Tuesday is primary election day in Beaufort Co. Races for sheriff, County Council on the line

Tuesday is primary election day in Beaufort County and across South Carolina, with a number of state and countywide contests on the ballot.

Voting begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. Go here to find your polling place.

Statewide, there are contests for governor, state school superintendent, congressional representatives and State House races. Information on those races be found here.

Incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster and Harrison Musselwhite and running on the Republican ballot, while in the Democratic primary, Carlton Boyd, Joe Cunningham, state Sen. Mia McLeod, Calvin Mack McMillan, William Williams are all running.

For attorney general, there are no Democrats on the ballot but there are two Republicans: incumbent Alan Wilson and Lauren Martel, a Bluffton attorney who describes herself on her campaign website as a “corruption fighter” and “champion of transparency.” Wilson is seeking his fourth term in office.

In the crowded race for state school superintendent, there are six Republican candidates and four Democratic hopefuls.

And in S.C. congressional District 1, the race features incumbent U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace versus challenger Katie Arrington on the GOP ticket. Mace received a number of key endorsements, but Arrington captured the backing of former President Donald Trump. Mace was leading comfortably in the race for campaign donations.

Meanwhile, local races include Republican contests for Beaufort County sheriff, county auditor and six County Council seats.

The sheriff’s race between incumbent P.J. Tanner and his former captain, Joey “JoJo” Woodford Jr., has captured most of the attention.

The sheriff’s race is a rematch from 2018, when Tanner won with 55% of the vote but Woodward had a stong showing in the Bluffton precincts.

Typically, primaries see lower voter turnout but the heated Sheriff’s race could bring out more voters. Whoever wins Tuesday will likely become sheriff for the next four years. There are no Democratic candidates currently on the November ballot, although someone still could run as a write-in.

Other contests included six seats on the County Council highlighted by the race in District 11 between longtime and often controversial Councilman Stu Rodman and newcomer Tom Reitz.

There also is a race between two Republicans for county auditor and one race in State House District 121. Open seats in five other state representative districts in the Lowcountry are uncontested.

The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette will publish election results Tuesday night after the polls close. Go to www.islandpacket.com.

This story was originally published June 13, 2022 at 1:27 PM.