Statewide early voting for the June 9 primary election began May 26. Voters will cast their ballots to choose who is on the Nov. 3 ballot in local and statewide races, including Greenville County Council, the state House of Representatives, governor and U.S. Senate.
For updated information about your voter registration status, check your polling location or view a sample ballot, visit scvotes.gov.
Locally, four Greenville County Council seats have contested primaries. Several other candidates are uncontested in the primary.
District 17*
Photo provided by Joe DillCandidate: Joe Dill
Party: Republican
Job: Bailiff at Circuit Court and Minister of Music
Years on council: 24
What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? Protecting farmland from being turned into subdivisions. Preserving our natural resources. Bringing public safety up to a standard that makes it competitive with others in South Carolina.
Any ordinances that allow builders to develop land that require taxpayers to foot the bill for the infrastructure improvements needed, for those subdivisions.
Photo provided by John EhlersCandidate: John Ehlers
Party: Republican
Job: Master electrician
Years on council: 0
What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? Slow down development in District 17. Lower property taxes and abolish property tax on homestead for retirees.
Photo provided by Travis ForresterCandidate: Travis Forrester
Party: Republican
Job: School safety and security
Years on council: 0
What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? If elected, my focus will be protecting the character of our communities while ensuring Greenville County grows responsibly. I will fight to improve infrastructure before approving large-scale development, protect taxpayers from unnecessary tax increases, and support public safety across our county. My career has been built on service and accountability, and I will bring that same mindset to County Council. I believe government should listen to the people, respect property rights, and make decisions that strengthen families, neighborhoods, and the future of Greenville County.
Photo provided by James HoardCandidate: James Hoard
Party: Republican
Job: Structural steel detailer
Years on council: 0
What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? I plan to be a fiscal hawk. Preserving rural communities begins with fiscal discipline and keeping taxes low. Greenville County residents are taxed enough already; I will not vote for any new or increase in taxes. We must use the resources we have to once and for all fix roads and we must tackle the issue of development. We must tackle the lack of zoning in District 17. We need to use all the tools in our tool belt. We must continue to protect our future generations from pornography in county libraries. We must protect families.
District 23
Photo provided by Angela AikenChallenger: Angela Aiken
Party: Democrat
Job: Healthcare professional
Years on council: 0
What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? If elected, my first priority is pushing County Council to adopt a coordinated affordable housing strategy, one that puts underutilized land, existing state/federal funding tools and community stakeholders at the center. Greenville County already has the ingredients. What’s missing is the will to pull them together. I will work to ensure that every housing dollar invested in this county builds wealth for long-time residents rather than displacing them. Affordable housing is not a talking point for me. It is something I have fought for from the ground up, and I will keep fighting for it from the inside.
Photo provided by Alan MitchellIncumbent: Alan Mitchell
Party: Democrat
Job: Architecture
Years on c0uncil: 3; (I am in my 4th year of my 1st term)
What are you planning to work on in your next term? I plan to continue to work on affordable housing securities and transportation options. I will also continue to provide necessary services to my constituents. As for change, I will continue to work on improving how governmental and private entities cooperate on getting projects completed for the betterment of the citizens of Greenville County.
Photo provided by David C. MitchellChallenger: David C. Mitchell
Party: Democrat
Job: Human resources
Years on council: 0
What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? Developing affordable, accessible and attainable housing for low- to moderate-income families, by sustaining legacy minority communities that have been decimated by gentrification and taxation policies, which have displaced low- and moderate- income families by excessive taxation and home loss due to county tax policies.
Building and supporting an effective Transit Development Plan that creates a reliable public GTA/Greenlink transportation system that has dedicated funding sources to support green technology, on-time performance and modern equipment that facilitates a state-of-the-art bus transportation system
Council representation that focuses on smart growth and infrastructure that keeps pace with rapid growth and development.
District 26
Photo provided by Rick BradleyIncumbent: Rick Bradley
Party: Republican
Job: President of R D Bradley Co.
Years on council: In my fourth year
What are you planning to work on in your next term? The Greenville County Comprehension Plan is one of the issues I will continue to focus on. The Comprehension Plan tells us where growth can be. The zoning ordinances tell us what can be built and the Land Development Regulates (LDRs) tell us how it can be built. Right now, they are not in alignment with one another. I have already started this process to align them. The result will make is much easier to manage our overwhelming growth and infrastructure problems here in District 26 as well as in the rest of Greenville County.
Photo provided by Daniel RumfeltChallenger: Daniel Rumfelt
Party: Republican
Job: Manufacturing
Years on council: 0
What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? With the primary coming my way, I pledge to improve the land development regulations in order to ensure sustainable development of Greenville County that is in sync with our infrastructure needs. At present, growth exceeds the capacity of roads, drainage systems, and public safety and people suffer as a result of this mismanagement. My efforts would be towards updating the land codes in our county, directing growth to areas which can accommodate it and ensuring proper planning of large projects. I would also like to create a conservation district in South Greenville to preserve rural living for generations to come.
District 28*
Photo provided by Allen KellettCandidate: Allen Kellett
Party: Republican
Job: Farmer and businessman
Years on council: 0
What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? I want to bring fiscal responsibility to the council and transparency for the public. The major issue I will be working on is finding funds in the current budget to allocate to our road and bridge problems.
Photo provided by Kyle LongCandidate: Kyle Long
Party: Republican
Job: Pilot Lt Col USAF ret.
Years on council: 0
What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? I am going to get the roads fixed without raising taxes. The current council budget was able to increase road repair spending four times more than had ever been spent in the past. I plan on making our infrastructure a priority while limiting the overgrowth. I will have good communication with my constituents and involve them in proposals that come before county council. I will be on every board I can be on to understand where our money is being spent while fixing inefficiencies. I will use discernment to understand the ramifications of every proposal.
*Incumbents Joey Russo (District 17) and Dan Tripp (District 28) are not running for reelection.
Uncontested county races
The uncontested Greenville County primary races include Chadwicke L. Groover (Republican) for probate judge; Scott Case (Republican) for auditor; Allen Hodges for county treasurer; Benton Blount (Republican) and Cody Dean (Democrat) for County Council District 19; and Thomas Sanders (Democrat) for County Council District 28.
Throughout Greenville County, eight Senate and 16 House seats are on the general election ballot with 11 contested races. S.C. Senate candidates Rex F. Rice (R-District 2), Tom Corbin (R-District 5), Jason Elliott (R-District 6), Karl B. Allen (D-District 7), and Shane Martin (R-District 13), and S.C. House candidates Neal Collins (R-District 5), Thomas Beach (R-District 10), Mark N. Willis (R-District 16), Mike Burns (R-District 17), Alan Morgan (R-District 18), Patrick Haddon (R-District 19), Bobby J. Cox (R-District 21) and Bill Chumley (R-District 35) are running unopposed.
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Here are the other contested candidates on the ballot:
Governor
Republican
- Jacqueline Hicks DuBose
- Pamela Evette
- Joshua Kimbrell
- Nancy Mace
- Ralph W. Norman
- Rom Reddy
- Alan Wilson
Democrat
- Jermaine Johnson
- Mullins McLeod
- Billy Webster
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Secretary of State
Democrat
- Jason Belton
- Edwina Winter
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State Treasurer
Democrat
- Vincent Coe
- Trave Robertson Jr.
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State Attorney General
Republican
- Stephen Goldfinch
- David M. Pascoe
- David Stumbo
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State Comptroller General
Democrat
- Tiffany Boozer
- Bruce K. Cole
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State Superintendent of Education
Democrat
- Lisa Ellis
- Sylvia Wright
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State Commissioner of Agriculture
Republican
- Jeremy B. Cannon
- Danny Ford
- Cody Simpson
- Fred West
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U.S. Senate
Republican
- Calvin Cowen
- Thomas Keith Dismukes
- Lindsey Graham
- Pat Herrmann
- Mark Lynch
- Darius L. Mitchell
Democrat
- Annie Andrews
- Brandon P. Brown
- Kyle Freeman
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U.S. House
District 3
Democrat
- Eunice Lehmacher
- Ernest E. Mackins
District 4
Republican
- David Atchley
- Robert E. Lee
- William Timmons
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State House
District 5
Republican
- Neal Collins
- Brandy Tarleton
Democrat
- David F. Jones
District 10
Republican
- Thomas Beach
- Stewart Watson
Democrat
- Thomas Stewart
District 21
Republican
- Heather Currie
- Dianne Mitchell
District 22
- Randolph Chuck Rhode Jr.
- Paul Wickensimer
District 24
Democrat
- Caroline Avinger
- Justin Sanders
District 25
Democrat
- Wendell Jones
- Derrick L. Quarles
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While many races have contested primaries, multiple candidates are running unopposed for their party’s nomination.
Candidates in uncontested statewide primary races include: Michael A. Addison (United Citizens), Walid N. Hakim (Green) and Gary M. Votour (Workers) for governor; Mark Hammond (Republican) for secretary of state; Curtis Loftis (Republican) for state treasurer; Richard Hricik (Democrat) for attorney general; Mike Burkhold (Republican) for comptroller general; Baba Amin Ojuok (United Citizens) and Ellen Weaver (Republican) for state superintendent of education; DeShawn Blanding (Democrat), Chris Nelums (United Citizens) and Michael Sullens (Libertarian) for commissioner of agriculture; and Jason Elliot Brenkus (Libertarian), Mark Hackett (Constitution) and Kasie Whitener (Libertarian) for U.S. Senate.
The uncontested primary races for Upstate representatives include Sheri Biggs (Republican) and Brian Corriea (Libertarian) for U.S. House District 3; Jessica Ethridge (Libertarian) and Courtney McClain (Democrat) for U.S. House District 4; Lynn Ramirez (Democrat) and Mark N. Willis (Republican) for State House District 16; Mike Burns (Republican) and Rich Nicoloff (Democrat) for State House District 17; Virginia B. Maclure (Democrat) and Alan Morgan (Republican) for State House District 18; Patrick B. Haddon (Republican) and Rachel Smith (Democrat) for State House District 19; Polly Elbertse (Democrat) and Stephen D. Frank (Republican) for State House District 20; Dexter Reaves (Democrat) for State House District 21; Josh Kendrick (Democrat) for State House District 22; Chandra Dillard (Democrat) for State House District 23; and Bruce Bannister (Republican) for State House District 24.
