Delany Kay Frierson and Matthew Chapman emerged as the winners of their respective party primaries for the vacant Clarendon County Council District 2 seat, according to results certified March 12 by the Clarendon County Board of Voter Registration and Elections.
Frierson won the Democratic primary with 578 votes, defeating Michele Demery, who received 118 votes, and McKinley Hudson, who received 51 votes.
Chapman won the Republican primary with 139 votes, defeating Kim E. Jones, who received 111 votes.
The District 2 seat became vacant following the death of longtime Councilman W.J. Frierson. Voters in District 2 will now return to the polls for the special election on May 12, when Frierson and Chapman will face off to determine who will fill the remainder of the unexpired term.
However, the race will not end there.
Because the District 2 seat is also on the ballot in the 2026 General Election, the winner of the May 12 special election will need to continue campaigning for the regularly scheduled election later this year.
Following the certification of results, both nominees thanked supporters publicly and turned their attention toward May.
Chapman, in a Facebook post, thanked voters for their “prayers and support” and said, “We have won the primary and moved on to the main event on MAY 12th.” He urged supporters to remain engaged, adding, “Put MAY 12th on your calendar, in your phone, on the refrigerator, or whatever it takes to remind you to vote MAY 12th!”
Frierson also thanked supporters in a social media post after the primary, writing, “Thank you for your prayers, support, and your vote.” She called the May 12 election the “next milestone” and added, “I will need you all again.”
Certified results show Frierson carried the Democratic primary decisively, boosted largely by a strong early-voting performance. She received 385 early votes, far outpacing Demery’s 76 and Hudson’s 40. Chapman also led in early voting on the Republican side, receiving 52 early votes to Jones’ 41.
Jones led Chapman in the Jordan precinct, 49-26, but Chapman carried most of the remaining Republican precincts and the all-important early vote total to secure the nomination. On the Democratic side, Frierson led in every precinct listed in The Manning Times’ election night precinct tally.
The Manning Times will continue to follow the District 2 race as the May 12 special election approaches.
Unofficial election night precinct breakdowns, as tallied by The Manning Times:
Alcolu: Demery 0, Frierson 2, Hudson 0, Chapman 7, Jones 0
Bloomville: Demery 0, Frierson 4, Hudson 0, Chapman 2, Jones 1
Davis Station: Demery 6, Frierson 2, Hudson 2, Chapman 0, Jones 4
Home Branch: Demery 0, Frierson 4, Hudson 0, Chapman 5, Jones 0
Jordan: Demery 4, Frierson 15, Hudson 1, Chapman 26, Jones 49
Manning 1: Demery 4, Frierson 11, Hudson 0, Chapman 5, Jones 3
Manning 2: Demery 2, Frierson 10, Hudson 2, Chapman 3, Jones 2
Manning 3: Demery 5, Frierson 30, Hudson 1, Chapman 14, Jones 2
Manning 4: Demery 10, Frierson 50, Hudson 0, Chapman 2, Jones 1
Manning 5: Demery 2, Frierson 20, Hudson 1, Chapman 4, Jones 1
Paxville: Demery 1, Frierson 26, Hudson 3, Chapman 13, Jones 1
Wilson Foreston: Demery 1, Frierson 15, Hudson 1, Chapman 2, Jones 5
Early Voting: Demery 76, Frierson 385, Hudson 40, Chapman 52, Jones 41
Mail-in: Demery 7, Frierson 3, Hudson 0, Chapman 1, Jones 1
