Have you voted? SC procrastinator’s guide for the statewide elections Nov. 8
More than 500,000 of you already took advantage of South Carolina’s two-week early voting period.
Others did not, and waited for Tuesday to cast your ballot for governor, superintendent, Congress and more.
Quick reminder: Polling places open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 7 p.m.
But if you have no idea who is on your ballot or have yet to read up about what candidates have discussed on the campaign trail, that’s fine. Like always, we’re not here to judge you but only help.
Here is a list of the candidates in some of the major South Carolina races that will be on Columbia-area ballots, plus a constitutional question you’ll see.
At the legislative level, only the House — not the Senate — is up for reelection this year.
Follow the links to The State’s news articles — below — about those candidates.
To find your sample ballot and your precinct, visit scvotes.gov.
SC governor’s race
Republican incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster, 75, is seeking his second full term against Democratic challenger Joe Cunningham, 40, who served one term in the U.S. House representing the 1st Congressional District.
McMaster’s lieutenant governor is Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and Cunningham’s running mate is Tally Casey.
McMaster hails from the Columbia area, and Cunningham lives in Charleston.
Bruce Reeves and his running mate Jessica Ethridge are running for the Libertarian party.
SC superintendent race
Republican Ellen Weaver, president of the conservative think tank Palmetto Promise Institute, faces Democrat Lisa Ellis, student activities director at Blythewood High School and founder of the teachers group SC for Ed.
Ellis is running as a fusion candidate, representing both the Democratic and Alliance parties on the ballot. Voters may select her name on either party’s ballot line but should not select it on both lines, or their votes will be disqualified.
Patricia M. Mickel is running on the Green party ticket.
US Senate
Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott faces Democratic state Rep. Krystle Matthews, of Berkeley County.
Scott, a North Charleston Republican, has said this run will be his final. He is a possible 2024 presidential hopeful.
US House District 2
Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson faces Democrat Judd Larkins.
US House District 6
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn is running for his 16th term in the U.S. House against Republican Duke Buckner.
Constitutional ballot questions
Voters will be asked two questions about whether to increase how much legislators have to put into the state’s two rainy day accounts in case of an economic downturn.
Voters will decide whether the general reserve fund, used to cover any budget shortfalls, should equal 7% of the previous year’s revenues instead of 5%.
Voters also will be asked whether the capital reserve fund, used in subsequent budget years on capital projects, should equal 3% of the previous year’s revenues instead of 2%, and whether lawmakers should be allowed to use capital reserve money to stave off any mid-year budget cuts in an economic downturn.
GOVERNOR’S RACE
About the race in general
McMaster, Cunningham hit SC pavement to woo voters one week before Election Day
In sole SC gov debate, McMaster and Cunningham clash over same-sex marriage, abortion
In final stretch ahead of SC governor’s election, here’s where the money race stands
5 takeaways from the SC lieutenant governor debate
Two women want to be SC’s second-in-command. What do they plan to accomplish?
It’s a race for SC governor, but national politics infiltrate Cunningham, McMaster contest
SC has the lottery, but is there a desire to expand gambling? Governor candidates are split
McMaster departs from ‘frat boy’ attack while Cunningham calls himself ‘different’ in TV ads
About Gov. Henry McMaster
‘Experience is the best teacher’: McMaster urges SC voters to look at his record, not age
Richland Sheriff Leon Lott, a Democrat, backs SC Gov. McMaster’s reelection bid
SC Gov. Henry McMaster and wife, Peggy, reported $2.5M in income from 2015 through 2020
McMaster understands ‘challenges facing Main Street,’ business group says in endorsement
McMaster tells SC voters to oppose ‘frat boy Joe’ in first TV ad before election
McMaster throws cold water on controversial Senate bill to ban abortion information in SC
McMaster says SC’s abortion ban exceptions ‘reasonable,’ marriage debate a ‘distraction’
About Democrat Joe Cunningham
SC Democrat Joe Cunningham reported jump in income, taxes paid after election to Congress
Too tough to tame? SC Dem gov hopeful Joe Cunningham courts NASCAR fans to vote blue
Planned Parenthood endorses SC candidate as ‘the champion we need’ as state debates abortion
SC governor hopeful Joe Cunningham stumps with running mate Tally Casey in Columbia
Cunningham wants end of ‘geriatric’ politicians. Will it cost him help from Biden, Clyburn?
Democrat Joe Cunningham picks SC lawyer and former fighter pilot as governor running mate
Superintendent race
About the race in general
SC superintendent hopefuls spar over book bans, vouchers and school funding in lone debate
Weaver or Ellis? SC voters to decide new schools chief and direction of public education
About Republican Ellen Weaver
SC GOP schools chief nominee Ellen Weaver has earned master’s degree, university confirms
State Superintendent Molly Spearman endorses Republican Ellen Weaver to succeed her
Republican Ellen Weaver on record-setting fundraising pace in SC superintendent race
SC superintendent candidate Ellen Weaver cruised to victory in GOP runoff. How’d she do it?
In SC schools race flush with cash, top GOP fundraisers draw from starkly different donors
Leading fundraiser in SC schools chief race lacks credentials. Will she earn them in time?
School choice advocate announces run for SC superintendent of education
About Democrat Lisa Ellis
Lisa Ellis’ name will appear twice on the ballot for SC school superintendent. Here’s why
SC for Ed founder Lisa Ellis secures Democratic schools chief nomination, avoiding runoff
Midlands teacher whose group rallied thousands at State House to run for SC schools chief
This story was originally published November 6, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
