South Carolina State Senate elections, 2012
 |
South Carolina's 2012 elections U.S. House • State Senate • State House • State ballot measures • Candidate ballot access |
 |
Elections for the office of South Carolina State Senate were held in South Carolina on November 6, 2012. A total of 46 seats were up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 30, 2012. The primary Election Day was June 12, 2012. The primary runoff took place on June 26, 2012.[1]
Legal challenges to candidate eligibility
Legal challenges led to the removal of nearly 250 candidates from the primary ballot during the primaries. Here is a brief timeline of those events, followed by a detailed account of what happened.
- March 30: Deadline for candidates to file a required statement of economic interest. Many candidates from both parties fail to do so.[2]
- Week of April 16: The South Carolina State Ethics Commission gives candidates an additional 10 days to turn in the form.[3]
- May 2: The South Carolina Supreme Court rules any candidate who did not file the form must be removed from the ballot. Calls for a rehearing are denied.[2]Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title The Court ordered political parties to remove any candidates who had not met both requirements from the primary ballots.Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title - May 9: While the Senate attempts to pass legislation to allow challengers back on the ballot, attorney Todd Kincannon requests a delay in the primary. Both efforts were unsuccessful.[4][5][6]
- June 12: Primaries take place as scheduled.
Additional filing time
State law said candidates needed to file a statement of economic interest listing financial information such as jobs, properties owned, and salaries by March 30. This rule only applied to challengers, meaning incumbents were exempt from these filings.[2] Numerous candidates from both parties did not meet the deadline. According to state law, those candidates who did not file the form on time would not have their names on the ballot. The State's Gina Smith wrote that a reason for this might have been because "for many candidates, this cycle marked the first time they were required to file the form electronically."[3] A 2010 law allowed candidates to file their statements electronically, but an older law mandated a physical copy be on file.[7]
The State Ethics Commission announced a 10-day extension for candidates to turn in the form.[3] Democrats opposed the decision and considered filing a lawsuit. South Carolina Democratic Party chair Dick Harpootlian (D) said the issue was raised because five Republicans who challenged incumbent Democrats in the Senate and House failed to file the form. He said, "The statute says you file the disclosure form when you file, not a month after you are supposed to file...This is begging for more litigation."[3] Republican officials did not contest the Commission's decision, with South Carolina Republican Party director Matt Moore (R) saying, "We believe in following every single law. Candidates need to make sure they file all required forms. But if it’s the Election Commission’s decision...that’s OK with us."[3]
Candidate removal ruling
On May 2, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled unanimously that candidates who had not filed the necessary statement of economic interest both electronically and physically would be ineligible to run.[2]Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title On May 3, the South Carolina Republican Party, the state Democratic Party, and the State Elections Commission asked for a rehearing regarding the Supreme Court's decision. The Court declined, stating, "Our opinion...speaks for itself and stands as written. Accordingly, we deny the request for rehearing."[8]
According to the Charlotte Observer, nearly 200 candidates were removed from the ballot in total, including 55 candidates for the state House and state Senate. The Senate attempted to pass legislation allowing many of the challengers back on the ballot, but provisions in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 required any changes in South Carolina election law to be cleared with the U.S. Justice Department.[9] Ultimately, no action was taken.[2]
On May 9, attorney Todd Kincannon, representing challenger Amanda Somers (R), requested a delay in South Carolina's June 12th primary. He claimed that a delay was necessary due to ballots sent to overseas voters and military members that only had federal races on them. Kincannon said, "The ballots that they mailed out to military voters are not worth the paper they are printed on...Each and every one of them is illegal because they are all in violation of the Voting Rights Act."[4] On May 11, Kincannon stated he was no longer pursuing the lawsuit on Somers' behalf. [5] With Somers reinstated on the ballot, he instead focused on challenging the partial ballots mailed overseas.[10] A panel of three federal judges heard the case on May 14 and dismissed the lawsuit.[6]
On June 11, the day before the primary, five candidates who had been removed from the ballot, including former state Senate candidates Tommie Reece (R) and John W. Pettigrew, Jr. (R), filed a request in United States District Court for the District of Columbia for a temporary restraining order. Judge Cameron Currie rejected the case to stop the vote the same day.[11]
Ultimately, nearly 250 challengers were removed from the primary ballot. In Anderson County, 15 of 23 challengers were deemed ineligible for the primary. Oconee County saw 11 of 13 challengers declared ineligible, which prompted a cancellation of the Republican primary there.[11][2] In South Carolina, candidates could have gotten on the general election ballot by collecting signatures from at least 5 percent of a district's registered voters. The deadline to hand in petitions was July 16, with 13 candidates filing for the Senate and 31 filing for the House.[12] Some disqualified candidates who were kicked off of the ballot attempted to gather enough signatures from voters to allow them to run as independents in the general elections on November 6.[13]
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 6 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the South Carolina State Senate:
| South Carolina State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 19 | 18 | |
| Republican Party | 27 | 28 | |
| Total | 46 | 46 | |
Impact of redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in South Carolina
The Republican-controlled Legislature passed new legislative maps in a special session on June 15, 2011. Gov. Nikki Haley (R) signed them on June 28, 2011. Under the Voting Rights Act, South Carolina was required to submit its maps to the Department of Justice, which precleared the Senate map on November 14, 2011.[14] The number of majority-minority districts was reduced by one.[15]
Incumbents retiring
A total of 6 incumbents did not run for re-election in 2012. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Dick Elliott |  Democratic |
Senate District 28 |
| Greg Ryberg |  Republican |
Senate District 24 |
| John Land | Democratic |
Senate District 36 |
| Phil Leventis | Democratic |
Senate District 35 |
| Phillip Shoopman | Republican |
Senate District 5 |
| Ralph Anderson | Democratic |
Senate District 7 |
List of candidates
District 1
June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
June 12 GOP primary:
- Thomas Alexander
Incumbent Alexander first assumed office in 1994.
- Thomas Alexander
November 6 General election candidates:
- Thomas Alexander 29,957
District 2
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Larry Martin - Incumbent Martin first assumed office in 1992.
- Larry Martin
- Note: Rex Rice was decertified from the ballot.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Larry Martin 24,013
- Rex Rice Petition Candidate 13,164
District 3
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Kevin Bryant 4,777 - Incumbent Bryant first assumed office in 2004.
- Don C. Bowen, Jr. 1,514
- Kevin Bryant 4,777
November 6 General election candidates:
- Kevin Bryant 34,954
District 4
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- William O'Dell 3,031 - Incumbent O'Dell first assumed office in 1988.
- Riley Harvell 2,155
- William O'Dell 3,031
November 6 General election candidates:
- William O'Dell 24,929
District 5
Note: Incumbent Phillip Shoopman did not seek re-election. The state GOP re-opened the filing deadline in order to allow more candidates to file. Somers has filed suit to prevent the candidates from being allowed on the ballot.[16]
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Amanda Tieder Somers 1,616
- Tom Corbin 3,050 - Rep. Corbin also ran for re-election in House District 17.
- Note: Wyatt Miler was removed from the ballot on June 7
November 6 General election candidates:
- Tom Corbin 33,491
District 6
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Michael Fair 3,287 Incumbent Fair first assumed office in 1996.
- Chris Sullivan 2,787
- Michael Fair 3,287
- Note: Tommie Reece Removed from the ballot on June 7
November 6 General election candidates:
- Michael Fair 24,758
- Tommie Reece Petition Candidate 10,808
District 7
Note: Incumbent Ralph Anderson (D) did not seek re-election.[17]
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Lillian Brock-Fleming 1,920
- Karl Allen 2,331
- Note: Ennis Fant was decertified from the ballot.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
Karl Allen 21,964 - Jane Kizer 11,535
District 8
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Note: Jeff Dishner was decertified from the ballot.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- David Thomas 1,509 Incumbent Thomas first assumed office in 1984.
- Jim Lee 1,261
- Chad Groover 615
- Ross Turner 1,953 Turner advanced to the primary runoff election
- Joseph Swann 2,019 Swann advanced to the primary runoff election
- June 26 GOP primary runoff:
- Ross Turner 2,784
- Joseph Swann 2,748
- Ross Turner 2,784
November 6 General election candidates:
- Ross Turner 37,847
District 9
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Daniel Verdin Incumbent Verdin first assumed office in 2000.
- Daniel Verdin
November 6 General election candidates:
- Daniel Verdin 27,931
District 10
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Floyd Nicholson Incumbent Nicholson first assumed office in 2008.
- Floyd Nicholson
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Jennings McAbee, Sr. 4,433
- Chet Royston 2,024
- Jennings McAbee, Sr. 4,433
November 6 General election candidates:
- Floyd Nicholson 20,249
- Jennings McAbee, Sr. 17,577
District 11
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Glenn Reese Incumbent Reese first assumed office in 1990.
- Glenn Reese
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Note: Kerry Wood was decertified from the ballot.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Glenn Reese 21,355
- Kerry Wood Petition Candidate 8,635
District 12
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Lee Bright 4,144 - Incumbent Bright first assumed office in 2008.
- John Hawkins 2,869
- Lee Bright 4,144
November 6 General election candidates:
- Henri Thompson 15,768
- Lee Bright 28,724
District 13
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Shane Martin Incumbent Martin first assumed office in 2008.
- Shane Martin
November 6 General election candidates:
- Shane Martin 32,974
District 14
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Harvey Peeler Incumbent Peeler first assumed office in 1980.
- Harvey Peeler
November 6 General election candidates:
- Harvey Peeler 31,620
District 15
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Wes Hayes Incumbent Hayes assumed office in 1990.
- Wes Hayes
November 6 General election candidates:
- Wes Hayes 29,306
Joe Thompson Petition Candidate 10,049
District 16
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Greg Gregory Incumbent Gregory assumed office in 2011.
- Greg Gregory
November 6 General election candidates:
- Greg Gregory 36,297
District 17
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Creighton Coleman Incumbent Coleman assumed office in 2008.
- Creighton Coleman
- Note: Al BellaVance was decertified from the ballot.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Note: Morgan Bruce Reeves was decertified from the ballot.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Creighton Coleman 28,919
- Bob Carrison 14,872
District 18
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Rich Bolen 1,964
- Ronnie Cromer 7,957 - Incumbent Cromer assumed office in 2003.
- Alan Hunter 182
- Kara Gormley Meador 1,998
November 6 General election candidates:
- Ronnie Cromer 39,083
District 19
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- John L. Scott, Jr. Incumbent Scott assumed office in 2008.
- John L. Scott, Jr.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- John L. Scott, Jr. 35,262
District 20
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Norman Jackson 600
- Robert Rikard 1,084
- June 12 GOP primary:
- John Courson Incumbent Courson assumed office in 1994.
- John Courson
November 6 General election candidates:
- Robert Rikard 16,359
- John Courson 25,363
Scott West 1,158
District 21
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Darrell Jackson Incumbent Jackson assumed office in 1992.
- Darrell Jackson
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Darrell Jackson 31,996
District 22
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Joel Lourie Incumbent Lourie assumed office in 2004.
- Joel Lourie
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Note: Debra Langley Kennedy was decertified from the ballot.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Joel Lourie 35,001
District 23
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Jake Knotts - Incumbent Knotts assumed office in 2002.
- Jake Knotts
- Note: Katrina Shealy was decertified from the ballot.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Jake Knotts 14,298
- Katrina Shealy Petition Candidate 16,716
David R. Whetsell 1,596
District 24
Note: Incumbent Greg Ryberg (R) did not seek re-election.
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Tom Young 36,107
District 25
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Shane Massey - Incumbent Massey assumed office in 2007.
- Shane Massey
- Note: John W. Pettigrew, Jr. was decertified from the ballot.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Shane Massey 30,207
District 26
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Nikki Setzler Incumbent Setzler assumed office in 1976.
- Nikki Setzler
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Duane Naquin 1,269
- Deedee Vaughters 2,097
Note: Perry Finch was decertified from the ballot.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Nikki Setzler 21,856
- Deedee Vaughters 14,246
District 27
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Vincent Sheheen Incumbent Sheheen assumed office in 2004.
- Vincent Sheheen
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Vincent Sheheen 29,031
District 28
Note: Incumbent Dick Elliott (D) did not seek re-election.
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Butch Johnson 13,336
- Greg Hembree 26,905
District 29
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Gerald Malloy Incumbent Malloy assumed office in 2002.
- Gerald Malloy
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Gerald Malloy 30,472
District 30
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Patrick T. Richardson 2,068
- Kent Williams 8,624 - Incumbent Williams assumed office in 2004.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Kent Williams 33,156
District 31
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Hugh Leatherman Incumbent Leatherman assumed office in 1980.
- Hugh Leatherman
November 6 General election candidates:
- Hugh Leatherman 31,613
District 32
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- John Yancey McGill 6,375 Incumbent McGill assumed office in 1988.
- Cezar McKnight 6,294
- John Yancey McGill 6,375
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- John Yancey McGill 34,985
District 33
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Luke A. Rankin Incumbent Rankin assumed office in 1992.
- Luke A. Rankin
November 6 General election candidates:
- Luke A. Rankin 29,277
District 34
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Raymond Cleary - Incumbent Cleary assumed office in 2004.
- Raymond Cleary
- Note: Dick Withington was decertified from the ballot.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Raymond Cleary 38,928
District 35
Note: Incumbent Phil Leventis (D) did not seek re-election.
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Tony Barwick 1,820 Barwick advanced to the primary runoff election
- Eddie Drayton 200
- Wade Kolb 1,689 Kolb advanced to the primary runoff election
- Tony Barwick 1,820
- June 26 GOP primary runoff:
- Tony Barwick 1,909
- Wade Kolb 1,453
- Tony Barwick 1,909
November 6 General election candidates:
- Thomas McElveen 22,459
- Tony Barwick 18,498
District 36
Note: Incumbent John Land (D) did not seek re-election.
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Note: Eleazer Carter and Shaun Kent were decertified from the ballot.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Kevin L. Johnson 25,637
- Eleazer Carter Petition Candidate 1,138
- Leon Winn 12,111
- Shaun Kent Petition Candidate 4,136
District 37
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Larry Grooms Incumbent Grooms assumed office in 1997.
- Larry Grooms
November 6 General election candidates:
- Larry Grooms 32,003
District 38
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Sean Bennett 4,197
- Mike Rose 2,798 - Incumbent Rose assumed office in 2008.
- Sean Bennett 4,197
November 6 General election candidates:
- Sean Bennett 29,231
District 39
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- John Matthews Incumbent Matthews assumed office in 1984.
- John Matthews
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- John Matthews 35,945
District 40
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Brad Hutto Incumbent Hutto assumed office in 1996.
- Brad Hutto
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Brad Hutto 35,803
District 41
Note: District 41 was vacant.
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Note: Wally Burbage, Sean Pike, and John Steinberger were decertified from the ballot.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Paul Tinkler 22,039
- Paul Thurmond 27,845 [18]
District 42
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Robert Ford - Incumbent Ford assumed office in 1992.
- Robert Ford
- Note: Master P. Bines and Frederick A. Fielding were decertified from the ballot.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Robert Ford 30,064
District 43
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Chip Campson Incumbent Campson assumed office in 2004.
- Chip Campson
November 6 General election candidates:
- Chip Campson 35,618
District 44
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- Note: Barbara McGowin was decertified from the ballot.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Paul G. Campbell, Jr. Incumbent Campbell assumed office in 2007.
- Paul G. Campbell, Jr.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Paul G. Campbell, Jr. 25,928
District 45
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Clementa Pinckney Incumbent Pinckney assumed office in 2000.
- Clementa Pinckney
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Clementa Pinckney 26,825
- Leilani Bessinger 13,652
District 46
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Tom Davis Incumbent Davis was assumed office in 2008.
- Tom Davis
November 6 General election candidates:
- Tom Davis 37,722
See also
External links
- South Carolina State Election Commission - Official Primary Results
- South Carolina State Election Commission - 2012 General Election Republican Candidates by Office
- South Carolina State Election Commission - 2012 General Election Democratic Candidates by Office
- South Carolina State Election Commission - 2012 General Election Third Party Candidates by Office
- South Carolina State Election Commission - 2012 General Election Petition Candidates by Office
- South Carolina State Election Commission - Official General Election Results
Footnotes
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "2012 Calendar"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Governing, "200 Candidates Kicked Off South Carolina Ballot" June 12, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The State, "Democrats hit state’s decision allowing more time on election forms," April 17, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 WIS TV, "Attorney to ask for SC primary delay," May 9, 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 WACH, "Lawyer abandons effort to save SC election," May 11, 2012
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 WACH, "Panel tosses ballot case; primary to go as planned," May 14, 2012
- ↑ The New York Times, "New Rule Leads to Old School Politics in South Carolina, Critics Say," October 15, 2012
- ↑ WISTV, "Supreme Court denies parties' request for rehearing," May 4, 2012
- ↑ Charlotte Observer, "SC senators attempting to put candidates on ballot," accessed May 9, 2012
- ↑ Augusta Chronicle, "Federal panel dismisses lawsuit over SC election," May 15, 2012
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Independent Mail, "Federal judge will not stop Tuesday's S.C. primary," accessed June 12, 2012<
- ↑ Potential SC Petition Candidates Deadline Monday, "WSPA," accessed July 17, 2012
- ↑ Collecting petitions on a primary day gone bust, "The State," accessed June 18, 2012
- ↑ [http://redistricting.scsenate.gov/SenatePlanDOJPreClearLtr2011.pdf South Carolina State Senate, DOJ pre-clearance letter, November 14, 2011.
- ↑ The Associated Press, "Federal officials question SC Senate redistricting," September 27, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2012
- ↑ Travelers Rest Tribune, "S.C. Senator Phillip Shoopman will not seek re-election, Rep. Corbin to run for seat," April 5, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ Greenville Online, "Sen. Ralph Anderson won't seek re-election," March 20, 2012
- ↑ Sfgate.com, "Federal panel keeps Thurmond on SC Senate ballot," accessed November 1, 2012
