NRCC MEMO: SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY RESULTS
TO: INTERESTED PARTIES
FROM: NRCC POLITICAL AND NRCC COMMUNICATIONS
DATE: JUNE 8, 2010
SUBJECT: SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY RESULTS
The Palmetto State’s congressional delegation is poised for relatively large turnover this fall, as South Carolinians will certainly have new representatives in the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts. The state’s marquee match-up of the fall, made official tonight, is GOP state Sen. Mick Mulvaney vs. Nancy Pelosi’s Budget Chairman, John Spratt, in the 5th District.
Challengers:
SC-05 (Rep. John Spratt, D)
John Spratt, first elected to Congress in 1982, was once a moderate Democrat who listened to local concerns and worked hard to give voice to them in Washington. Those days are long gone. Since the beginning of Barack Obama’s presidency, he’s supported every major piece of legislation his liberal leadership has put forth: the failed stimulus, the job-killing cap & trade scheme, and government-run healthcare. And as Speaker Pelosi’s hand-picked Budget Chairman, he had a lead role in crafting the $3.4 trillion budget that paved the way for her big-government agenda.
Mick Mulvaney is different. As a small businessman and state legislator, he exemplifies the conservative values that South Carolinians are looking for in their leaders. He has been recognized as a taxpayer hero for his work in Columbia. Mulvaney has an excellent chance to defeat Spratt, as he recently released an internal poll showing him in a statistical dead heat (41% – 43%) with the incumbent. Rothenberg Political Report rates this race as “Toss-Up/Tilt Democratic.”
Spratt and Mulvaney were both unopposed in tonight’s primaries, meaning the match-up is now officially set.
History
John McCain and George W. Bush each carried South Carolina’s Fifth District in 2004 and 2008, with Bush earning 57% of the vote in 2004 and McCain earning 53% in 2008. It rates as R+7 in the Cook Partisan Voting Index.
Geography
The Fifth Congressional District of South Carolina is based in northern South Carolina and borders the Charlotte, N.C. area. It includes Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster and York counties, and includes parts of Florence, Lee and Sumter. Much of the district is rural, but the Charlotte suburbs are rapidly expanding.
Incumbents:
SC-02 (Rep. Joe Wilson, R)
Joe Wilson has ably represented the 2nd Congressional District since his victory in a 2001 special election. He has worked tirelessly to bring jobs to his district, which is partly why he won his primary resoundingly tonight with 83.4% of the vote.
Rob Miller, a liberal mystery-man of sorts, is running against Wilson for the second time. He lost by nearly 10 points in 2008 despite riding a Democratic wave fueled by Barack Obama’s candidacy. Despite the millions he’s raised from left-wing radicals across the country, analysts give him very little chance to win – universally rating this race as “Safe Republican.”
History
John McCain and George W. Bush each carried the Second District in 2004 and 2008, with Bush earning 60% of the vote in 2004 and McCain winning 54% in 2008. It rates as R+9 in the Cook Partisan Voting Index.
Geography
South Carolina’s Second Congressional District is located in central and southeastern South Carolina, and includes all of Lexington, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Allendale and Barnwell counties. It includes parts of Richland, Aiken, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties. Its major city is the state capital, Columbia, and also includes the cities Beaufort and Hilton Head Island.
SC-04 (Rep. Bob Inglis, R)
Bob Inglis is on his second tour of duty in Congress, having served previously from 1993 to 1999 before returning in 2005. Because no candidate received at least 50% of the vote, he will face Spartanburg Co. Solicitor Trey Gowdy in a run-off election two weeks from now. This seat is universally considered to be “Safe Republican” in the fall.
Bob Inglis, a native of Bluffington, graduated from Duke University and the University of Virginia Law School. He was first elected to Congress in 1992 and won two re-elections before returning to practice commercial real estate.
Trey Gowdy graduated from Baylor University was a degree in history and later from the University of South Carolina School of Law before serving six years as a federal prosecutor in Greenville, SC. In February of 2000 he defeated the incumbent in the Republican primary for the 7th Circuit Solicitor and was elected in November without opposition. He went on to win re-election in both 2004 and 2008.
History
John McCain and George W. Bush each carried South Carolina’s Fourth District in 2008 and 2004, with Bush earning 65% of the vote in 2004 and McCain earning 60% in 2008. It rates as R+15 in the Cook Partisan Voting Index.
Geography
The Fourth Congressional District of South Carolina is the heart of the state’s Republican territory. It includes all of Greenville, Spartanburg and Union counties and a part of Laurens County. The district is anchored by the two major cities of Greenville and Spartanburg.
Open Seats:
SC-01 (Rep. Henry Brown, R)
Henry Brown retired this year after serving in Congress since 2001. He’s now running for Berkeley County Supervisor. A crowded field lined up to replace him, including several elected officials and two sons of former governors. Charleston County Councilman Paul Thurmond earned a spot in the June 22 run-off with state Rep. Tim Scott. This seat is universally considered to be “Safe Republican” in the fall.
Tim Scott was the first and only black Republican elected to the South Carolina House since the Reconstruction. He brings fifteen years of experience as an elected official when in that time; he served 13 years on the Charleston County Council without voting for a millage increase and two years without voting for a tax increase at the state level. Once elected to the SC House of Representatives, Tim was elected to serve as Chairman of the Freshman Caucus and as a House Whip.
Son of the late Senator Strom Thurmond, Paul Thurmond has led a very active life in public service, including serving as chairman on the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee, serving on CARTA, the Council of Governments, the Charleston County Aviation Authority, the Magistrates Oversight Committee and chairman of the Honor Council while he was in law school at the University of South Carolina. In 2006, Thurmond was elected to Charleston County Council, later serving as Vice Chair in a Democratic majority of Council.
History
John McCain and George W. Bush each carried South Carolina’s First District in 2004 and 2008, with Bush earning 61% of the vote in 2004 and McCain earning 56% in 2008. It rates as R+10 in the Cook Partisan Voting Index.
Geography
The First is a coastal congressional district that stretches Seabrook Island in the south to the border of North Carolina. The district is historically based in Charleston and includes tourist destination Myrtle Beach. The district includes parts of Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Georgetown counties, and all of Horry County.
SC-03 (Rep. Gresham Barrett, R)
Gresham Barrett vacated the seat he’s held since 2003 to run for governor. Because no candidate received at least 50% of the vote, a run-off election two weeks from tonight will be held between pro-life activist Richard Cash and state Rep. Jeff Duncan, who has the Club for Growth’s endorsement. This seat is universally considered to be “Safe Republican” in the fall.
Richard Cash of Powdersville began his career working in the corporate world for seven years as a computer programmer and systems analyst. After earning a master’s degree in theology, Cash entered pro-life work full time, organizing the first Life Chain in Greenville and working for Pastors for Life, a pro-life organization of pastors and churches. In addition to his commitment to traditional values, Cash’s entrepreneurial spirit can be seen through several businesses he launched and manages, a neighborhood ice cream truck company and a used vehicle business.
A 1988 graduate of Clemson University, Jeff Duncan currently serves as President and CEO of J. Duncan Associates, a family owned real estate marketing firm based out of South Carolina. He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2002, and was named Chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee in 2007. Jeff was appointed by the Speaker of the House to be the Chair of the Education Finance Study Committee.
History
John McCain and George W. Bush each carried South Carolina’s Third District with wide margins in 2004 and 2008, with Bush earning 66% in 2004 and McCain earning 64% in 2008. It rates as R+17 in the Cook Partisan Voting Index. Prior to Barrett, the seat was held by now-Senator Lindsey Graham (R).
Geography
South Carolina’s Third District borders Georgia and North Carolina. The district is mostly rural, and includes all of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens and Saluda counties, and part of Aiken county.
Election Results:
The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in South Carolina. These results are UNOFFICIAL AND INCOMPLETE until certified by the South Carolina Secretary of State.
SC-01 (REPUBLICAN PRIMARY)
97.2% precincts in
Scott 31.9% – runoff
Thurmond 16.2% – runoff
Campbell 14.3%
SC-02 (REPUBLICAN PRIMARY)
100% precincts in
Wilson 83.4%*
Black 16.6%
SC-03 (REPUBLICAN PRIMARY)
100% precincts in
Cash 25.3% – runoff
Duncan 23.1% – runoff
Rice 19.5%
Joe Grimaud 18.8%
SC-04 (REPUBLICAN PRIMARY)
100% precincts in
Gowdy 39.1% – runoff
Inglis 27.5% – runoff
Lee 13.7%