The primaries in the state of South Carolina are almost here.
Voters will see nine candidates for the House of Representatives in four districts on the ballot.
The primaries will be held on June 11 and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can find your polling place at scvotes.gov and which counties you are in at the scstatehouse.gov website. Make sure you bring ID and don’t wear political clothing to the polls.
Here’s what you need to know about the candidates.
District 57
Lucas Atkinson – Democratic incumbent since 2016
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Where he lives: Mullins
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Why he runs: Atkinson said he was elected in 2016 and wants to continue doing everything he can to bring representation to rural South Carolina.
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Top issues: Bringing money back to his area is Atkinson’s main goal, he said. He said he has helped provide funding for downtown revitalization projects and a new public safety training facility, among other things.
Cynthia Ford – Democrat
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Where she lives: Mullins
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Why she runs: Ford said she wants to see greater representation of her district at the state level.
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Top issues: Agriculture, economic progress and public safety are top issues, Ford said. She wants to increase access to locally grown food, assess economic plans and use strategic modeling and technology to assist with community needs and safety.
District 58
Jeff Johnson – Republican incumbent since 2014
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Where he lives: Conway
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Why he runs: Johnson said he is running for re-election because he enjoys helping his voters. For example, he said he has helped the residents of Aynor by raising money for flood relief.
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Top issues: Roads are Johnson’s biggest problem, including modernizing and renewing roads as Horry County’s population continues to grow. He also cares about criminal justice, including passing laws to try to help combat the opioid and fentanyl crisis.
John Beatty – Republican
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Where he lives: Near Aynor
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Why he runs: Beatty said he wanted to see his district better represented and that important issues were not being addressed at the state level.
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Top issues: Government growth and government waste are Beatty’s two main problems. He said he supports small government.
District 61
Carla Schuessler – Republican incumbent since 2022
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Where she lives: Myrtle Beach area
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Why she runs: Schuessler said she has lived in Horry County for more than 20 years and has worked hard to build relationships and be involved in the community and wants to use those connections to do good in Horry County.
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Top issues: Infrastructure, including roads and bridges, lowering insurance prices, giving parents more choices when it comes to their child’s education and illegal immigration are her top issues. Schuessler said these are the biggest issues she has heard about from her constituents.
Shannon Grady – Republican
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Where she lives: Myrtle Beach
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Why she runs: Grady did not respond to The Sun News’ request for comment and did not indicate why she is active on her website.
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Top issues: Infrastructure and ensuring that Horry County develops in a sustainable way that includes critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusivity out of schools, and the right to life, are Grady’s top priorities, according to its website.
Patrick Hermann – Republican
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Where he lives: Myrtle Beach
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Why he runs: Hermann said he doesn’t feel his district is being represented. He said he felt like he was acting as a “de facto representative” and decided he wanted to be the actual representative.
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Main issues: Stopping wasteful spending is his biggest problem, Hermann said. He wants to cut taxes and also put money into things like roads and judicial reforms.
District 106
Val Guest – Republican incumbent since 2022
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Where he lives: Myrtle Beach, near Surfside Beach
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Why he runs: As he wraps up his first term, Guest said he feels there is still work to be done for the people of District 106.
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Top issues: The main concerns of guests are keeping up with infrastructure such as roads and bridges as the population in the province increases. He also wants to raise wages for teachers and police officers while cutting taxes.
Brian Sweeney – Republican
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Where he lives: Murrells Inlet
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Why he runs: Sweeney did not respond to The Sun News’ request for comment and does not have a website.
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Main issues: Sweeney did not respond to The Sun News’ request for comment and does not have a website.
