2006 South Carolina elections

none February 2026 September 2023 2006 South Carolina elections South Carolina presidential no 2004 South Carolina elections 2004 2006 11 07 2008 South Carolina elections 2008 The 2006 South Carolina elections took place on November 7, 2006, and included the gubernatorial election. All nine popularly elected constitutional officers were up for reelection, and all races except the attorney general's were contested. The entire South Carolina House of Representatives, one state senator, and six state circuit solicitors were also up for election. Several constitutional amendments were also on the ballot. Filing for the major parties closed on March 28, 2006, and filing for minor parties closed on August 15. The primaries for both parties were held on June 13, and run-offs were held on June 27. All results are taken from the South Carolina Election Commission's official results. Percentages may not add up to 100 because of rounding. Governor Republican primary Oscar Lovelace - physician Mark Sanford - incumbent governor, former realtor and U.S. representative Lovelace's candidacy was largely quixotic, although it did garner some interest from disaffected Republicans and Democrats. The Prosperity doctor emphasized working across party lines, health care reform, opposition to school vouchers and job creation. Sanford largely ignored Lovelace's campaign, even refusing to attend a South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV) debate with his opponent. Although Lovelace made a stronger than expected showing in the primary, his loss was not surprising. Republican gubernatorial primary resultshttp://www.scvotes.org/files/06primaryOfficial/RepublicanStatewide.pdf South Carolina Republican Primary Results South Carolina Board of Elections June 16, 2006 December 20, 2012 October 21, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121021192745/http://www.scvotes.org/files/06primaryOfficial/RepublicanStatewide.pdf dead Mark Sanford (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 160,238 64.8 Oscar Lovelace Republican Party (United States) 87,043 35.2 247,281 100 Democratic primary C. Dennis Aughtry - attorney Kenneth Lamar Holland (withdrew) - former U.S. representative Tommy Moore - state senator from Aiken County and businessman Frank Willis - mayor of Florence Moore obtained the support of much of the state party months in advance, having declared his candidacy early. He ran on a platform that stressed his experience in state government and support for consensus-building politics. Willis largely self-financed his campaign, highlighting his history fighting crime in Florence and bringing economic development to the Pee Dee. Aughtry was a late entrant in the race, and based almost his entire campaign on the idea of legalizing casino gambling in the state to boost revenues. Holland briefly entered the race, but left when it became apparent he could not raise enough money to be an effective candidate. His name was not on the primary ballot. Moore won with an absolute majority, avoiding a run-off. Democratic gubernatorial primary results, 2006http://www.scvotes.org/files/06primaryOfficial/DemocratStatewide.pdf South Carolina Democratic Primary Results South Carolina Board of Elections June 16, 2006 December 20, 2012 March 30, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150330064118/http://www.scvotes.org/files/06primaryOfficial/DemocratStatewide.pdf dead Tommy Moore Democratic Party (United States) 88,092 63.7 Frank Willis Democratic Party (United States) 42,317 30.6 C. Dennis Aughtry Democratic Party (United States) 7,934 5.7 138,343 100 General election Before the general election campaign, major issues in the race were expected to likely be South Carolina's property tax, cigarette tax, and school vouchers. However, the race had surprisingly low visibility, with the only major issue being the governor's combative relationship with the legislature. Job creation and public school investment were minor issues in the campaign. Despite being named one of the worst governors in the country by Time magazine a year before the election and generally being seen as ineffective, Sanford defeated Moore in the general election by ten points. State Senator Jake Knotts considered mounting an independent candidacy for governor, and collected enough petition signatures to theoretically qualify for the ballot, but decided not to run. South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2006 Republican Party (US) Mark Sanford (incumbent) 601,868 55.1% +2.2% Democratic Party (US) Tommy Moore 489,076 44.8% -2.2% No party Write-ins 1,008 0.1% 112,792 10.3% +4.4% 1,091,952 44.5% -9.6% Lieutenant governor 2006 South Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election South Carolina presidential no 2002 South Carolina elections#Lieutenant governor 2002 2010 South Carolina elections#Lieutenant governor 2010 File:André Bauer (cropped).jpg 150x150px André Bauer South Carolina Republican Party 543,414 50.1% 3x4.svg Robert Barber South Carolina Democratic Party 540,306 49.8% 2006 South Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 230px County resultsBauer: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Barber: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% Lieutenant Governor André Bauer South Carolina Republican Party André Bauer South Carolina Republican Party Republican primary André Bauer (incumbent) - former state representative from Lexington County and businessman Mike Campbell - son of former Governor Carroll Campbell, businessman Henry Jordan - frequent candidate The Republican primary was expected to be messy and close between Bauer and Campbell, but the former's plane crash and resulting public sympathy late in the race stymied negative campaigning. Campbell relied on a base of support in the Upstate, where support for his father was strong, while Bauer made stops all across the state in a traditional face-to-face campaign. Campbell received an endorsement from former president George H. W. Bush, support that was the basis of one of his television ads. Jordan, a late entrant, went negative against both camps in radio and internet ads, but never gained traction outside of Anderson. No candidate received 50% of the votes in the primary, and thus Campbell and Bauer faced each other in a run-off, which Bauer won. Republican lieutenant governor primary results Mike Campbell Republican Party (United States) 111,065 45.4 André Bauer (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 89,938 36.8 Henry Jordan Republican Party (United States) 43,503 17.8 244,506 100 Republican lieutenant governor primary run-off resultshttp://www.scvotes.org/files/06runoffOfficial/RepublicanStatewide.pdf South Carolina Republican Primary Run-off Results South Carolina Board of Elections June 30, 2006 December 20, 2012 André Bauer (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 81,591 51.3 Mike Campbell Republican Party (United States) 77,567 48.7 159,158 100 General election The lieutenant governor's race was dominated by the missteps of Bauer, the incumbent. Bauer came under criticism for multiple citations for speeding and his flamboyant personality. His controversial public image, and the fundraising prowess of his opponent, Robert Barber, who did not face a primary, kept the race close in public polling throughout the campaign. In late May, a two-passenger plane which Bauer was piloting crashed in the Upstate. Bauer's ankle was shattered, but otherwise he and the passenger in the plane survived with minimal injuries. The plane crash was later determined to have been caused by faulty bolts in the plane's construction. Barber suffered from his own personal problems when his James Beard Award-winning restaurant, Bowen's Island, burned late in the campaign. Bauer eventually won the general election with less than one percent over the vote after a recount. South Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2006 Republican Party (US) Andre Bauer (incumbent) 543,414 50.1% -2.6% Democratic Party (US) Robert Barber 540,306 49.8% +4.0% No party Write-ins 1,367 0.1% 3,108 0.3% -10.0% 1,085,087 44.2% -8.9% Secretary of state 2006 South Carolina Secretary of State election South Carolina presidential no 2002 South Carolina Secretary of State election 2002 2010 South Carolina Secretary of State election 2010 File:Mark Hammond cropped.jpg 150x150px Mark Hammond South Carolina Republican Party 656,661 61.2% 3x4.svg Cheryl Footman South Carolina Democratic Party 415,211 38.7% 2006 South Carolina secretary of state election results map by county.svg 230px County resultsHammond: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%Footman: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Secretary of State Mark Hammond South Carolina Republican Party Mark Hammond South Carolina Republican Party Republican primary L. W. Flynn (withdrew) - 2004 candidate for the State House of Representatives Mark Hammond (incumbent) Bill McKown - Surfside Beach town councilman Hammond initially faced little opposition from Flynn and McKown, and far out-fundraised both. However, Flynn withdrew from the race and endorsed McKown, whose campaign picked up traction based on questioning Hammond's conservatism and support for the governor. Hammond eventually defeated McKown. Although Flynn received 6.5% of the vote in the primary, his votes were not officially tallied. Republican secretary of state primary results Mark Hammond (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 125,016 58.8 Bill McKown Republican Party (United States) 87,744 41.2 212,760 100 General election Mark Hammond faced Democratic challenger Cheryl Footman, who did not face a primary. In a rather bizarre moment in the race, Footman attempted to burst into patriotic song at the end of her SCETV debate with Hammond, but was quickly cut off by the moderator. Hammond easily won re-election. South Carolina secretary of state election, 2006 Republican Party (US) Mark Hammond (incumbent) 656,661 61.2% +4.4% Democratic Party (US) Cheryl Footman 415,211 38.7% -4.4% No party Write-ins 473 <0.1% 241,450 22.5% +8.8% 1,072,345 43.7% -8.8% State treasurer 2006 South Carolina State Treasurer election South Carolina presidential no 2002 South Carolina elections#State Treasurer 2002 2010 South Carolina elections#Treasurer 2010 150x150px Thomas Ravenel South Carolina Republican Party 566,540 52.2% Grady Patterson South Carolina Democratic Party 518,966 47.8% 2006 South Carolina state treasurer election results map by county.svg 230px County resultsRavenel: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Patterson: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% State Treasurer Grady Patterson South Carolina Democratic Party Thomas Ravenel South Carolina Republican Party Republican primary Rick Quinn - former SC House majority leader Thomas Ravenel - 2004 Senate Republican primary candidate and businessman Greg Ryberg - 2002 treasurer candidate, state senator from Aiken Jeff Willis - real estate developer The Republican treasurer's race was hotly contested. Ryberg and Quinn were initially seen to be the front-runners, and Ryberg, the 2002 Republican nominee, made an early $2 million loan to his campaign. Ultimately, Ravenel defeated his opponents in the primary just short of the necessary 50 percent total to prevent a run-off. Ryberg and Quinn both withdrew from the run-off, citing the need for party unity behind Ravenel. Ravenel easily defeated Willis in the run-off. Republican treasurer primary results Thomas Ravenel Republican Party (United States) 115,976 48.2 Greg Ryberg Republican Party (United States) 62,617 26 Rick Quinn Republican Party (United States) 45,737 19 Jeff Willis Republican Party (United States) 16,117 6.7 240,447 100 Republican treasurer primary run-off results Thomas Ravenel Republican Party (United States) 120,124 76.6 Jeff Willis Republican Party (United States) 36,785 23.4 156,909 100 General election The treasurer's race pitted Thomas Ravenel, a young millionaire and emerging politician, against Grady Patterson, a nine-term incumbent who did not face primary opposition. The race was largely fought over the state of South Carolina's employee pension fund, with Ravenel taking issue with the state's projected unfunded liability and its failure to invest the fund in equity funds, which he claimed would boost returns. Patterson retorted by pointing out Ravenel's inexperience and accusing Ravenel of using the race as a platform to run against incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham, which Ravenel denied was his intention. Ravenel won the election, but was indicted on June 19, 2007 on cocaine charges and suspended as treasurer. South Carolina treasurer election, 2006 Republican Party (US) Thomas Ravenel 566,540 52.2% +4.5% Democratic Party (US) Grady Patterson (incumbent) 518,966 47.8% -4.4% No party Write-ins 422 <0.1% 47,574 4.4% +0.1% 1,085,928 44.2% -8.5% Attorney general The incumbent, Henry McMaster, did not face a primary and ran unopposed in the general election. South Carolina attorney election, 2006 Republican Party (US) Henry McMaster 779,453 99.2% +43.7 No party Write-ins 6,107 0.8% +0.7% 773,346 98.4% +42.9% 785,560 32% -21% 230px|thumb|Results by county McMaster: #A80000 90–100% Comptroller general 2006 South Carolina Comptroller General election South Carolina presidential no 2002 South Carolina elections#Comptroller General 2002 2010 South Carolina elections#Comptroller General 2010 Richard and Mrs. Eckstrom and Pamela Evette (cropped).png Richard Eckstrom South Carolina Republican Party 571,454 53.2% 3x4.svg Drew Theodore South Carolina Democratic Party 501,122 46.7% 2006 South Carolina Comptroller General election results.svg 230px County resultsEckstrom: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Theodore: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom South Carolina Republican Party Richard Eckstrom South Carolina Republican Party Neither party held a primary for the race. The incumbent, Richard Eckstrom, was challenged by Drew Theodore, businessman and son of former Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore. The only public issue in the race was incumbent Richard Eckstrom's use of a state-owned car to drive himself to Minnesota a year earlier, and also his use of state funds to refurbish his state offices upon taking office in 2003. The race got some national attention when Saturday Night Live aired a sketch on September 30, lampooning President Bush's low popularity by portraying Eckstrom as the only Republican running for office who was willing to be seen campaigning with the president. Eckstrom eventually won reelection. South Carolina comptroller general election, 2006 Republican Party (US) Richard Eckstrom (incumbent) 571,454 53.2% -1.3% Democratic Party (US) Drew Theodore 501,122 46.7% +0.1% No party Write-ins 373 <0.1% 70,332 6.6% -2.5% 1,072,949 43.7% -8.5% Superintendent of education 2006 South Carolina Superintendent of Education election South Carolina presidential no 2002 South Carolina Superintendent of Education election 2002 2010 South Carolina elections#Superintendent of Education 2010 November 7, 2006 3x4.svg Jim Rex Democratic Party (United States) 513,912 47.50% File:Karen Floyd - Fall 2016.jpg 150x150px Karen Floyd Republican Party (United States) 513,457 47.45% Rex: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70%Floyd: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum Democratic Party (United States) Jim Rex Democratic Party (United States) 230px County results 230px Precinct results Republican primary Karen Floyd - former Spartanburg County County Council chair, attorney Elizabeth Moffly - businesswoman Mike Ryan - teacher Bob Staton - businessman, former chair of the SC Education Oversight Committee Kerry Wood (withdrew) - computer programmer The crowded Republican primary was dominated by Floyd's campaign from the start. Floyd was able to gain the endorsements of the governor, both senators, Republican congressmen and state legislators early in the race, when it was presumed that she would be running against incumbent Inez Tenenbaum. When Tenenbaum announced she would not be running, more serious candidates began eyeing the race, and Bob Staton eventually became the viable alternative to Floyd. His race emphasized an opposition to school vouchers and support for existing aspects of public education. The other, more minor candidates, were largely united in an anti-voucher position. Ryan distinguished himself by straying from attacks on the state's standardized test regime, the PACT, instead supporting the idea of standardized testing as a way to create standards in education. Just before the election, Wood withdrew from the race and endorsed Staton, but despite this, his votes were officially tallied after the race. Floyd won the primary, barely surpassing the 50 percent threshold to avoid a run-off. Republican superintendent of education primary results Karen Floyd Republican Party (United States) 120,684 50.5 Bob Staton Republican Party (United States) 82,777 34.6 Mike Ryan Republican Party (United States) 17,332 7.3 Elizabeth Moffly Republican Party (United States) 10,995 4.6 Kerry Wood Republican Party (United States) 7,156 3 238,944 100 Democrats Ed Murray (withdrew) - teacher Jim Rex - former Columbia College president, former teacher Cecil Taliaferro (withdrew) - former COO of Allen University Although Tenenbaum began preparing for a campaign in 2005, she eventually decided against running, and withdrew from the race. Democrats Cecil Taliaferro and Ed Murray then entered the race. Frank Holleman, Tenenbaum's campaign manager in her 2004 Senate run and former deputy secretary of education, considered a run but did not enter the race. When Rex announced his candidacy, he received wide acclaim from the party, and Taliaferro and Murray withdrew before filing. Tenenbaum, Holleman, Murray and Elizabeth Moffly subsequently endorsed Rex's candidacy. Third parties Arnold E. Karr (Green Party) - correctional educator and union activist Tim Moultrie (Libertarian Party) - teacher, 1998 Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Ralph Linblad (Constitution Party) - machinist, briefly 2006 Constitution gubernatorial candidate Tony Fayyazi (independent) - educator Tim Moultrie won the nomination of the Libertarian Party at their Lowcountry convention, fending off Rebekah Sutherland, the Libertarian Party's 2004 candidate for US Senate. Karr received the endorsement of the South Carolina AFL-CIO and affiliated unions. His campaign stressed the independence of the superintendent's office from that of the governor, empowerment of public educators, and funding equity for all school districts in the state. He proposed using SC lottery proceeds to subsidize poorer districts until the General Assembly enacted a permanent funding plan. Lindblad pledged to dissolve the SC Department of Education if elected, and eliminate the office of superintendent entirely, claiming that bureaucracy is the biggest impediment to effective education. Fayyazi believed that the state superintendent should be an educator with knowledge of how public education works on the ground. General election The superintendent race was one of the more high-profile and competitive races. The incumbent, Inez Tenenbaum, opted not to run for re-election after her defeat in the 2004 Senate election against Jim Demint. Republican Karen Floyd declared her candidacy early and posted strong fundraising numbers, avoiding a run-off in her primary against three opponents. The Democrat, college president Jim Rex, also showed himself to be an apt fundraiser, and gained the financial support of large segments of the education community. Rex eventually won, and Floyd conceded, in a close election that was decided after a recount.Writer Staff Floyd concedes to Rex https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2006/11/22/met-105445-shtml/14742286007/ 2026-04-04 The Augusta Chronicle en-US As of 2026, this is the last time Democrats won a statewide election in South Carolina. South Carolina superintendent of education election, 2006 Democratic Party (US) Jim Rex 513,912 47.5% -12.2% Republican Party (US) Karen Floyd 513,457 47.4% +10.1% Libertarian Party (US) Tim Moultrie 19,704 1.8% -0.3% Independence Party Tony Fayyazi 18,905 1.7% +1.7% Green Party (US) Arnold Karr 8,995 0.8% +0.8% Constitution Party (US) Ralph Lindblad 6,543 0.6% -0.5% No party Write-ins 494 <0.1% 455 <0.1% -21.9% 1,082,504 44.1% -7.0% Adjutant general The adjutant general campaign, the only one of its kind in the nation, was interesting not only for its novelty but also because of the entrance of an Iraq War veteran as a Democratic challenger to the incumbent, Stan Spears, a former businessman. The Democrat, Glenn Lindmann, was critical of the decreasing size of the state's national guard contingent over Spears' time in office, and also wanted to make the position an appointed one instead of an elected one. Spears countered that the size decrease was due to a national policy decision, not a state one, and said the position should remain elected. Spears won re-election. South Carolina adjutant general election, 2006 Republican Party (United States) Stan Spears (incumbent) 617,871 58.1% -41.2% Democratic Party (United States) Glenn Lindmann 445,078 41.9% +41.9% No party Write-ins 343 <0.1% -0.6% 172,793 16.3% -82.3% 1,063,292 43.3% +7.0% 230px|thumb|Results by county Spears: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Lindmann: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% Commissioner of agriculture 2006 South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture election South Carolina presidential no 2002 South Carolina elections#Commissioner of Agriculture 2002 2010 South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture election 2010 File:Hugh Weathers.png 150x150px Hugh Weathers South Carolina Republican Party 635,903 59.7% 3x4.svg Emile DeFelice South Carolina Democratic Party 429,255 40.3% 2006 South Carolina Agricultural Commissioner election results.svg 230px County resultsWeathers: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%DeFelice: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Agricultural Commissioner Hugh Weathers South Carolina Republican Party Hugh Weathers South Carolina Republican Party Republican primary William Bell - farmer, 1994 candidate Hugh Weathers (incumbent) One of the major issues in the Republican primary was whether the commissioner should be elected or appointed. Bell was an advocate for election, while Weathers supported appointment. Republican commissioner of agriculture primary results Hugh Weathers Republican Party (United States) 131,061 57.4 Bill Bell Republican Party (United States) 97,326 42.6 228,387 100 General election The commissioner elected in 2002, Charles Sharp, was convicted in 2004 for accepting bribes from a cockfighting ring to help them avoid prosecution. He lost his office and was replaced by Weathers, the interim commissioner. Weathers was challenged by Democrat Emile DeFelice, an organic hog farmer and State Food Policy Council chairman. DeFelice did not face a primary. DeFelice promoted raising consumption of locally grown foods over food from other states or countries, and adopted an anti-subsidy platform that would limit direct subsidies to South Carolina farmers. Weathers won the general election. South Carolina commissioner of agriculture election, 2006 Republican Party (United States) Hugh Weathers (incumbent) 635,903 59.7% +9.2% Democratic Party (United States) Emile DeFelice 429,255 40.3% -9.1% No party Write-ins 319 <0.1% 206,648 19.4% +8.5% 1,065,477 43.4% -8.5% Constitutional amendments Amendment 1 Amendment 1 added Section 15 Article XVII of the state constitution, denying recognition of any domestic union other than a marriage between one man and one woman in South Carolina and all its political subdivisions. This also abolished common-law marriages and civil unions in the state. The amendment easily passed, although state statute already defined marriage as only between a man and a woman. Amendment 1 829360 234316 43.3 - Official results 230px|thumb|Amendment 1 results by county Yes: #2B2457 90–100% #28497C 80–90% #47729E 70–80% Amendments 2A and 2B These amendments modified Article III. 2A amended Section 9 to allow the State Senate to, at any point, recess for up to 30 days with a simple majority vote, or recess for more than 30 days with a 2/3 majority vote. This basically extended to the Senate the same powers of recess already possessed by the House. 2B deleted a legal prohibition from Section 21 that prevented either legislative body from adjourning for more than three days without the consent of the other. Both easily passed. Amendment 2A 797252 215402 41.2 - Official results 230px|thumb|Amendment 2A results by county Yes: #28497C 80–90% #47729E 70–80% #7D9CBB 60–70% Amendment 2B 762299 241141 40.9 - Official results 230px|thumb|Amendment 2B results by county Yes: #28497C 80–90% #47729E 70–80% #7D9CBB 60–70% #B6C8D9 50–60% Amendments 3A and 3B 3A modified Article X, Section 16 to allow state retirement funds to be invested in equity securities. 3B modified the same section, deleting language providing for a State Retirement Systems Investment Panel, an advisory body that oversees the investment of state retirement funds. Both easily passed Amendment 3A 725648 295398 41.6 - Official results 230px|thumb|Amendment 3A results by county Yes: #47729E 70–80% #7D9CBB 60–70% #B6C8D9 50–60% Amendment 3B 660037 331872 40.4 - Official results 230px|thumb|Amendment 3B results by county Yes: #47729E 70–80% #7D9CBB 60–70% #B6C8D9 50–60% Amendment 4 This amended Articles III and X of the constitution, allowing the General Assembly to cap changes in reassessment of property values for tax purposes at 15% over a five-year period. This amendment was part of a tax reform plan introduced by state Republicans during the summer of 2006, that centered around cutting property taxes and replacing them with an increased sales tax. Essentially, this amendment limited increases or decreases in millage to 15% of the property's pre-assessment value. Amendment 4 707270 318026 41.8 - Official results 230px|thumb|Amendment 4 results by county Yes: #47729E 70–80% #7D9CBB 60–70% #B6C8D9 50–60% Amendment 5 Amendment 5 amended Article I, Sections 13 and 17, and Article XIV, Section 5, to limit the circumstances in which local governments can use eminent domain to seize private property. This amendment was part of a national political movement to limit the powers of eminent domain following the famous 2005 Kelo v. City of New London Supreme Court case, in which the Supreme Court backed the power of governments to seize land for the use of private development projects. The amendment prevented governments in South Carolina from doing so, as well as eliminating constitutional clauses that give certain counties slum-clearing and redevelopment power. Amendment 5 885683 144169 41.9 - Official results 230px|thumb|Amendment 5 results by county Yes: #2B2457 90–100% #28497C 80–90% #47729E 70–80% #7D9CBB 60–70% See also 2006 South Carolina gubernatorial election References 40em South Carolina