South Carolinians flocked to voting centers during the two-day primary election runoffs early voting period and set the state participation record in primary runoffs early voting.
Some 72,524 people cast a ballot on Wednesday, June 17, and Thursday, June 18. The figure accounts for about 48,000 more people who participated in early voting than in the 2022 primary runoffs, when 24,746 early ballots were cast. And the comparison was about the same for 2024 early voting primary runoffs participation; about 24,920 people voted early in 2024.
Those elections, however, did not have a Republican gubernatorial race still on the ballot. In 2022, Gov. Henry McMaster sought reelection and had already cemented his place on the General Election ballot.
This year's runoffs, too, include races for the U.S. House of Representatives and the South Carolina House of Representative.
The statewide governor's race meant people all throughout South Carolina's 46 counties could participate in early voting and will be able to cast a ballot in the June 23 primary runoffs.
Anyone who voted in the Republican primary can make another selection for governor in the runoff. The state requires potential voters to stick with the side of the ballot they participated in during the initial primary election. So, South Carolinians who voted in the Democratic primary cannot help narrow down the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
If someone did not vote in the primary but would like to vote in the runoff, they will be free to vote in whichever runoff of their liking.
Republican gubernatorial candidates Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson are still vying for votes as Tuesday looms and endorsements continue to come in.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman have endorsed Wilson. Mace and Norman were former candidates who did not move on to the runoff election.
McMaster and President Donald Trump have endorsed Evette.
The candidate that moves to the General Election ballot will bring with them a lieutenant governor.
After early voting closed Thursday evening, Evette posted a social media video in which she announced a list of nine potential lieutenant governor running mates.
The nine people she mentioned were:
- State Rep. James Teeple
- State Rep. Case Brittain
- Former state Rep. Adam Morgan; Norman had selected Morgan as his running mate before he placed third in the June 9 primary.
- State Rep. Patrick Haddon
- State Rep. Jordan Pace
- Speaker Pro Tempore Tommy Pope
- Former Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Joe Semsar
- Attorney Hood Temple
- Horry County Councilman Tyler Servant
Pace, the chairman of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, released a statement Friday morning that said he was grateful to be included on the list, but he will not endorse a candidate in the race.
Evette again said Henry McMaster Jr. would not be her running mate. The speculation came after Trump's endorsement message in which he said McMaster Jr. would "be running with her as the next lieutenant governor."
She said a final selection would be made should she win the nomination.
Wilson announced his lieutenant governor pick, state Sen. Mike Reichenbach, in January.
On the Democratic side of the ballot, gubernatorial nominee state Rep. Jermaine Johnson has not publicly pegged a running mate. It leaves Wilson as the only remaining candidate for governor with a selection.
The runoff is June 23. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. South Carolina ETV and Public Radio will provide coverage throughout the day and live coverage beginning at 8 p.m.
