Thurmond wins GOP runoff for District 41 seat
Former Charleston County Councilman Paul Thurmond handily won the Republican runoff Tuesday for the District 41 Senate seat, and he will face Democrat Paul Tinkler on Nov. 6, if the courts allow it.
Where to vote
James Island 6 James Island Charter High 1000 Fort Johnson Road
James Island 8A Fort Johnson Middle 1825 Camp Road
James Island 8B Fort Johnson Middle 1825 Camp Road
James Island 9 Fort Johnson Middle 1825 Camp Road
James Island 10 James Island Charter High 1000 Fort Johnson Road
James Island 11 Stiles Point Elementary 883 Mikell Drive
James Island 12 Stiles Point Elementary 883 Mikell Drive
James Island 13 Stiles Point Elementary 883 Mikell Drive
James Island 14 James Island Recreation Complex 1088 Quail Drive
James Island 15 James Island Middle 1484 Camp Road
James Island 17 Harbor View Elementary 891 Mikell Drive
James Island 19 Harbor View Elementary 891 Mikell Drive
James Island 20 Murray-Lasaine Elementary 691 Riverland Drive
James Island 22 Murray-Lasaine Elementary 691 Riverland Drive
Johns Island 2 St. John’s High 1518 Main Road
Johns Island 3A Haut Gap Middle 1861 Bohicket Road
North Charleston 3 Miner Crosby Bldg. 3901 Paramount Drive
North Charleston 20 W.B. Goodwin Elementary 5501 Dorchester Road
North Charleston 23 Hunley Park Elementary 1000 Michigan Ave.
St Andrews 1 Stono Park Elementary 1699 Garden St.
St Andrews 4 Stono Park Elementary 1699 Garden St.
St Andrews 5 Stono Park Elementary 1699 Garden St.
St Andrews 6 Charleston Tennis Center 19 Farmfield Ave.
St Andrews 7 Stono Park Elementary 1699 Garden St.
St Andrews 10 Pinecrest Baptist Church 1285 Ashley Hall Road
St Andrews 11 Charleston Masonic Center 1285 Orange Grove Road
St Andrews 12 Charleston Masonic Center 1285 Orange Grove Road
St Andrews 13 Charleston Masonic Center 1285 Orange Grove Road
St Andrews 14 Pinecrest Baptist Church 1285 Ashley Hall Road
St Andrews 16 Stono Park Elementary 1699 Garden St.
St Andrews 17 Oakland Elementary 2728 Arlington Ave.
St Andrews 18 St Andrews Middle 721 Wappoo Road
St Andrews 20 West Ashley Middle 1776 William Kennerty Drive
St Andrews 21 Charleston Masonic Center 1285 Orange Grove Road
St Andrews 22 West Ashley Middle 1776 William Kennerty Drive
St Andrews 23 West Ashley Middle 1776 William Kennerty Drive
St Andrews 24 West Ashley Middle 1776 William Kennerty Drive
St Andrews 26 Charleston Baptist Church 13 San Miguel Road
St Andrews 27 C E Williams Middle 640 Butte St.
St Andrews 28 Grace on the Ashley Church 2014 Bees Ferry Road
St Andrews 29 West Ashley High 4060 Wildcat Blvd.
St Andrews 30 West Ashley Middle 1776 William Kennerty Drive
St Andrews 31 West Ashley High 4060 Wildcat Blvd.
St Andrews 32 Springfield Elementary 2741 Clover St.
St Andrews 33 West Ashley High 4060 Wildcat Blvd.
St Andrews 34 Drayton Hall Elementary 3183 Ashley River Road
St Andrews 35 Drayton Hall Elementary 3183 Ashley River Road
St Andrews 36 Drayton Hall Elementary 3183 Ashley River Road
St Andrews 37 Grace on the Ashley Church 2014 Bees Ferry Road
Archdale Fort Dorchester High School 8500 Patriot Blvd.
Archdale 2 Fort Dorchester High School 8500 Patriot Blvd.
Saul Dam Beech Hill Elementary 1001 Beech Hill Road
Kings Grant Oakbrook Middle School 286 Old Fort Road
Kings Grant 2 Oakbrook Middle School 286 Old Fort Road
Ashborough W Old Fort Baptist Church 10505 Dorchester Road
Ashborough W 2 Old Fort Baptist Church 10505 Dorchester Road
Ashley River River Oaks Middle School 8642 River Oaks Drive
Thurmond defeated incumbent Sen. Walter Hundley by more than a 2-1 ratio in light voting, according to full, unofficial results.
“I’m certainly very grateful for the hundreds of voters who decided to go back to the polls yet again,” Thurmond said. Because of an unexpired term and court rulings, Republicans in the district have had a half-dozen elections this year.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to discuss the differences between the Democrats and myself in the upcoming election,” Thurmond added.
Turnout was even lighter than it was two weeks ago, when fewer than 5 percent of registered voters voted in the three-way primary.
Only 2,494 of the district’s 74,231 registered voters cast ballots Tuesday.
On Sept. 18, Thurmond, son of the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, and Hundley qualified for Tuesday’s runoff by getting more votes than Charleston businessman Wally Burbage.
Hundley is serving the final few months of Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell’s old Senate term and previously announced he would not campaign for the runoff. He halted all phone-bank work and new ads.
Hundley said he remained in the race in case courts determine that Thurmond, whose candidacy was nullified by the courts after his June 12 primary win, lost again in court.
While a judge ruled Thurmond ineligible, he allowed the Republican Party to hold a new primary for the seat, which Thurmond won. Late Tuesday, Hundley offered congratulations to Thurmond, adding, “It’s been an honor to be supported by so many people.”
Thurmond is expected to face Tinkler, a lawyer and former Charleston City Councilman, on Nov. 6. However, separate legal actions pending in federal court and the S.C. Supreme Court still could reshape the race.
On Oct. 16, three federal judges will consider a lawsuit challenging whether the U.S. Justice Department should have reviewed and approved the special District 41 Republican primary. The S.C. Supreme Court also is considering appeals in a separate but related case.
Thurmond, a lawyer, said he personally is involved in those court fights but hopes they all will be over at least two weeks before the election. “I wouldn’t want to look past the legal challenges, because if they’re successful, there is no campaign,” he said.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771.
Comments { }
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full Terms and Conditions.