Not Many Candidates Facing Opponents in Primary

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Fewer than two dozen of the 170 members of the South Carolina General Assembly face opponents in this year’s primaries. They include four Democratic House members vying for two seats. Reps. Denny Neilson and Robert Williams are facing off for a Darlington seat. Reps. Curtis Brantley and Bill Bowers are fighting to represent rural Jasper and Hampton counties. Their districts were collapsed because of population changes shown in the 2010 Census. All Republican House leaders are unchallenged for re-election. But three Senate committee chairmen face the possibility of being tossed from office. Twenty-two seats are open to newcomers. Dozens of legislative candidates were removed from the ballot after last month’s state Supreme Court ruling on improperly filed paperwork. Polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday.