No majority winner in House District 99 special election primary

With no Republican candidate able to grasp the 50 percent plus one vote needed in the Nov. 14 special election primary to secure a nomination to run for the South Carolina State House District 99 seat in January, a runoff has been scheduled. The two candidates with the highest percentage of votes – Nancy Mace and Mark Smith – will square off again on Tuesday, Nov. 28 to determine a winner.

Of the 2605 votes cast between Berkeley and Charleston Counties, Jarrod Brooks secured 8.8 percent of votes; Shawn Pinkston obtained 14.3 percent of votes; Mark Smith secured 27.4 percent of votes; and Nancy Mace obtained 49.5 percent of votes, approximately 13 votes away from the 50 percent plus one vote requirement.

With over 76 percent of the votes combined, Mace and Smith will be on the runoff ballot next week to see who will go against lone-democrat Cindy Boatwright in a special election for the open seat on January 16, 2018.

Mace, a Daniel Island resident, emphasized that she is grateful for those who voted and is eager to move forward to the next phase of the race.

“Campaigns are about choices and today voters cast their ballots overwhelmingly in our favor,” said Mace. “And as challenging as it might be, voters will have to go back to the polls in two weeks, on Nov. 28, to do this again. I look forward to continue sharing my vision of leadership as an outsider. I want to thank the other candidates on working hard and honorably in the primary and delivering an important message to voters of Berkeley and Charleston counties.”

Smith, like Mace, expressed how thankful he is for the support of his family and his supporters throughout the election process. Looking ahead to the runoff, he explained, there are two distinct options.

“It’s actually this simple,” said Smith, of Mount Pleasant. “The voters throughout District 99 have a clear choice in this runoff: a job-creating businessman and proven public servant with decades of community service experience or a longtime political consultant with direct ties to one of the most ethically challenged politicians in our state’s recent history.”

In response to the special election results, Boatwright emphasized, in a press release, the need for different representation in Columbia.

“The last thing we need is Donald Trump’s political consultant or another political insider representing this district in Columbia,” said Boatwright. “The only way to break this cycle of corruption at the state house is to start electing commonsense, mainstream leaders who will put people over party. Neither of the Republican Party candidates will do that.”

Although voter turnout was seemingly low, Director of Berkeley County Elections and Voter Registration Adam Hammons, explained that the numbers are on par with typical special elections.

“Special Elections are always a challenge to get people out and interested,” said Hammons. “Typical turnout for a special election in Berkeley county is 4 percent to 8 percent. We got to 8.92 percent for this one, so not terrible when compared to the usual turnout…Obviously, we wish more people would get out and vote but we will be there to do our job regardless of turnout.”

Jarrod Brooks endorsed candidate Mark Smith for the upcoming runoff election, and Shawn Pinkston endorsed Nancy Mace. See both of their letters of support on page 4.