Voters throughout South Carolina went to the polls Tuesday, June 12, for the primary elections ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm elections. A handful of races were fully decided, as primary winners will not face opposition in November, while many others are headed to run-offs June 26.
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>GOVERNOR</b></p>
State Rep. James Smith secured the Democratic nomination with 61.81 percent of the vote, easily defeating Marguerite Willis (27.55%) and Phil Noble (10.64%). Smith now awaits the winner of a June 26 run-off between incumbent Henry McMaster (42.32%) and John Warren (27.83%) for the Republican nomination.&nbsp;
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>SECRETARY OF STATE</b></p>
Incumbent Mark Hammond claimed 65.44 percent of the vote in the Republican primary to secure the nomination. He will face Democrat Melvin Whittenburg in the November general election.
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>ATTORNEY GENERAL</b></p>
Incumbent Alan Wilson (48.65%) will face a June 26 runoff versus Todd Atwater (29.74%) for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Democrat Constance Anastopoulo in the November general election.
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 1</b></p>
Incumbent Mark Sanford (46.49%) was upset in the Republican primary by Katie Arrington (50.56%), who will face Democrat Joe Cunningham (71.51%) in the November general election.&nbsp;
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 122</b></p>
Incumbent Bill Bowers (47.48%) was ousted in the Democratic primary by Hampton County Councilman Shedron Williams (52.52%). Williams will not face opposition in the November general election.
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF</b></p>
Incumbent PJ Tanner (54.73%) held off challenger JoJo Woodward (45.27%) to earn re-election. Tanner will be unopposed in the November general election.
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>BEAUFORT COUNTY AUDITOR</b></p>
Incumbent Jim Beckert (52.28%) won reelection in a close race against challenger George Wright (47.72%). Beckert will run unopposed in the November general election.
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 9</b></p>
Mark Lawson (45.77%) and Mike Raymond (19.10%) advanced to a June 26 run-off for the Republican nomination in this Bluffton district. The winner will face Democrat Mark McGinnis in November.
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>ADVISORY QUESTIONS</b></p>
Democratic primary voters overwhelmingly supported legalizing medical marijuana (82.03%) and requiring the state to accept all federal revenues offered to support Medicaid and Medicaid expansion efforts (92.75%), while Republican voters showed similar support for allowing voters to choose to affiliate with a party when they register to vote (82.34%) and for conforming the state tax code with the new Trump tax cuts (92.3%). These advisory questions do not represent pending referenda but may be used to guide party priorities regarding future legislation.

<a href="http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/75708/Web02-state.203322/#/">Complete unofficial results</a>

<em>Photo at top:&nbsp;These campaign signs clutter the sidewalk at Greene and Baggett streets near the polling place in the&nbsp; Charles “Lind” Brown Neighborhood Activity Center. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</em>