5 top takeaways and surprises from the SC midterm elections
South Carolina voters returned a lot of incumbents to office Tuesday, but some newcomers snagged some key races. Here are five takeaways.
The state has a new superintendent of schools. Republican Ellen Weaver defeated Lisa Ellis, a teacher representing both the Democratic and Alliance Party. Weaver was endorsed by current superintendent Molly Spearman. Weaver garnered 55.57% of the vote to Ellis’ 42.7%. Weaver Tuesday night promised to bring about an education revolution. She is the president and CEO of the Palmetto Promise Institute, a conservative think tank. She is a graduate of Bob Jones University, where she recently finished a master’s in education leadership, which is required to hold the office. She pledged to fight for smaller government, less regulation, and conservative policies, including vouchers for public schools.
In South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, incumbent Nancy Mace was reelected to a second term. She defeated Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. Mace won 56% of the vote. She was the first woman to graduate from the Citadel and has a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Georgia. She prevailed in a bruising primary against a Trump-backed candidate.
Kirkman Finlay lost in SC House District 75. Republican Finlay ended up with 49% of the vote. Democrat Heather Bauer had 51%. The difference in the Columbia district was 234 votes. Kirkman, a farmer, restaurateur and former Columbia City Council member, was the only Republican legislator to lose Tuesday. Bauer, a gym owner, campaigned hard on the issue of ensuring reproductive rights.
South Carolina House Democrats lost at least five seats, giving Republicans the supermajority South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick predicted., according to the Post and Courier. A supermajority enables them to push through legislation with ease.
Lexington Richland School District 5 board will have new members. The board has been mired in infighting, resignations of staff and one board member suing another for comments on a Facebook page. It appears all the incumbents are losing.
This story was originally published November 9, 2022 at 11:38 AM.