With partisan filing now closed for the 2026 election cycle following a noon deadline Monday, March 30, Clarendon County voters are getting a clearer picture of which local races are already set for the fall, which still have a primary ahead and which candidates slipped in just before the deadline.
At the local level, several county races are already headed toward November matchups, while others drew no opposition at all. But the county’s most unusual race remains County Council District 2, where voters will first decide a May 12 special election to fill the unexpired term of the late W.J. Frierson — only for that winner to turn around and run again in November for a full term.
One of the most notable local developments came in the Clarendon County Treasurer race, where incumbent Matt Evans, listed in the filing report as Carl M. Evans, filed as a Republican after more than two decades in office as a Democrat. Evans, of New Zion, was first elected in 2002 and is unopposed after filing at 11:09 a.m., less than an hour before the deadline.
Several other Clarendon races are already set for the general election.
In State House District 64, David Epperson, a Democrat from Manning, filed to challenge incumbent Rep. Fawn Pedalino, a Republican from Turbeville. Epperson is well known in county government, having previously served as both Clarendon County administrator and county attorney. He filed at 10 a.m., two hours before the deadline.
The Clarendon County Auditor race is also set, with Kimberly Herbert, a Republican from Manning, filing to challenge incumbent Patricia Pringle, a Democrat from Pinewood.
In County Council District 1, Roger Jowers, a Republican from Summerton, filed to challenge incumbent Billy Richardson, a Democrat from Pinewood. Jowers also waited until late in the filing period, filing at 11:23 a.m.
In County Council District 3, incumbent Pat Coker, a Republican from Turbeville, will face George Frierson of Gable, who filed under the Forward Party banner. Frierson filed at 11:44 a.m., just minutes before the deadline.
The Forward Party is a newer centrist third party co-founded by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and other former Democrats, Republicans and independents, with a focus on reducing political polarization and promoting reforms such as open primaries and ranked-choice voting.
While local county races are largely settled for now, other races that include Clarendon County voters still have more sorting out to do.
In South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, which includes Clarendon County, the race is still headed toward a primary on both sides. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn is among the Democrats who filed, along with Frederick R. Goodwin, who filed at 11:33 a.m. On the Republican side, John A. Peterson and Maurice Washington filed, with Washington turning in his paperwork at 10:42 a.m.
The 3rd Judicial Circuit solicitor race, which covers Clarendon, Sumter, Lee and Williamsburg counties, appears simpler. Lester Bell, a Democrat, is unopposed on the filing list.
At the statewide level, most major offices are still headed toward June primaries, meaning the November ballot remains far from final despite the close of filing.
That includes races for governor, U.S. Senate, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, comptroller general, state superintendent of education and at least part of the field for commissioner of agriculture.
The agriculture commissioner race, however, carries a particularly strong local connection.
Clarendon County has three candidates tied to the county in that race: DeShawn Blanding, Jeremy Cannon and Cody Simpson. Based on the filing list, Blanding is the only Democrat listed, meaning he could advance directly to November, while the Republican side would first be narrowed in the June primary. Cannon filed at 11:56 a.m., just four minutes before the deadline.
Before the county’s May special election and the June primaries, Clarendon voters will first see municipal elections on April 7 in Manning and Summerton.
In Manning, all three city council incumbents are unopposed: Dianne Georgia in District 2, Ervin Davis in District 3 and Julius Dukes in District 5.
In Summerton, Mayor Keith Bowman is unopposed, as are Town Council members LeAnn Berry, Jazlynn Bowman and Elaine Wood.
The next major county race after that is the May 12 special election for County Council District 2, followed by the statewide primary on June 9. Any primary runoffs, if needed, are scheduled for June 23, with the general election set for Nov. 3.
Early voting for the June primary runs May 26 through June 5, with polls open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at designated early voting centers.
South Carolina uses an open primary system, meaning voters do not register by party and may choose which party’s primary to vote in, but may vote in only one party’s primary during that election cycle. Voters can check registration status, polling places and sample ballots through scVOTES.gov or the MySCVotes app. A valid photo ID is required for in-person voting.
