Candidates for Senate Seat 8 Meet Greenville County GOP

Now that the filing deadline has passed (last Friday at Noon) the fields for local elections are taking shape. Parties at the county level still must certify the candidates before they are official.

The most hotly contested race could very well be for Senate Seat 8, which has been held by David Thomas since 1984. Thomas has four challengers in the primary and the five candidates came together yesterday for First Monday lunch hosted by the Greenville County Republican Party at the Poinsett Club in Greenville.

In a fast-moving session, the candidates introduced themselves and hit on topics that are expected to shape the race over the next two months.

Aside from Thomas, the candidates for Senate Seat 8 on the Republican side are:

• Chad Groover
• Jim Lee
• Joe Swann
• Ross Turner

Jeff Dishner is running for Seat 8 as a Democrat.

The GOP candidates for Seat 8 will meet again for a Tea Party-hosted event this Thursday at the Academy of the Arts, 80 School Street, Taylors, starting at 6:30 p.m.

In Senate District 7, which opened up after Ralph Anderson announced his retirement, there will be three candidates competing for the Democratic nod:

• Karl Allen, who represents a part of Mauldin in the House from District 25
• Ennis Fant
• Lillian Brock Flemming

Jane Kizer is running for Seat 7 as a Republican.

Patch will have more information on the House races as it becomes available although Garry Smith and Eric Bedingfield, both of whom represent sections of Mauldin in District 27 and 28 respectively, have indicated they intend to seek reelection. Bruce Bannister is the incumbent in District 24.

At the federal level, Rep. Trey Gowdy will not be challenged in the primary for his 4th Congressional Seat. However, he will face either Deb Morrow or Jimmy Tobias in the general election, whichever of those two candidates wins the Democratic primary.

In the event of a run-off, the run-off elections will be on June 26.

Not sure which district you live in? Visit the State Election Commission website to find out where you'll need to vote and who your candidates are.

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