South Carolina runoffs have showdown in GOP education race
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's primaries end Tuesday with only two statewide runoffs, one for each party.
Republicans will choose their candidate for the open Education Superintendent office, while Democrats choose their nominee for U.S. Senate to take on incumbent Sen. Tim Scott as he seeks a second full term.
There also are six state House runoffs. Only one involves incumbents. Democratic Reps. Roger Kirby and Cezar McKnight were drawn through redistricting into the same district that stretches across three counties but is centered in Williamsburg County.
EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT
The Republican runoff for education superintendent is between the first-place finisher with grassroot support from teachers and educators and the better-financed second-place finisher with support from the party establishment.
Palmetto State Teachers Association Executive Director Kathy Maness won 31% of the vote in the six-candidate race on June 14, while conservative think tank CEO Ellen Weaver finished second with 23%. A candidate needs a majority of the vote to avoid a runoff.
Maness secured one big endorsement when Republican Education Superintendent Molly Spearman, who is leaving the job after eight years, threw her support behind Maness. Spearman said Maness has been a teacher, knows what goes on in schools and is familiar with the legislative process.
Spearman had a similar career track and sometimes disagreed with other Republican leaders, especially on issues such as whether local districts should be able to mandate masks to protect against COVID-19.
Many other Republican leaders are backing Weaver, who also spent time as chairwoman of the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee.
Weaver has raised more money — $327,000 to Maness' $115,000 — but faces another hurdle...