The main point: South Carolina’s primaries clarified the fields for governor, U.S. Senate, and key Greenville County Council seats, with runoffs set in races where no one topped 50%.

Why it matters: Outcomes will shape tax, workforce, infrastructure, and land-use decisions that drive Upstate competitiveness through 2027.

PRIMARY OUTCOMES:

Governor

• Republicans: No candidate cleared 50%, triggering a runoff between Lt. Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson for the open governor’s seat.
• Democrats: State Representative Jermaine Johnson wins the democratic party’s nomination with 59.7% of the vote and advances to November.

South Carolina House

• The following BIGBAC-endorsed candidates won their primary contests and will advance to the general election:
• House District 5: Rep. Neal Collins, Pickens,
• House District 22: Rep. Paul Wickensimer, Greenville, and  
• House District 25: Rep. Wendell Jones, Greenville

U.S. Senate

• Republicans: Incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham secured renomination outright; no runoff.
• Democrats: Dr. Annie Andrews wins 61.5% of the vote and advances to face Senator Graham in November

Greenville County Council

• District 17 (R): Joe Dill and Travis Forrester will advance to a runoff election on June 23^rd.
• District 23 (D): Angela Aiken and David C. Mitchell will advance to a runoff election on June 23^rd.
• District 26 (R): Daniel Rumfelt received 52.48% of the vote to defeat incumbent Rick Bradley.
• District 28 (R): Kyle Long received 53.05% of the vote to defeat Alan Kellett.

View a full breakdown of results here.

What’s next

• Runoffs for the following elections are on June 23rd (Certification/recount windows may adjust local ballots.) 
  • GOP Governor’s race (top two finishers)
  • Greenville County Council districts with no 50% winner (e.g., 17, 26, 28)
  • Attorney General
  • Commissioner of Agriculture 
• General election is on November 3^rd:
  • Statewide focus on economic growth, infrastructure financing and permitting; locally, project approvals, housing near jobs and congestion relief.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Year-to-Year Comparison

• Greenville Co. 2024 - Registered Voters 335,274 with 58,329 Turnout; 17.4% 
• Greenville Co. 2026 - Registered Voters 343,964 (+8,690) with 90,558 (+32,229); 26.3%
• Statewide 2024 - Registered Voters 3,236,875 with 439,766 Turnout; 13.59%
• Statewide 2026 - Registered Voters 3,383,591 (+146,716) with 855,370 (+415,604) Turnout; 25.28%

What does this mean?

• The simple increase in registration does not account for increased voter turnout this year.
• 2026 is the first year since 2010 that an incumbent governor was not running.

Greenville County Top of Ticket Vote Totals

• Democrat: 32,322
• Republican: 57,434

FINAL POINTS:

Zoom in: Business-facing takeaways

• Growth & land use: County Council outcomes will set the tone on rezonings, subdivision approvals and rural preservation — especially in Districts 17, 26 and 28.
• Transportation: Expect debates over resurfacing backlogs, intersection safety and capacity on commuter/freight corridors (Woodruff Rd, Hwy 14, Five Forks).
• Taxes & incentives: State nominees preview different approaches to income-tax glide paths, industrial-site readiness, deal-closing funds, and small‑business expensing.

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