South Carolina state executive official elections, 2018

Elections in South Carolina, 2018

• General election: Nov. 6
• Voter registration deadline: Oct. 17
• Early voting: N/A
• Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6

• Online registration: Yes
• Same-day registration: No
• Voter ID: Photo ID required
• Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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On the ballot: U.S. House • Governor • Attorney General • Secretary of State • State executive offices • State House • Special state legislative • Local judges • State ballot measures • School boards • Democratic primaries • Republican primaries

2022 → ← 2014
South Carolina state executive official elections
Election details
Filing deadline: March 30, 2018
Primary: June 12, 2018 Primary runoff: June 26, 2018 (if needed) General: November 6, 2018
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in South Carolina
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2018 Impact of term limits in 2018 State government trifectas and triplexes
Other state executive elections
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The following state executive offices were up for election in South Carolina in 2018. Click on the following links to learn more about each race:

Governor
Lieutenant governor
Attorney general
Secretary of state
Treasurer
Comptroller
Agriculture commissioner
Superintendent of education

Candidates and election results

Governor

General election

General election for Governor of South Carolina

Incumbent Henry McMaster defeated James Smith Jr. in the general election for Governor of South Carolina on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Henry McMaster (R)	54.0	921,342
		James Smith Jr. (D)	45.9	784,182
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	2,045

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,707,569
= 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Martin Barry (American Party)

Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Governor of South Carolina

Incumbent Henry McMaster defeated John Warren in the Republican primary runoff for Governor of South Carolina on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Henry McMaster	53.6	184,286
	Submit photo	John Warren	46.4	159,349

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 343,635
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of South Carolina

James Smith Jr. defeated Marguerite Willis and Phil Noble in the Democratic primary for Governor of South Carolina on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Smith Jr.	61.8	148,633
		Marguerite Willis	27.5	66,248
		Phil Noble	10.6	25,587

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 240,468
= 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 and John Warren advanced to a runoff. They defeated Catherine Templeton, Kevin Bryant, and John McGill in the Republican primary for Governor of South Carolina on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Henry McMaster	42.3	155,723
✔	Submit photo	John Warren	27.8	102,390
		Catherine Templeton	21.4	78,705
		Kevin Bryant	6.7	24,790
		John McGill	1.7	6,375

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 367,983
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Lieutenant governor

General election

General election for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina

Pamela Evette defeated Mandy Powers Norrell in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pamela Evette (R)	54.0	921,342
		Mandy Powers Norrell (D)	45.9	784,182
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	2,045

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,707,569
= 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.

Attorney general

General election

General election for Attorney General of South Carolina

Incumbent Alan Wilson defeated Constance Anastopoulo in the general election for Attorney General of South Carolina on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Alan Wilson (R)	55.1	938,032
		Constance Anastopoulo (D)	44.9	764,806
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	996

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,703,834
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of South Carolina

Incumbent Alan Wilson defeated Todd Atwater in the Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of South Carolina on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Alan Wilson	65.0	213,538
		Todd Atwater	35.0	115,133

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 328,671
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Attorney General of South Carolina

Constance Anastopoulo advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of South Carolina on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Constance Anastopoulo

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Attorney General of South Carolina

Incumbent Alan Wilson and Todd Atwater advanced to a runoff. They defeated William Herlong in the Republican primary for Attorney General of South Carolina on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Alan Wilson	48.6	166,860
✔		Todd Atwater	29.7	102,038
	Submit photo	William Herlong	21.6	74,199

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 343,097
= 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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Secretary of state

General election

General election for South Carolina Secretary of State

Incumbent Mark Hammond defeated Melvin Whittenburg in the general election for South Carolina Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Hammond (R)	57.1	970,576
		Melvin Whittenburg (D)	42.8	727,952
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	968

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,699,496
= 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

Democratic primary for South Carolina Secretary of State

Melvin Whittenburg advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina Secretary of State on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Melvin Whittenburg

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= 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 South Carolina Secretary of State

Incumbent Mark Hammond defeated Joshua Putnam, Nelson Faerber, and Kerry Wood in the Republican primary for South Carolina Secretary of State on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Hammond	65.4	218,215
		Joshua Putnam	13.4	44,639
		Nelson Faerber	12.5	41,570
		Kerry Wood	8.7	29,075

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 333,499
= 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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Treasurer

General election

General election for South Carolina Treasurer

Incumbent Curtis Loftis defeated Rosalyn Glenn and Sarah Work in the general election for South Carolina Treasurer on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Curtis Loftis (R)	56.0	952,233
		Rosalyn Glenn (D)	42.5	722,977
		Sarah Work (American Party)	1.5	25,979
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	711

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,701,900
= 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

Democratic primary for South Carolina Treasurer

Rosalyn Glenn advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina Treasurer on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Rosalyn Glenn

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Carolina Treasurer

Incumbent Curtis Loftis advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina Treasurer on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Curtis Loftis

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= 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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Comptroller

General election

General election for South Carolina Comptroller General

Incumbent Richard Eckstrom won election in the general election for South Carolina Comptroller General on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Eckstrom (R)	97.8	1,136,932
		Other/Write-in votes	2.2	26,028

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,162,960
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Carolina Comptroller General

Incumbent Richard Eckstrom advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina Comptroller General on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Richard Eckstrom

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Agriculture commissioner

General election

General election for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture

Incumbent Hugh Weathers defeated David Edmond and Chris Nelums in the general election for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Hugh Weathers (R)	75.7	1,015,366
		David Edmond (G)	15.1	202,238
	Submit photo	Chris Nelums (United Citizens Party)	8.8	118,671
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	5,025

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,341,300
= 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 South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture

Incumbent Hugh Weathers advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Hugh Weathers

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= 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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Superintendent of education

General election

General election for South Carolina Superintendent of Education

Incumbent Molly Mitchell Spearman won election in the general election for South Carolina Superintendent of Education on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Molly Mitchell Spearman (R)	98.1	998,057
		Other/Write-in votes	1.9	18,866

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,016,923
= 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

• James Robbins (Independent)
• Israel Romero (D)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for South Carolina Superintendent of Education

Israel Romero advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina Superintendent of Education on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Israel Romero

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Carolina Superintendent of Education

Incumbent Molly Mitchell Spearman advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina Superintendent of Education on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Molly Mitchell Spearman

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Context of the 2018 elections

Party control in South Carolina

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Republicans in South Carolina gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 2002 elections by taking control of the governorship.

South Carolina Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. South Carolina utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary. Voters must take an oath affirming that they have not voted in another party's primary.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In South Carolina, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in South Carolina, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the county and precinct where he or she is registering, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. People who have been declared mentally incompetent by court order, are imprisoned, or are still serving a sentence for a felony conviction are ineligible to register to vote. The deadline for registration is 30 days before the election. Prospective voters may register using one of the following methods:

• Online,
• In person at the county board of elections or one of the following locations:
  • Armed Forces Recruiting Stations
  • Commission for the Blind
  • Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services
  • Department of Disabilities and Special Needs
  • Department of Health and Environmental Control
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • Department of Mental Health
  • Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Department of Social Services
  • Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Department
• Returning a voter registration form by email, fax, or mail to the county board of voter registration. Note that mailed applications must be postmarked by at least 30 days before the election.

Automatic registration

South Carolina does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

South Carolina has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

South Carolina does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must be residents of the county and precinct in which they are registering to vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

South Carolina does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The South Carolina Election Commission allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting the MyscVOTES website.

Voter ID requirements

South Carolina requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

Voters can present the following forms of identification:

• SC Driver’s License
• SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
  • includes SC Concealed Weapons Permit
• SC Voter Registration Card with Photo
• U.S. Passport
• Federal Military ID
  • includes all Department of Defense Photo IDs and the Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Card

Voters can obtain a free photo ID from a local DMV office or a county elections office.

Early voting

South Carolina permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:

“

Persons with employment obligations which prevent them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons attending a sick or physically disabled person which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons confined to a jail or pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons who will be absent from their county of residence during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons with physical disabilities. Persons sixty-five years of age or older. Members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines of the United States, their spouses, and dependents residing with them (Learn more about procedures related to Military and Overseas Citizens). Persons admitted to a hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within a four-day period before the election.

”

To vote absentee, voters must first request an application for the absentee ballot. Application requests can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. The absentee ballot application must then be completed and returned to the voter's county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day. Once completed, the ballot must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:

“

Persons with employment obligations which prevent them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons attending a sick or physically disabled person which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons confined to a jail or pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons who will be absent from their county of residence during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons with physical disabilities. Persons sixty-five years of age or older. Members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines of the United States, their spouses, and dependents residing with them (Learn more about procedures related to Military and Overseas Citizens). Persons admitted to a hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within a four-day period before the election.

”

To vote absentee, voters must first request an application for the absentee ballot. Application requests can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. The absentee ballot application must then be completed and returned to the voter's county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day. Once completed, the ballot must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Impact of term limits

See also: Impact of term limits on state executive elections in 2018

Eight state executive seats in South Carolina were up for election in 2018. In the 2018 elections, no officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.

Of the 283 state executives offices on the ballot in 2018, 131 of them were represented by incumbents who were subject to term limits. Of the 36 gubernatorial seats up for election in 2018, 13 governors—two Democrats and 11 Republicans—were term-limited and therefore unable to run for re-election. Of the 31 states with term limits that held state executives elections in 2018, some incumbents in 18 of the states were term-limited.

A total of 49 state executive officials were ineligible to run in the 2018 elections because of term limits. This represented 17 percent of the 283 total seats up for election in 2018. Republicans had more than six times as many state executive officials term-limited in 2018 than Democrats. A total of seven Democrats were term-limited, while 40 Republicans were term-limited. The other two term-limited officials were nonpartisan.

Past elections

2016

There were no state executive elections in South Carolina in 2016.

2014

The following elections took place in 2014.

• South Carolina state executive official elections, 2014
• South Carolina Secretary of State election, 2014
• South Carolina Attorney General election, 2014
• South Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014
• South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2014
• South Carolina down ballot state executive elections, 2014

2012

There were no state executive elections in South Carolina in 2012.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms South Carolina state executive election 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

South Carolina state executive official elections, 2018 - Google News

State profile

Demographic data for South Carolina
	South Carolina	U.S.
Total population:	4,894,834	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	30,061	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	67.2%	73.6%
Black/African American:	27.5%	12.6%
Asian:	1.4%	5.1%
Native American:	0.3%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0.1%	0.2%
Two or more:	2%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	5.3%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	85.6%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	25.8%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$45,483	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	22%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in South Carolina. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in South Carolina

South Carolina voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, five are located in South Carolina, accounting for 2.43 percent of the total pivot counties.

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. South Carolina had five Retained Pivot Counties, 2.76 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More South Carolina coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in South Carolina
• United States congressional delegations from South Carolina
• Public policy in South Carolina
• Endorsers in South Carolina
• South Carolina fact checks
• More...

External links

Suggest a link

• State of South Carolina official website

Footnotes

State executive offices

Offices

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