Voters Head to Polls for House District 70 and Congressional District 5 Special Elections

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)- Special elections were held Tuesday to fill seats left vacant by former Congressman Mick Mulvaney and the late Representative Joe Neal.

The 5h Congressional District Mulvaney represented covers parts of the Midlands and according to the state’s election commission, 16 candidates campaigned for his old position.

Governor McMaster says he’s sure a GOP member get the job. “All of our congressional seats are very important. I’m confident that it will be won by a Republican. We need Conservative government not only here in South Carolina but also in Washington. It’s a good-spirited race going on,” said McMaster.

In parts of Richland and Sumter counties, eight candidates vied for the late Representative Joe Neal’s seat. Longtime friend and fellow representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter says the candidate who assumes Neal’s seat must be tough like he was.  “Joe Neal cared about the least of these. Joe Neal stood whether anybody else was standing or not, and he was a fighter,” said Cobb-Hunter.

Voters say no matter who wins, the next representative must continue to interact with constituents. “Work with the community, working with the people in the community, listening to the people in the community, and relate to the people in the community what’s going on in the House of Representatives,” said Hopkins voter E.C. Nelson.