U.S. Rep. William Timmons secured the Republican nomination for the 4th Congressional District in Tuesday’s primary, with 36,502 votes to Morgan’s 34,235, with all precincts reporting.
“I want to thank the voters for once again trusting me to continue to fight tirelessly on behalf of the people of Spartanburg and Greenville counties. I’m glad voters in the Fourth District saw through my opponent’s countless lies and recognized my hard work, my strong conservative record, and the results I delivered for my constituents. In Washington, I focus on policy – not the headlines, on representing my constituents – not myself – and on working with my colleagues rather than against them,” Timmons said in a statement.
“I am grateful to have the support of President Trump and proud to have the opportunity to continue representing South Carolina’s Fourth District. Now is the time for our party to unite to move the ball forward to advance conservative policies and focus our efforts on reorganization.” -electing Donald Trump in November.”
At Morgan’s election night watch party, Morgan spoke around 10:30 a.m., before all the precinct data was in, not conceding but thanking his supporters. His wife, Megan Morgan, stood next to him, her eyes reflecting tears as she watched.
“I look forward to continuing the fight no matter what to keep this district conservative and to keep this state the beautiful, amazing place that it is to raise a family,” Morgan said.
Timmons will face Democratic challenger Kathryn Harvey in November.
In the Upstate, voters could choose between seven Republicans all vying for an open seat in the rural Third Congressional District after U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan announced he would not seek re-election. In a district with a Republican Party stronghold, voters could also choose to vote for one of two Democratic candidates.
Bryon Best secured the Democratic nomination. With 100% of precincts reporting, Best received 5,134 votes, compared to Frances Guldner’s 3,105 votes. On the Republican side, with 100% of counties reporting, Trump backed Mark Burns leader Sherri Biggs with 26,965 votes to Biggs’ 23,408. Because neither candidate received more than 50% of the votes, a second round will take place on June 25.
Many expected lower turnout in the primaries, but estimated turnout would also be higher in congressional districts due to the competitive nature of the races. So far, SC Votes reports that voter turnout in the South Carolina election was 13%.
Anderson County saw 25,085 votes cast, representing a 20% turnout. Greenville County yielded 52,093 votes cast, which translates to a 15% turnout. Spartanburg had the lowest turnout with 26,160 votes cast and 12%.
More: Greenville County Council Primary Results: Long defeats Barnes; Collins fires Kirven
In more local races, Spartanburg and Greenville counties had sheriff races on the ballots. With 100% of precincts reporting, Greenville County Sherriff Hobart Lewis received 43,511 votes to challenger and former patrol deputy Mike Fortner’s 9,051.
In Spartanburg County, former Corporal Nick Duncan of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office challenged incumbent Sheriff Chuck Wright. With all precincts reporting, Wright defeated Duncan by 24,296 votes to 4,771.
More than half of Greenville County council members were up for re-election after a controversial year in which the council voted to increase taxes. All candidates face one opponent, some face several. Although Republican Liz Seman did not face an opponent in the primaries, she will face Constitution Party candidate John Langville in November.
Incumbent Republican Steve Shaw, representing Greenville County District 20, and challenger Alex Reynolds will face each other in a runoff in two weeks. In Tuesday’s primary, where 100% of precincts reported, Shaw received 2,923 votes to Reynolds’ 2,400. Ken Matesevac, also a candidate for District 20, received 1,578 votes.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Kelly Long, who challenged incumbent and Republican Mike Barnes for Greenville County Council District 18, won the seat when she received 3,216 votes to Barnes’ 2,196.
Ennis Fant, the only Democrat up for re-election this year, will face a runoff against Derrick Quarles. With 100% precinct reporting, Fant leads with 974 votes to Quarles’ 713.
In the only open seat on the Greenville County Council, with Republican Stan Tzouvelekas seeking a state House seat, Republicans Frank Farmer and Jay Rogers will also face a runoff election. With 100% of precincts reporting, Farmer received 3,070 votes to Rogers’ 1,758.
How did the Freedom Caucus do?
In the South Carolina General Assembly, many Upstate Freedom Caucus members up for re-election faced opposition in the primaries, including Thomas Beach, Mike Burns, Alan Morgan, Bill Chumley, Rob Harris, April Cromer and Josiah Magnuson. All won in Tuesday’s primaries.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster endorsed two Upstate candidates seeking the nomination against members of the Freedom Caucus: Kyle White, who ran against Cromer, and Jason Shamis, who challenged Magnuson.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Cromer won the nomination over White, gaining 3,150 votes to White’s 2,492.
Republican Stan Tzouvelekas, a Greenville County Councilman and land acquisition and sales executive, said he is expected to join the South Carolina Freedom Caucus if elected. He faces longtime Greenville County Clerk Paul Wickensimer in the primary.
Wickensimer won in the district, receiving 3,266 votes to Tzouvelekas’ 2,765.
Morgan previously responded to a post on X asking who other “freedom caucus” type fighters are“voters should watch and recommend candidates Stephen Frank, Sarita Edgerton and Brandy Tarleton.
Stephen Frank, who ran for Morgan’s vacant seat in the South Carolina General Assembly in District 20, defeated Sarah Curran in the primary. With 100% of precincts reporting, Frank earned 3,283 votes to Curran’s 2,456.
Edgerton will face LaBounty in a run-off. When all precincts reported, she received 1,668 votes to LaBounty’s 1,393. Collins soundly defeated Tarleton in the primary, with 3,215 votes to Tarleton’s 2,633, with all precincts reporting.
Savannah Moss covers politics for the Greenville News. Reach her at smoss@gannett.com or follow her at X @Savmoss.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Primary Day in the Upstate: Who took home the win?
