Election Commission certifies 7th District race

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Election officials won’t order a runoff between the top two vote-getters in the Democratic race for South Carolina’s new 7th congressional district.

The state Election Commission voted Friday to certify Coastal Carolina professor Gloria Bromwell Tinubu as the winner of Tuesday’s primary.

The commission decided not to count the votes for state Rep. Ted Vick, who withdrew following a drunken driving arrest but remained on the ballot. If the commission had counted Vick’s votes, then a runoff would have necessary between Tinubu and Myrtle Beach attorney Preston Brittain, who finished second.

A court will consider the case next week because a Brittain supporter has sued.

A judge has ordered election officials not to calibrate voting machines for a runoff until that hearing Thursday.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP