Laurens County stays red as Wilson wins governor’s race, Andrews flips Senate seat

Laurens County voters backed Republicans in every partisan race on the ballot in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election. That included the U.S. Senate race, where Democrat Annie Andrews won statewide.

All results are unofficial until they are certified by the Laurens County Board of Voter Registration and Elections.

Wilson elected governor

Republican Alan Wilson was elected South Carolina’s next governor, according to the Associated Press. Laurens County voters gave Wilson 61.5 percent of the vote, 14,388 votes to 8,704 for Democrat Jermaine Johnson. Johnson conceded Tuesday night.

Statewide, Wilson won with about 51.7 percent of the vote. He will succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster, and his running mate, Mike Reichenbach, will serve as lieutenant governor.

Andrews flips Senate seat

Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham statewide, according to the Associated Press. She becomes the first woman South Carolina voters have elected to the Senate.

Graham was appointed to the seat by McMaster in July following the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Laurens County voters favored Graham 13,267 votes to 9,454, or 56.8 percent to 40.4 percent. Andrews’ victory was part of a night in which Democrats won a majority in the U.S. Senate.

Congress and statewide offices

Rep. Sheri Biggs won reelection in the 3rd Congressional District. She carried Laurens County with 61.6 percent of the vote over Democrat Eunice Lehmacher and Libertarian Brian Corriea.

Republican candidates for the state’s other constitutional offices each received more than 60 percent of the Laurens County vote.

Attorney general candidate David Stumbo, the 8th Circuit solicitor, led the ticket locally with 63.5 percent. Secretary of State Mark Hammond and Treasurer Curtis Loftis each received 63 percent.

Comptroller general candidate Mike Burkhold received 62.1 percent, and agriculture commissioner candidate Cody Simpson received 61.7 percent. Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver received 60.4 percent.

State House races

In the District 14 race, Republican Rick Shealy won the seat over Democrat Michanna Tate and Henry D. Jones. Shealy received 8,959 Laurens County votes, or 62 percent, to Tate’s 5,321.

Laurens County voters also backed four Republican incumbents:

District 11: Rep. Craig Gagnon, 82.2 percent
District 13: Rep. John McCravy, 84.7 percent
District 16: Rep. Mark Willis, 61.4 percent
District 42: Rep. Doug Gilliam, 56.1 percent

Turnout

Turnout in Laurens County was 56.05 percent, with 23,548 ballots cast out of 42,014 registered voters. Statewide, South Carolina set a record for the number of votes cast in a gubernatorial election.

Of the 15,273 Laurens County voters who chose a straight-party ticket, 60.8 percent voted Republican and 38.6 percent voted Democratic.