The Republican primary runoff election in a Greenville County state Senate race will go to a recount, as unofficial results Tuesday show that only 36 votes separate candidates Ross Turner and Joe Swann. The voting was not as close in Tuesday night’s two other legislative runoff elections, however. Tony Barwick won the Republican nomination in State Senate District 35 and MaryGail Douglas captured the Democratic nod in State House of Representatives District 41. Under South Carolina law, a recount in an election is mandatory if the difference between the winner and second-place finisher is less than one percent. With all of the votes counted, Turner had 2,784 votes, or 50.33 percent, and Swann had 2,748 votes, or 49.67 percent.
On Tuesday night, Chris Whitmire, a spokesman for the South Carolina State Election Commission, said the State Board of Canvassers would officially call for the mandatory recount on Friday afternoon during its certification hearing. The recount will likely occur on Monday morning, he said.
Tuesday’s contests finish this year’s legislative primaries, which saw dozens of candidates removed from the ballot following a state Supreme Court ruling that all candidates seeking office had to turn in financial disclosure forms at the same time they filed their intention to run. Many first-time candidates and challengers to incumbents had not turned in those forms and were thrown off of the ballot.
Full Article: GOP runoff in state Senate race headed for recount.