Democrat Michele Demery unseated Republican Rep. Fawn Pedalino in South Carolina House District 64 on Tuesday, overcoming a narrow loss in Clarendon County with a decisive showing in the Sumter County portion of the district.
The closely watched legislative contest was among several races with strong Clarendon County connections, including the statewide race for commissioner of agriculture, won by Republican Cody Simpson, a fifth-generation farmer from the Home Branch community.
All 2,312 precincts statewide had reported by early Wednesday, although results remained unofficial pending certification. The Clarendon County Voter Registration and Elections Board is scheduled to certify local results Thursday, Nov. 5.
Clarendon County reported 13,711 ballots cast among 21,280 registered voters, representing a turnout of 64.43%.
Demery wins District 64
Pedalino carried Clarendon County with 6,876 votes to Demery's 6,673, a margin of 203 votes. However, the six Sumter County precincts included in District 64 gave Demery 2,003 votes to Pedalino's 1,096, a difference of 907 votes.
Combined, the two counties gave Demery 8,676 votes to Pedalino's 7,972, an unofficial margin of 704 votes.
Pedalino acknowledged the defeat in a social media statement Tuesday night, thanking supporters and reflecting on her time in office.
"I gave this race everything I had, and I'm sorry we couldn't bring home the win for you," Pedalino wrote. "I'm proud we won Clarendon County."
She said serving constituents had been the honor of a lifetime and that she would particularly miss helping residents navigate difficult circumstances and celebrating important moments in their lives.
Demery, a lifelong Clarendon County resident and educator, spent 27 years working in Clarendon County schools and currently teaches fifth-grade special education in Berkeley County. During her campaign, she identified public education, economic opportunity and affordable health care as her leading legislative priorities.
In responses to questions from The Manning Times before the election, Demery said she would advocate for equitable funding for rural schools, teacher recruitment and retention, expanded workforce development and improved access to medical care in underserved communities.
"I believe we can disagree without being disagreeable," Demery said in her candidate questionnaire. "Representing House District 64 means representing all constituents — not only those who voted for me or share my political views."
Her victory marks a change in representation for a district spanning portions of Clarendon and Sumter counties.
Simpson wins agriculture commissioner race
The race for South Carolina commissioner of agriculture carried particular significance for Clarendon County, where both major-party nominees have deep local ties.
Simpson faced Democrat DeShawn Blanding of Manning in the contest to succeed retiring Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers.
The Clarendon County vote was nearly evenly divided. Simpson received 6,677 votes to Blanding's 6,673, a difference of just four votes.
Statewide, Simpson defeated Blanding, receiving 1,038,015 votes, or 51.67%, compared with Blanding's 915,529 votes, or 45.58%, according to unofficial results.
In a statement following his victory, Simpson thanked voters and supporters while outlining his priorities for the Department of Agriculture.
"Together, we will protect our land from foreign adversaries and overdevelopment, expand agricultural workforce development, strengthen farm-to-table initiatives, and reform the Department of Agriculture," Simpson said. "From the pump to the plate, we will put South Carolina agriculture first and move our state's economy forward."
Simpson's campaign drew heavily on his agricultural background and experience in state and federal government. Raised on his family's farm in Home Branch, he previously served as South Carolina state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency and as agriculture adviser to Gov. Henry McMaster.
During his campaign, he emphasized protecting farmland, addressing rising production costs, supporting agricultural businesses and creating opportunities for younger generations to enter farming.
"Once farmland is gone, it's gone forever," Simpson told The Manning Times in an earlier interview. "Ensuring our next generation has the opportunity to farm is critical."
Blanding had not released a statement as of press deadline.
County Council incumbents lead local races
Incumbent Clarendon County Council members Billy Richardson, Delaney Kay Frierson and Pat Coker led their respective races Tuesday night.
Richardson, a Democrat representing District 1, received 2,068 votes to Republican Roger Jowers' 1,601.
In District 2, Democratic incumbent Frierson received 3,706 votes, while Republican Matt Chapman received 3,142. Coker, a Republican representing District 3, received 1,905 votes to Forward Party challenger George Frierson's 630.
The county auditor's race was closer, with Democratic incumbent Patricia Pringle receiving 6,828 votes to Republican Kimberly Herbert's 6,684, a difference of 144 votes.
County Treasurer Matt Evans, a Republican, and Third Circuit Solicitor Lester M. Gill Bell Jr., a Democrat, ran without ballot-listed opponents. Evans received 8,352 votes, while Bell received 8,630.
In the Soil and Water District Commission race, David Richburg received 5,087 votes and Kevin Ross received 3,234. Voters could select two candidates.
School board incumbents lead
Four Clarendon County School District Board of Trustees seats appeared on Tuesday's ballot, with three contested races.
In District 4, incumbent Linda Lemon received 509 votes to challenger Lee Mahoney's 383. District 6 incumbent Robert "Bobby" Fleming received 656 votes, compared with 295 for Antonio Green.
In District 8, incumbent John R. Hardy received 743 votes to challenger Jessie J. Cave's 320.
Tami Green, who ran unopposed in District 2, received 769 votes.
Statewide winners differ from some local results
Several statewide races produced narrow margins in Clarendon County, even as candidates secured more decisive victories across South Carolina.
Republican Alan Wilson won the governor's race statewide, receiving 51.67% of the vote to Democrat Jermaine Johnson's 47.04%. In Clarendon County, however, Wilson received 6,710 votes to Johnson's 6,697, a difference of just 13 votes.
Republican Mike Burkhold also won the statewide comptroller general race with 52.14% of the vote, defeating Democrat Tiffany Boozer, who received 47.82%. Their Clarendon County totals were separated by just three votes, with Burkhold receiving 6,740 to Boozer's 6,737.
Republican Mark Hammond won reelection as secretary of state with 53.06% of the statewide vote, compared with Democrat Jason Belton's 46.89%. Hammond also carried Clarendon County, 6,848 to 6,660.
Republican Curtis Loftis won the state treasurer's race with 52.61% statewide, defeating Democrat Vincent Coe, who received 47.34%. In Clarendon County, Loftis received 6,805 votes to Coe's 6,686.
Republican David Stumbo won the attorney general's race with 52.39% statewide, compared with Democrat Richard Hricik's 47.55%. Stumbo narrowly carried Clarendon County, receiving 6,779 votes to Hricik's 6,729.
In the race for state superintendent of education, Republican incumbent Ellen Weaver won statewide with 51.06% of the vote, defeating Democrat Sylvia Wright, who received 48.12%. Wright, however, carried Clarendon County with 6,796 votes to Weaver's 6,637.
Democrat Annie Andrews won the U.S. Senate race, receiving 51.05% statewide to Republican Darline Graham's 46.73%. Andrews also carried Clarendon County, receiving 7,049 votes to Graham's 6,297.
U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn, a Democrat representing South Carolina's 6th Congressional District, won reelection with 69.30% of the districtwide vote, defeating Republican John Peterson, who received 30.58%. Clyburn received 6,912 votes in Clarendon County to Peterson's 6,621.
Straight-party voting favored Democrats in Clarendon County, with 5,296 Democratic straight-party ballots compared with 4,016 Republican straight-party ballots.
All results remain unofficial until certified by the appropriate election authorities.
