Swann, Turner to Run-Off for Senate Seat 8

UPDATED: 11:21 p.m.

In the race for Senate Seat 7, Karl Allen defeated Lillian Brock-Flemming with 55 percent of the vote to her 45. Allen will face Jane Kizer in November. There is also the possibility

And in the other race of interest to Golden Strip voters, Deb Morrow easily defeated Jimmy Tobias for the Democratic nomination to represent District 4 in the United States House of Representatives, Morrow won by a margin of 71-29 percent. She will have the unenviable task of trying to unseat incumbent Trey Gowdy in November.

UPDATED: 9:36 p.m.

Joe Swann, who had not sought public office previously, will face off against Ross Turner, who also had never sought office, in the race for the District 8 Senate seat in a run-off on June 26.

Swann said, "I'm extremely pleased that the people of District 8 appreciated how I discussed the issues. I think the results show that voters are concerned about putting their neighbors back to work, that their children get a good education, and the people outside of the workforce can be trained to get new jobs."

Turner was ecstatic about the result.

"I'm overwhelmed by the response," he said. "One thing I've learned as a small business owner is that it's not about you, it's about the team you assemble and I've been lucky to have so much great support."

For Jim Lee, it was a disappointing evening. He had expected to do better.

"I was hoping for a better result, but unfortunately it didn't go our way," he said.

Lee's support will now be in demand as both candidates in the run-off are based in Greenville and will be looking for support in Mauldin and Simpsonville.

Swann and Turner were separated by just five votes in a low turnout election with both garnering 27.5 percent of the vote. Thomas pulled in 20.5 percent, Lee 17 percent and Groover earned 7 percent, with all but two of the 36 precincts reporting.

In District 7, with 68 percent in, Karl Allen leads Lillian Brock-Flemming 54-46 percent.

In the Democratic Congressional Primary for District 4, Deb Morrow appears on her way to winning, ahead of Jimmy Tobias 70-30 percent.

UPDATED, 8:45 p.m.

Mauldin Patch is projecting that a pair of businessmen will run-off on June 26 for the right to represent the GOP in the general election for District 8 in November.

With that, the 28-year tenure of David Thomas comes to an end. 

Joe Swann and Ross Turner, both of Greenville have garnered roughly 28 percent of the vote. 

Thomas came in third with about 20 percent of the vote. Jim Lee pulled in about 17 percent and Chad Groover drew 7 percent of the support.

There are still five of 36 precincts that have not reported results. The machine at Rock Hill precinct is broken and the results are not expected this evening.

UPDATED, 8:14 p.m.

Election results for Senate Seat 8 are starting to come in.

With 23 out of 36 precincts reporting:

Ross Turner — 1, 577

Joe Swann — 1,468

David Thomas — 905

Jim Lee — 797

Chad Groover — 307

REPORTED EARLIER

The 28 year-run of Senator David Thomas as the Senator in is on the line tonight with four challengers leaving it to the voters in sections of Greenville and throughout the Golden Strip.

Combined, Chad Groover, Jim Lee, Joe Swann and Ross Turner .

In District 7, Lillian Brock-Flemming and Karl Allen are dueling to replace Ralph Anderson.

And Deb Morrow and Jimmy Tobias are battling for the right to take on the very popular Trey Gowdy in November for the right to represent Congressional Seat 4 in Washington, DC.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. and throughout Mauldin for a variety of a reasons.

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