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Charleston Voters Head to Primary Polls

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Charleston Voters Head to Primary Polls

This Tuesday, voters in Charleston, South Carolina, are casting their ballots in a series of primary elections, shaping the future political landscape of not just the city but also the state. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., eligible voters have the opportunity to make their voices heard in hundreds of primaries that could significantly influence legislative and congressional seats across the state.

Competitive Races

The 170 legislative seats for grabs include positions in the South Carolina House and Senate, alongside seven congressional seats and numerous local offices. Among these contests, 32 key races are attracting significant attention as mainstream Republican candidates combat their hard-right Freedom Caucus counterparts.

Charleston Area’s High-Stakes Campaigns

In the Charleston area itself, the congressional primaries have seen candidates spending millions on their campaigns. The following individuals are vying for party nominations:

Democratic Primary Candidates:

U.S. House District 1: Mac Deford, Michael B. Moore
S.C. Senate District 32: Ronnie A. Sabb (incumbent), Prinscillia D. Sumpter
S.C. Senate District 42: Kim Greene, Deon Tedder (incumbent)
S.C. House District 15: Damian Daly, J.A. Moore (incumbent)
S.C. House District 109: Jessica Bright, Tiffany Spann-Wilder (incumbent)
S.C. House District 111: Regina Duggins, Wendell G. Gilliard (incumbent), Dwayne M. Green
S.C. House District 116: Charles Glover Sr., Charlie Murray

Republican Primary Candidates:

U.S. House District 1: Nancy Mace (incumbent), Catherine Templeton, Bill Young
U.S. House District 6: Duke Buckner, Justin Scott
S.C. Senate District 41: Matt Leber, Sandy Senn (incumbent)
S.C. Senate District 44: Brian Adams (incumbent), Shawn Pinkston
S.C. House District 112: Joe Bustos (incumbent), Nadine Deif
S.C. House District 114: Jody Bohman, Gary Brewer (incumbent)
Charleston County Sheriff: Rocky Burke, Rick Keys, Greg Kitchens, Carl Ritchie

Other Local News

Alongside the election, Charleston communities are also witnessing developments on various fronts. Controversies have arisen about state education regulations posing potential threats to freedom and the discontinuation of the Advanced Placement African American Studies program in S.C. public schools. The latter decision has elicited strong reactions from parents, students, teachers, and state legislators.

Charleston has experienced episodes of gun violence recently, including a road rage shooting incident on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, leaving a bullet narrowly missing a woman in another car. Separate shooting incidents were reported in Union, Anderson, and Greenville counties.

On a positive note, Charleston was recognized as the fastest-growing hub for life sciences among 24 leading markets according to recent rankings. In addition, the College of Charleston has launched a new accelerated Executive MBA program catering to working professionals.