Midlands State House Primaries See Surge in Candidates

County races draw little competition

 

A large number of incumbent legislators hung it up as filing for partisan primaries approached, triggering several crowded house races as well as intra party challenges to many of those who chose to run for re-election. Here’s the rundown for Lexington and Richland counties set for the June 14th primary and the November general election as Republicans look to improve on their supermajority in the chamber.

 

Lexington County

In House District 39, centered in Batesburg-Leesville and Saluda, Incumbent Republican Cal Forrest of Monetta will face a challenge from freedom activist Katie Hall of Saluda in the primary. In other districts anchored in western Lexington County, Incumbent RJ May, a Republican who lives in the South Congaree area, will face a challenge in November from Democrat Daniel J. Shrief of West Columbia in the heavily-Republican District 88 based in Pine Ridge, South Congaree and Red Bank.

 

In neighboring District 96 centered in Pelion, Swansea and White Knoll, incumbent Republican Ryan McCabe of the Caulks Ferry area is unopposed in his re-election bid. In Democrat-leaning District 93 – which stretches from Gaston and Swansea into Calhoun and Orangeburg counties–Incumbent Russell Ott (D-Saint Matthews) drew a challenge from long-time Republican official Jim Ulmer of North. District 93 is expected to be the most competitive of the general election contests in Lexington.

 

In District 89 covering Cayce, Springdale and West Columbia, Republican incumbent Micah Caskey is facing a challenge from author Melanie Shull in the primary. Caskey is known for opposing the “Save Women’s Sports Act” which would bar biological males from competing in women’s sports. Both candidates reside in West Columbia.

 

 

In the county’s two north central districts, Republican Incumbents Chris Wooten and Paula Rawl Calhoon of Lexington are running unchallenged in Districts 69 and 87. Incumbent Bill Taylor (R-Aiken) is unopposed in his District 86 which includes a large swath of Aiken County and a sliver of Lexington.

In the most crowded field, there is an open seat triggered by the retirement of long-time Republican Rep. Chip Huggins. Four candidates are running in the GOP Primary in heavily-Republican District 85 covering Chapin and Irmo. Lexington School District Five Trustees Rebecca Blackburn Hines and Catherine Huddle of Chapin are joined by local business owner Jay Kilmartin of the Irmo-area and attorney Christian Stegmaier of Chapin. Libertarian John Davis of Irmo is running in the general election.

In county-level races, incumbent Republican Probate Judge Dan Eckstrom is unopposed as are Larry Brigham, Beth Carrigg and Glen Conwell in the all-Republican county council. Long-time incumbent Todd Cullum of Cayce is facing a challenge from South Congaree Councilman Bobby L. Porter in the Republican Primary.

 

Richland County

Richland County House incumbents all chose to run for re-election. Four incumbents managed to pass the filing date unopposed. Those without challengers are Democrat Reps. Beth Bernstein, Leon Howard, Seth Rose and Todd Rutherford – all of Columbia.

In heavily-Democrat District 41, Rep. Annie McDaniel (D-Winnsboro) will have a rematch against photographer Jennifer Brecheisen, a Republican from Chester. The district includes parts of Blythewood, all of Fairfield County and parts of Chester County including the city of Chester.

 

Due to the redistricting process, Democrat Reps. Wendy Brawley and Jermaine Johnson of Hopkins will face off against each other in the largely rural 70th district that includes Eastover, Gadsden and Hopkins. Direct Support Professional Bridgette Jones Larry of Columbia is also in the Democratic Primary. Republican Vincent E. Wilson and Green Party candidate Charla Henson-Simons, both of Eastover, will face the Democrat Party winner in the heavily Democrat district in November.

In District 71 covering the Chapin and Irmo areas of Richland County as well as a small portion of Lexington County, incumbent Nathan Ballentine (R-Chapin) will go up against businessman Paul Erickson of Chapin in the GOP Primary.

In District 73, which stretches from Monticello to near Dentsville, Democrat incumbent Chris Hart of Columbia is being challenged by Touami Pride of Columbia in the party primary.

 

In the highly-competitive District 75 seat in Northern Columbia stretching into Forest Acres, Republican incumbent Kirkman Finlay will face Democrat business owner Heather Bauer in November. Bauer ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for the seat in 2020 when Finlay won a close race in the general election.

 

 

In the Blythewood and Killian Road-centered District 77, Incumbent Democrat Kambrell Garvin will face the winner of the Republican Primary in the November general election. SC GOP Vice Chairwoman Kizzie Smalls will face off against William Treadway, Jr. in the Republican Primary. Both reside in Blythewood. The district favors Democrats.

 

The Democrat-favored 79th District – which extends from Lake Carolina to North Springs and Bookman – will feature a matchup between incumbent Democrat Ivory Thigpen and conservative Republican activist Melissa McFadden.

In county-level races, incumbent Democrats Solicitor Byron Gipson, Probate Judge Amy McCullouch and Auditor Paul Brawley are unopposed. Democrat Deputy Treasurer Kendra Dove is unopposed in her bid to replace outgoing Treasurer David Adams. The county council’s two lone Republicans are not running for re-election.

In County Council District 1 covering Chapin and Irmo in Richland County, Attorney and Planning Commissioner Jason Branham is running unopposed as a Republican to replace retiring Republican Bill Malinowski. Democrat incumbent and pro-abortion activist Allison Terracio is also running without a challenger in District 5.

In the central Richland District 4, long-time incumbent Paul Livingston has drawn a challenge from Booker Little of Columbia in the Democratic Primary.

In Republican-favored District 6, incumbent Republican Joe Walker is not running for re-election. He is expected to be replaced by Republican real estate broker Don Weaver. Non-profit attorney Bryan Ford Boroughs is running on the Democrat side of the aisle.

Finally, in District 11, former Councilman Norman Jackson is looking to reclaim the seat against Chakisse Newton, who unseated him in 2018. They will be joined in the Democratic Primary by recently retired Richland County employee Eva Young Prioleau.

As I’ve stated in earlier columns, it’s great to see competitive primaries, and we’ve got that coming throughout the state on June 14th.

 

Preston Baines can be reached on Twitter/GETTR @prestonbaines and prestonbaines@gmail.com.

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