Decision expected Friday on Democratic 7th District runoff

GEORGETOWN, S.C. (AP) — A judge is expected to decide tomorrow whether a Democratic runoff is needed in South Carolina’s new 7th Congressional District.

Circuit Judge Larry B. Hyman, Jr. says he needs time to consider if Gloria Bromell Tinubu won the primary outright or if she’ll face a runoff Tuesday.

Tinubu was declared the outright winner of the primary last week by the state Election Commission. But supporters of second place finisher Preston Brittain sued, saying Tinubu only reached the majority needed to be the nominee without a runoff because the votes of a candidate who dropped out in late May were not counted.

If Hyman rules in favor of Brittain’s supporters, Tinubu and Brittain would face a runoff Tuesday.