South Carolina Races to Watch on Election Day
As you make your way out to the polls today, we at The Arena have rounded up some of the most competitive races happening in South Carolina. Depending on the results of the election, Republicans in the General Assembly could have a supermajority in both chambers which would lead to a trifecta, since they still hold the governor’s seat for the next two years. Also up for grabs this year are all seven of SC’s US House of Representatives seats.
House Races
SC-04: Kathryn Harvey vs William Timmons
In a surprisingly close race in what is considered a Republican stronghold, well-funded Democrat Kathryn Harvey is seeking to unseat longtime incumbent William Timmons who represents the Greenville-Spartanburg area.
Harvey has largely lined up with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris especially when it comes to abortion rights and the creation of more affordable housing.
Harvey has criticized Timmons for his record and for being absent in his district, saying at an event sponsored by The Post and Courier that “he has a record of not showing up.”
Timmons has denied the accusation saying he shows up for constituents but spent the weekend before Election Day in Pennsylvania instead of in his own district.
At the same Post and Courier event, Timmons also said he couldn’t definitively say whether or not Donald Trump won the 2020 election despite the election having been certified for Biden and Harris.
SC-01: Michael Moore vs Nancy Mace
Taking place in South Carolina’s Lowcountry is a match-up between Democrat Michael Moore and incumbent Republican Nancy Mace.
Mace has become notable in her district for her attention-seeking antics including becoming one of eight in her party to vote against Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House and lamenting over missing morning sex at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Mace and Moore differ on several key issues including abortion and illegal immigration.
Moore favors codifying Roe v. Wade and the Right to Contraception Act while Mace has voted against codifying Roe v. Wade and the Right to Contraception Act.
Mace has also drawn attention for attacking Charleston County Sheriff Kristen Graziano for withdrawing from the county’s 287(g) agreement that provides ICE detainer records due to money concerns.
State House Races
HD-75: Heather Bauer vs Kirkman Finlay
One of the most competitive races in this election cycle is between incumbent Democratic representative Heather Bauer and Kirkman Finlay.
Bauer, who flipped the seat in 2022 and ousted Finlay, is facing a rematch in the most competitive state house district where Democrats have the majority by less than 1%.
Bauer is strongly opposed to the state’s current abortion ban and has touted her achievements in forcing a comptroller general to leave office after losing $3.5 billion dollars and calling for additional oversight over the Richland 1 School Board, according to her website.
Finlay has said that he does not support a total abortion ban although he has said that current SC abortion law is “settled,” according to the SC Daily Gazette. Finlay says he does support school choice and modernizing Colombia's infrastructure, according to his website.
HD-110: John Moffett vs Tom Hartnett
John Moffett looks to unseat incumbent Republican Tom Hartnett in a House District that encompasses parts of downtown Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, West Ashley, and James Island.
Hartnett, whose seat was previously held by current Charleston Mayor William Cogswell, was elected to office in 2022. Hartnett voted to ban nearly all abortions and has used out-of-state organizations to send mail to HD 110, which consisted of misleading information on Moffett’s record and policy proposals.
Moffett currently works as a consultant and has previously served as the South Carolina State Director for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition and Protect Our Care. Moffett has campaigned on restoring women’s reproductive rights, addressing flooding and climate change, and passing common-sense gun laws.
Hartnett beat Democrat Ellis Roberts by 9 points in the 2022 election.
HD-116: Charlie Murray vs James Teeple
Teeple is looking to keep District 116 Republican as the current incumbent Matt Leber runs for state senate.
Democrat Charlie Murray, who owns a family mortuary business and is the current pastor of First Baptist Church on James Island, has campaigned on opposing South Carolina’s extreme abortion ban and expanding Medicaid eligibility
Teeple has been a strong advocate for eliminating the state’s income tax and opposing abortion.
During this campaign, reports surfaced that Teeple had threatened a student at his son’s school’s parent for allegedly striking his son.
After the district was redrawn in 2020, it only favors Democrats by three points according to SC Daily Gazette’s Voter Guide.
State Senate Races
SD-35: Jeffrey Graham vs Mike Jones
After incumbent Democratic state senator Thomas McElveen decided not to seek reelection, current Camden City Councilman Democrat Jeffrey Graham is running against Republican Mike Jones who is running in his first election.
According to the SC Daily Gazette, the district leans Democratic by 5.5% making it one of the less competitive races.
Graham has campaigned on opposing restrictions to abortion and expanding technical education to help improve the state’s workforce, according to his website.
Jones has come out in support of school choice using vouchers for private schools and in favor of the state’s current abortion ban, according to his website.
Both Jones and Graham defeated their opponents in runoff elections from the June primaries.
SD-26: Russell Ott vs Jason Guerry
The newly drawn Senate District 26 currently tilts Democratic by only 3% making it the most competitive state senate district, according to the SC Daily Gazette.
Republican Jason Guerry hopes to beat Russell Ott who narrowly defeated former incumbent Dick Harpootlian in the June primaries after Harpootlian was drawn out of his own district and is considered to be a more conservative Democrat.
Guerry has voiced his support for infrastructure improvements, especially reducing traffic congestion and wants to expand workforce training.
Ott has voiced his opposition against South Carolina’s current six-week abortion ban but has voted for other anti-abortion measures. He supports increasing teacher pay and Medicaid expansion.
SD-41: Rita Adkins vs Matt Leber
While this election is taking place in a Republican-heavy district, Leber only defeated Republican incumbent Sandy Senn during the June primary by only 31 votes.
At a candidate forum sponsored in part by the Summerville Journal Scene, Adkins campaigned on increasing grant programs to help lower daycare costs and advocated for more proactive planning using developers impact fees to help fund better roads and bridges.
Leber did not appear at the event but has campaigned on blocking red-flag laws for firearms and promoting school choice. The Arena previously reported on Leber’s history of domestic violence and abuse, which he denied.
Be sure to check back in on Twitter after the polls close with Arena Reporter Marley Bassett, @marley_bassett, as she live tweets state election results.