Surprise Democrat wins SC 7th nomination runoff

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Gloria Bromell Tinubu is again the Democratic nominee in South Carolina’s new 7th congressional district.

The Coastal Carolina University professor won Tuesday’s hastily arranged runoff.

Bromell Tinubu thought she was the nominee the night of the June 12 primary voting. She had a majority of votes after the state Election Commission decided not to count ballots cast for a challenger who dropped out of the race in late May, although his name remained on voting machines.

But a judge last Friday ruled those votes should have been counted, dropping Bromell Tinubu to 49 percent of the primary votes and putting her in a runoff with Horry County lawyer Preston Brittain.

Bromell Tinubu is a surprise nominee. Brittain had the support of establishment Democrats in the state.