constitution, and he’ll do so again in Congress. It’s an oath Tommy takes seriously. He believes that the framers of the Constitution specifically intended for the power to be with the people. That’s why he’s a strong supporter of our 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms. Values: With a father in law enforcement and a mother who worked as a teacher, Tommy grew up in a Christian household that valued service to others. Tommy has honored those values through a lifetime of public service. He and his family are devoted followers of Christ. He is active in his church and his community. He is a man of integrity and strives to reflect his Christian beliefs in his actions, not merely in his words.	”
—Tommy Pope's campaign website

Candidates eliminated following the May 2 primary

Chad Connelly

The following issues are listed on Connelly's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	Reducing Regulations: Regulations have very much so become an unchecked burden on our economy. In total, the Obama Era regulations cost the economy nearly $900 billion! As a businessman, I’ve personally experienced the way that taxes and regulations have strangled hard-working families and small business the past eight years. Immigration: Immigration has an incredibly important role to play in our society. It’s part of our history and in our blood. But what we cannot allow is the abuse of our laws by those who come here illegally, especially at the expense of our families and neighbors. National Security: If we can’t keep faith with those who have served, the system is broken. If we can’t make national defense the number one priority of government, no other function ultimately matters. Term Limits: If we’re ever going to fix Washington, it has to start with term limits. Budget and Spending: As your congressman, I’ll work to pass a balanced budget amendment that requires the federal government live within its means. You and I have to make our household budgets fit with our income – it’s about time politicians had to do the same.	”
—Chad Connelly's campaign website

Sheri Few

The following issues are listed on Few's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	Stop Federal Overreach: Whether it is Common Core, “Green” Energy Mandates or DC micromanagement in everything from Health Care to Banking, Sheri will be a leader in the fight to roll back and eliminate countless federal mandates that stifle creativity, job creation and individual freedom. Stand Up To Terrorism: After eight years of an administration that literally bowed to foreign leaders, dismantled our national defense and declared Israel an enemy, Sheri will back President Trump’s efforts to stop illegal immigration, rebuild our military and stand up to Radical Islamic Terrorism. Fight Political Correctness: It’s time for an end to the politically correct war on our Judeo-Christian values. As our voice in Washington, Sheri will defund federal programs that push an anti-family agenda and fight those who want to take down Confederate monuments and destroy our history. Defend Our Values: Sheri is solidly pro-life and opposes the Supreme Court decision that forced legal gay marriage across America. Sheri is a gun owner who will support new laws protecting your right to carry in all 50 states and your right to raise your children as you see best.	”
—Sheri Few's campaign website

Tom Mullikin

The following issues are listed on Mullikin's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	Genuine Reform Economic Opportunity American Values National Security	”
—Tom Mullikin's campaign website

Kris Wampler

The following issues are listed on Wampler's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	Constitutionally Limited Government: I am the only candidate who will oppose unconstitutional expansions of government - no matter which party proposes them. Jobs and the Economy: Repeal burdensome laws, regulations, and bad "free trade" deals. Abolish the Federal Reserve. Healthcare: Repeal - not "repeal and replace" - Obamacare and return health matters to the states. Taxes: Eliminate as many as possible. Foreign Policy: Non-interventionism, withdrawal from the U.N., and an end to foreign aid.	”
—Kris Wampler's campaign website

Campaign ads

Archie Parnell

Positive

"Deliver" - Archie Parnell for Congress ad, released April 24, 2017

"Know How" - Archie Parnell for Congress ad, released April 27, 2017

"Archie Parnell: A Matador for You (HOC)" - Archie Parnell for Congress ad, released May 30, 2017

Ralph Norman

Positive

"The Fifteen Reasons" - Norman campaign ad, released April 17, 2017

"South Carolina Values" Norman campaign ad, released April 17, 2017

Opposition ads

"Strange" - Tommy Pope ad opposing Norman, released May 8, 2017

Tommy Pope

Positive

"Law and Order" - Pope's first campaign ad, released March 23, 2017

"Different Way" - Pope's second campaign ad, released April 21, 2017

"Trey Gowdy: Support Tommy Pope for Congress" - U.S. Chamber Action ad, released May 9, 2017

Opposition ads

"Millions" - Club for Growth ad opposing Pope, released May 10, 2017

"Digging Out" - Club for Growth ad opposing Pope, released May 10, 2017

Statements about the candidates

The Club for Growth

On May 11, 2017, Ballotpedia spoke with Doug Sachtleben of the Club for Growth to discuss the Republican primary runoff between Ralph Norman and Tommy Pope. The following are quotes given to Ballotpedia by Sachtleben.

• Describe the reasons that the Club for Growth Action, the Club's PAC, is supporting Norman in this race.

"Norman first ran in 2006 and we look at how a candidate does over their career, their record. We have interviewed him and we feel he is good on pro-growth issues."

• What do you believe are the clearest differences between the candidates?

"In terms of voting on taxing and spending, one thing we have highlighted was a vote for a state budget in the House, a portion of that was vetoed by then-governor Nikki Haley, to set up a medical advisory council that she said would look at how states expand Medicaid... Pope voted for it and Norman voted against that budget. The original gas tax vote, Norman was a No and Pope was a Yes... So generally on taxing and spending issues, we were comfortable with Norman."

Palmetto Liberty PAC

On May 11, 2017, Ballotpedia spoke with Talbert Black, Jr. of Palmetto Liberty PAC, an active political action committee in South Carolina. The following are quotes given to Ballotpedia by Black. Black noted that he spoke only for his own opinions, but willing shared his affiliation with Palmetto Liberty PAC.

• What do you believe are the clearest differences between the candidates?

"Tommy Pope has risen up through the Republican politics leadership and is a guy who will whip votes for the caucus, now I guess he’s part of leadership, so he’s going to be your Paul Ryan republican, trying to just get something done and make everyone else do what the caucus thinks needs to be done. On the other hand, Ralph Norman is kind of a renegade guy. He doesn’t always vote the way I want him to vote, but he’s going to show leadership, he’s always going to do what he believes is right, whatever the consequences may be. He’s been passed up for promotions and positions multiple times because he’s been willing to part with leadership on multiple occasions."

• What do you believe is the most important issue in this election, specifically in the district itself?

"The issue that we've had in South Carolina, power in state government resides in the General Assembly. The governor has very little power, the judicial department is appointed by the legislature, even more than that, there are a few legislative leaders who have the majority of the appointment power for the state, for judges and other offices. If the committee doesn’t approve you, you can’t even run to get elected by the legislature… The speaker of the house, chairman of the ways and means, senate judiciary, and senate finance, those four people largely control what’s happening in SC government.

"It’s a really unpopular thing to do, to cause change within the legislature because if you’re championing this change, you’re asking to take power away from your leadership. I think that when people go to the polls to vote, that’s one of the things that will go into their calculus, that Tommy Pope has been complicit to the leadership, has done nothing to provoke change, and Ralph has. He has been a champion for people who want the state to be a true republic, where people in the districts really control the state."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce

On May 11 and May 15, Ballotpedia spoke with Press Office staff from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who launched an ad featuring Rep. Trey Gowdy in support of Tommy Pope. Representatives from the organization declined to provide on-the-record comments and, as of the morning of May 16, had not responded to further requests for comment.

Noteworthy campaigning

• On June 19, 2017, a robocall recorded by President Donald Trump was released which called on voters to support the Republican candidate, Ralph Norman. "I’m busy fixing Obama’s disaster in Washington. Believe me, we’re getting the job done. But I need your help. There is a special election for Congress in South Carolina on June 20. I need you to get to the polls on Tuesday to vote Republican for Congress. The liberal Democrats think that they have a chance to steal the seat from you. They’re not going to steal the seat," Trump said.

• On May 15, 2017, the day before the Republican primary runoff, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) campaigned in Rock Hill, South Carolina, with Ralph Norman.

Special elections to the 115th U.S. Congress

See also: Special elections to the 115th United States Congress (2017-2018)

In the 17 special elections called to fill vacancies in the 115th Congress in 2017 and 2018, nine Republicans and eight Democrats won. Four elections resulted in a partisan flip:

• Doug Jones (D), U.S. Senate in Alabama;
• Conor Lamb (D), Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District;
• Mary Gay Scanlon (D), Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District; and
• Susan Wild (D), Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District.

Results of special elections to the 115th Congress
Race	Election date	Incumbent	Winner	Election MOV	Previous election MOV	2016 Presidential election MOV
Kansas' 4th Congressional District	April 11, 2017	Mike Pompeo	Ron Estes	R+6	R+31	R+27
Montana's At-Large Congressional District	May 25, 2017	Ryan Zinke	Greg Gianforte	R+6	R+15	R+21
California's 34th Congressional District	June 6, 2017	Xavier Becerra	Jimmy Gomez	D+18	D+54	D+73
Georgia's 6th Congressional District	June 20, 2017	Tom Price	Karen Handel	R+4	R+24	R+1
South Carolina's 5th Congressional District	June 20, 2017	Mick Mulvaney	Ralph Norman	R+3	R+20	R+18
Utah's 3rd Congressional District	November 7, 2017	Jason Chaffetz	John Curtis	R+32	R+47	R+24
U.S. Senate in Alabama	December 12, 2017	Jeff Sessions	Doug Jones	D+2	R+28	R+28
Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District	March 13, 2018	Tim Murphy	Conor Lamb	D+0	R+100	R+19
Arizona's 8th Congressional District	April 24, 2018	Trent Franks	Debbie Lesko	R+6	R+38	R+21
Texas' 27th Congressional District	June 30, 2018	Blake Farenthold	Michael Cloud	R+23	R+24	R+23
Ohio's 12th Congressional District	August 7, 2018	Patrick Tiberi	Troy Balderson	R+1	R+40	R+11
Michigan's 13th Congressional District	November 6, 2018	John Conyers Jr.	Brenda Jones	D+78	D+61	D+61
U.S. Senate in Minnesota	November 6, 2018	Al Franken	Tina Smith	D+11	D+10	D+2
U.S. Senate in Mississippi	November 6, 2018	Thad Cochran	Cindy Hyde-Smith	R+8	R+22	R+18
New York's 25th Congressional District	November 6, 2018	Louise Slaughter	Joseph Morelle	D+16	D+12	D+16
Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District	November 6, 2018	Patrick Meehan	Mary Gay Scanlon	D+6	R+19	D+2
Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District	November 6, 2018	Charlie Dent	Susan Wild	D+0	R+20	R+8

District history

2016

See also: South Carolina's 5th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Mick Mulvaney (R) defeated Fran Person (D) and Rudy Barnes Jr. (American) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Mulvaney defeated Ray Craig in the Republican primary, while Person ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Barnes defeated Larry Gaither at the party convention. The primary elections took place on June 14, 2016.

U.S. House, South Carolina District 5 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mick Mulvaney Incumbent	59.2%	161,669
	Democratic	Fran Person	38.7%	105,772
	American	Rudy Barnes Jr.	2%	5,388
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	177
Total Votes				273,006
Source: South Carolina Secretary of State

U.S. House, South Carolina District 5 Republican Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Mick Mulvaney Incumbent	78.3%	22,603
Ray Craig	21.7%	6,280
Total Votes		28,883
Source: South Carolina Secretary of State

2014

See also: South Carolina's 5th Congressional District elections, 2014

Incumbent Mick Mulvaney (R) won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. He defeated Tom Adams (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, South Carolina District 5 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mick Mulvaney Incumbent	60.6%	103,078
	Democratic	Tom Adams	39.3%	66,802
	N/A	Write-in	0%	82
Total Votes				169,962
Source: South Carolina State Election Commission

See also

• Special elections to the 115th United States Congress (2017-2018)
• South Carolina's 5th Congressional District
• Mick Mulvaney

Footnotes

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South Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Lindsey Graham (R)

Tim Scott (R)

Representatives

District 1

Nancy Mace (R)

District 2

Joe Wilson (R)

District 3

Sheri Biggs (R)

District 4

William Timmons (R)

District 5

Ralph Norman (R)

District 6

James Clyburn (D)

District 7

Russell Fry (R)

Republican Party (8)

Democratic Party (1)