2026 Election Season Officially Open

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Election season is officially under way in Anderson County.

City of Anderson elections, which are nonpartisan, are April 7. With filing now closed for the June 9 primaries, races are set for state and local primary elections on June 9.

The City of Anderson will vote on two contested offices, mayor and City Council Seat 5 (which has been held by the retiring Beatrice Thompson for 50 years). Incumbent Mayor Terence Roberts will face Van Sullivan Jr., while Darryl Thompson will face Tonya Winbush for the open Seat 5.

Marshall Pickens III is running unopposed for the Seat 2 unexpired term left open when former City Councilman Luis Martínez stepped down in December.

The other candidates for city council are all unopposed incumbents: At-Large Seat 7 Matt Harbin, Seat 1 Kyle Newton, and Seat 3 Jeff Roberts. City council members are elected to staggered four-year terms.

In West Pelzer, the nonpartisan race for an April 21 special election to fill the town council seat formerly held by Mayor Rick Sanders features the following candidates: Julia Clanton, Jason Knight and Jodie L. Southwood.

On May 2, voters in Anderson School Dist. 2 will vote on a referendum to decide on approving a bond which would allow borrowing of up to $70 million to build a new consolidated Belton-Honea Path Middle School.

In the June 9 primaries, local elections include challengers for six of the seven Anderson County Council seats, one of which will be settled in November. In County Council District 1, incumbent Chris Sullivan (Republican) will face Kelly Koonce (Republican). In District 2, incumbent Glenn Davis (Democrat) will face James Hayes (Republican) in the general election in November. In District 3, incumbent Greg Elgin (Republican) is unopposed. In District 4 (the seat being vacated by County Council Vice Chairman Brett Sanders at the end of his term in January), Dave Shalaby (Republican) will face Samuel Whatley (Republican). In District 5, incumbent County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn (Republican) will face Josh Mann (Republican). In District 6, incumbent Jimmy Davis (Republican) will face Ryan Cowsert (Republican). In District 7, incumbent Cindy Wilson (Republican) will face Collin Alexander (Republican).

Also in the primary, Probate Judge J.T. Foster (Republican) is running unopposed.

In the race for statewide offices, incumbent S.C. Rep. April Cromer will face Kyle White in the Republican primary for the House District 6 seat. The winner will face Democrat Jennifer Bachner, who is running unopposed in that primary.

In House District 7, incumbent S.C. Rep. Lee Gilreath (Republican) is running unopposed and will face Elizabeth W. Cooley (Democrat) Nov. 3.

In House District 8, incumbent S.C. Rep. Don Chapman has two challengers in the Republican primary, Sherry Orr and Patrick Orr. The winner will face the victor in the Democratic primary between Johnny Estrich and Demetrius Carson.

In the crowded U.S. Senate race, incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham has six Republican challengers in the June primary: Calvin Cowen, Paul Dans, Thomas Keith Dismukes, Pat Herrmann, Mark Lynch and Darius Mitchell. Three Democrats will meet in their primary in that race: Annie Andrews, Brandon P. Brown and Kyle Freeman. The primary winners will face Constitution Party candidate Mark Hackett and Libertarian candidate Jason Elliot Brenkus.

Seven total candidates are running for Commissioner of Agriculture: four Republicans, one Democrat, one Libertarian and one from the United Citizens Party. The Republicans seeking the office are Jeremy Cannon, Danny Ford, Cody Simpson and Fred West. They are joined on the ballot by Democrat DeShawn Blanding, Libertarian Michael Sullens, and United Citizens Party candidate Chris Nelums.

For the State Superintendent of Education, incumbent Republican Ellen Weaver will face the winner of the Democratic primary, either Lisa Ellis or Sylvia Wright, along with United Citizens candidate Baba Amin Ojuok in November.

Seven Republicans are vying to replace outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster: Jacqueline Hicks DuBose, S.C. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, S.C. Sen. Joshua Kimbrell, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, Rom Reddy and S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson. The winner will face one of three Democrats: Jermaine Johnson, Mullins McLeod or Bill Webster. United Citizens candidate Michael Addison (and his running mate Candace Brewer), Green Party candidate Walid Hakim, and Workers Party candidate Gary Votour will join the party primary winners on the November ballot.

Three candidates are seeking the office of S.C. Secretary of State: Incumbent Republican Mark Hammond and Democrats Jason Belton and Edwina Winter.

Vicent Coe, Bruce K. Cole and Tray Robertson Jr. will meet in the Democratic primary for the nomination to run as the party’s candidate for State Treasurer. The winner will face incumbent Republican Curtis Loftis.

Three Republicans will meet in the primary for the office of S.C. Attorney General: Stephen Goldfinch, David Pascoe and David Stumbo. The winner will face Democrat Richard Hricik in November.

In the Comptroller General race, two Democrats will square off in the primary: Tiffany Boozer and Bruce K. Cole. The winner will face Republican Mark Burkfield in the general election.