SC GOP says it won’t cover cost of primary

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Republican Party says it will provide only the $20,000-per-candidate filing fee toward the cost of running next month’s GOP presidential primary.

State GOP executive director Matt Moore said Monday last month’s decision by the state Supreme Court makes it clear that only the state and counties can run the Jan. 21 contest. He notified the state Election Commission that the state political party won’t provide any additional funding.

Four counties filed a lawsuit in October, arguing the primary was a private affair the state didn’t have enough money to handle. The GOP had previously agreed to cover most of the cost.

But Moore says those arrangements are moot. He says fundraising will now go toward paying an unnecessary six-figure legal bill.