James Burns did not have to break a sweat to claim the Republican nomination for South Carolina’s Senate District 15. He became the party’s pick on Saturday after turning out to be the only GOP candidate to file for the unexpired seat before the July filing deadline. On the other side of the ballot, Democrats Chad Williams and Monika White will face off in a Sept. 1 primary to decide who gets to challenge Burns in the Nov. 3 special election.
The seat, which covers much of York County, including Rock Hill, opened up after Sen. Wes Climer submitted a resignation timed to take effect Nov. 3 so the vacancy could be filled on the regular general election ballot. As reported by The Rock Hill Herald, Climer said the timing would spare taxpayers the cost of a separate special election and keep the district represented through the end of the term.
Key dates and filing rules
The South Carolina Election Commission has laid out the ground rules and calendar for the special partisan contest. Candidate filing for the unexpired term ran in mid-July, the Democratic primary is scheduled for Sept. 1, a possible runoff is set for Sept. 15, and the special election will land on Nov. 3.
The commission’s special election information also lists early voting windows and filing fees for the unexpired term, details that could matter for anyone tracking the race or weighing a future run.
Who’s running and what they bring
Burns heads straight to the Nov. 3 ballot without a Republican primary after emerging as the only GOP filer, as reported by Fort Mill Sun. He currently serves on the Rock Hill School Board and launched his Senate District 15 campaign in June, according to WRHI.
On the Democratic side, former York County Councilman Chad Williams has filed to run, and York County Democratic Party Secretary Monika White has also entered the special election, Tega Cay Sun reports.
What voters should know
The Sept. 1 primary date gives the eventual Democratic nominee roughly nine weeks to mount a general election campaign before Nov. 3, according to the timeline posted by the South Carolina Election Commission.
Voters who are unsure about their registration status, precinct location or absentee and early voting options can contact the Board of Voter Registration and Elections at the York County Government Center. The county’s elections page lists phone numbers, office details and early voting locations for those looking to get their ballots in on time.
