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South Carolina State Senate elections, 2012
 South Carolina's 2012 elections: • U.S. House • State Senate • State House |
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The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 30, 2012. The primary election day will be June 12, 2012.[1]
Additional filing time
Candidates are required to file a statement of economic interest listing their job, salary, property and other financial information. A number of candidates on both sides of the aisle failed to file the form by the March 30 deadline. According to state law those candidates who do not file the form on time will not have their names on the ballot. The State Ethics Commission, however, said they would give an additional 10 days to turn in the form.[2]
Democrats called the decision unfair and considered suing. South Carolina Democratic Party chairman Dick Harpootlian said the issue is being raised because five Republicans who are challenging incumbent Democrats in the Senate and House failed to file the form. He stated,“The statute says you file the (statement of economic interest) disclosure form when you file, not a month after you are supposed to file. It’s abundantly clear. This is begging for more litigation.”[2]
Republicans said they were fine with the commission's decision.[2]
Candidate disqualification
On May 2, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision that any candidate who had not filed the necessary statement of economic interest would be ineligible to run, and subsequently ordered the political parties to remove up to 100 candidates from the primary ballots. Several incumbent senators now find themselves unopposed, and some districts may be left vacant. According to state law, parties are unable to reopen filing for the seats.[3]
On May 3, the South Carolina Republican Party, the state Democratic Party, and the State Elections Commission asked for a rehearing regarding the Supreme Court's decision. This request was denied, with the Court stating, "Our opinion...speaks for itself and stands as written. Accordingly, we deny the request for rehearing."[4]
The South Carolina Supreme Court is appointed by the legislature, and this had led to cries of incumbent protectionism by some. Mark Tompkins, a political science professor at USC, claimed, "The good ol' boys are winning again...this process feeds that story. It makes folks say, 'Gosh, the insiders have the edge in this process.'"[4]
The issue continues to change daily as the state's legislators and prospective challengers attempt to find a suitable resolution to the problem. According to the Charlotte Observer, nearly 200 candidates were removed from the ballot in total (more than originally thought), including 55 candidates for the state House and Senate. The Senate continues to try and pass legislation allowing many of the challengers back on the ballot, but the effort is severely complicated by stipulations in the 1965 Voting Rights Act that require any changes in South Carolina election law to be cleared with the U.S. Justice Department. Given the rapidly approaching June 12 primaries, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that a legislative solution will be reached in time.[5]
On May 9, attorney Todd Kincannon, representing challenger Amanda Somers, requested a delay in South Carolina's primary. He claimed that a delay is necessary as a result of ballots sent to overseas voters and military members that only had federal races on them. Of the alleged violation, Kincannon said, "The ballots that they mailed out to military voters are not worth the paper they are printed on...Each and every one of them is illegal because they are all in violation of the Voting Rights Act."[6]
Just days later, Kincannon abandoned his efforts to reinstate nearly 200 candidates left off of the primary ballots, but continued the suit regarding partial ballots mailed overseas. A panel of three Federal judges is set to hear the attorney's argument on May 14.[7]
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 6 election, the Republican Party holds the majority in the South Carolina State Senate:
| South Carolina State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of May 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 19 | Pending | |
| Republican Party | 27 | Pending | |
| Total | 46 | 46 | |
List of candidates
District 1
June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
June 12 GOP primary:
- Thomas Alexander Incumbent Alexander was first elected to the Senate in 1994.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 2
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Larry Martin Incumbent Martin was first elected to the Senate in 1992.
- Rex Rice
November 6 General election candidates:
District 3
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Kevin Bryant Incumbent Bryant was first elected to the Senate in 2004.
- Don C. Bowen, Jr.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 4
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- William O'Dell Incumbent O'Dell was first elected to the Senate in 1988.
- Riley Harvell
November 6 General election candidates:
District 5
Note: Incumbent Phillip Shoopman is not running for re-election. The state GOP re-opened the filing deadline in order to allow more candidates to file. Somers has filed suit to prevent the candidates from being allowed on the ballot.[8]
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 6
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Michael Fair Incumbent Fair was first elected to the Senate in 1996.
- Chris Sullivan
- Tommie Reece
November 6 General election candidates:
District 7
Note: Incumbent Ralph Anderson (D) is not running for re-election.[9]
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 8
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
- David Thomas Incumbent Thomas was first elected to the Senate in 1984.
- Jim Lee
- Chad Groover
- Ross Turner
- Joseph Swann
November 6 General election candidates:
District 9
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Daniel Verdin Incumbent Verdin was first elected to the Senate in 2000.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 10
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Floyd Nicholson Incumbent Nicholson was first elected to the Senate in 2008.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 11
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Glenn Reese Incumbent Reese was first elected to the Senate in 1990.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 12
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Lee Bright Incumbent Bright was first elected to the Senate in 2008.
- John Hawkins
November 6 General election candidates:
District 13
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Shane Martin Incumbent Martin was first elected to the Senate in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 14
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Harvey Peeler Incumbent Peeler was first elected to the Senate in 1980.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 15
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Wes Hayes Incumbent Hayes assumed office in 1990.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 16
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Greg Gregory Incumbent Gregory assumed office in 2011.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 17
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Al BellaVance
- Creighton Coleman Incumbent Coleman assumed office in 2008.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 18
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Rich Bolen
- Ronnie Cromer Incumbent Cromer assumed office in 2003.
- Alan Hunter
- Kara Gormley Meador
November 6 General election candidates:
District 19
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- John L. Scott, Jr. Incumbent Scott assumed office in 2008.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 20
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
- John Courson Incumbent Courson assumed office in 1994.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 21
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Darrell Jackson Incumbent Jackson assumed office in 1992.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 22
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Joel Lourie Incumbent Lourie assumed office in 2004.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 23
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Jake Knotts Incumbent Knotts assumed office in 2002.
- Katrina Shealy
November 6 General election candidates:
District 24
Note: Incumbent Greg Ryberg (R) is not running for re-election.
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 25
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Shane Massey Incumbent Massey assumed office in 2007.
- John W. Pettigrew, Jr.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 26
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Nikki Setzler Incumbent Setzler assumed office in 1976.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 27
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Vincent Sheheen Incumbent Sheheen assumed office in 2004.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 28
Note: Incumbent Dick Elliott (D) is not running for re-election.
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 29
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Gerald Malloy Incumbent Malloy assumed office in 2002.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 30
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Patrick T. Richardson
- Kent Williams Incumbent Williams assumed office in 2004.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 31
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Hugh Leatherman Incumbent Leatherman assumed office in 1980.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 32
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- John Yancey McGill Incumbent McGill assumed office in 1988.
- Cezar E. McKnight
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 33
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Luke A. Rankin Incumbent Rankin assumed office in 1992.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 34
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Raymond Cleary Incumbent Cleary assumed office in 2004.
- Dick Withington, 2012 Senate
November 6 General election candidates:
District 35
Note: Incumbent Phil Leventis (D) is not running for re-election.
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 36
Note: Incumbent John Land (D) is not running for re-election.
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 37
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Larry Grooms Incumbent Grooms assumed office in 1997.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 38
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Sean Bennett
- Mike Rose Incumbent Rose assumed office in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 39
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- John Matthews Incumbent Matthews assumed office in 1984.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 40
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Brad Hutto Incumbent Hutto assumed office in 1996.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 41
Note: District 41 is currently vacant.
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 42
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Master P. Bines
- Frederick A. Fielding
- Robert Ford Incumbent Ford assumed office in 1992.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 43
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Chip Campson Incumbent Campson assumed office in 2004.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 44
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Paul G. Campbell, Jr. Incumbent Campbell assumed office in 2007.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 45
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- Clementa Pinckney Incumbent Pinckney assumed office in 2000.
- June 12 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 46
- June 12 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 12 GOP primary:
- Tom Davis Incumbent Davis was assumed office in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
See also
References
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission "2012 Calendar"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The State, "Democrats hit state’s decision allowing more time on election forms," April 17, 2012
- ↑ The State, "Up to 100 S.C. candidates ordered off June ballots," May 4, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 WISTV, "Supreme Court denies parties' request for rehearing," May 4, 2012
- ↑ Charlotte Observer, "SC senators attempting to put candidates on ballot," Accessed May 9, 2012
- ↑ Goupstate.com, "Attorney to ask for SC primary delay," Accessed May 9, 2012
- ↑ carolina live "3-judge panel hears arguments in SC election suit," Accessed May 14, 2012
- ↑ Travelers Rest Tribune "S.C. Senator Phillip Shoopman will not seek re-election, Rep. Corbin to run for seat," April 5, 2012
- ↑ Greenville Online, "Sen. Ralph Anderson won't seek re-election," March 20, 2012
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