2014 United States Senate special election in South Carolina

Background

On December 6, 2012, Senator Jim DeMint announced his intention to resign effective January 1, 2013, to become the president of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

Nikki Haley, the governor of South Carolina, appointed a replacement to fill the seat until the special election. Haley indicated that she would not appoint a "placeholder" to the seat, but would appoint someone who would stand in a 2014 special election to serve the remaining two years of DeMint's term. On December 17, 2012, Haley announced that she would appoint Scott to DeMint's seat following his resignation.

Senate replacement process

According to sources close to Governor Haley, as of December 11, 2012, she had narrowed the list of potential appointees down to five:

• Trey Gowdy, U.S. representative (SC-04)
• Henry McMaster, former South Carolina attorney general
• Jenny Sanford, former First Lady of South Carolina
• Tim Scott, U.S. representative (SC-01)
• Catherine Templeton, head of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Other politicians mentioned as possible replacements for DeMint included U.S. Representatives Mick Mulvaney and Joe Wilson, former U.S. Representative Gresham Barrett, state representative Nathan Ballentine, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, former Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins, former South Carolina Republican Party chair Katon Dawson, and Haley's deputy chief of staff Tedd Pitts.

Liberal comedian Stephen Colbert, a South Carolina native, expressed interest in being appointed to the seat, asking his fans to tweet Haley that she should appoint him. Chad Walldorf, the owner of the Sticky Fingers restaurant chain, was also mentioned as a potential placeholder.{{cite news | url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/dec/08/brief-walldorf-eyed-as-demint-successor/ | title=Business Briefs: Walldorf eyed as DeMint successor

Polling on DeMint's replacement

A Public Policy Polling poll released on December 10, 2012, which asked respondents who they wanted to replace DeMint, showed Colbert with the highest total. He had support at 20 percent, followed by Scott at 15 percent, Gowdy at 14 percent, and Sanford at 11 percent. Haley said that she would not appoint Colbert to the seat.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Tim Scott, incumbent U.S. senator
• Randall Young

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Joyce Dickerson, Richland County councilwoman and former chair of the National Foundation for Women Legislators
• Sidney Moore, former York County councilman
• Harry Pavilack, attorney and candidate for South Carolina's 7th congressional district in 2012

Withdrew

• Rick Wade, former United States Department of Commerce official and nominee for Secretary of State of South Carolina in 2002

Declined

• Jim Hodges, former governor of South Carolina
• John L. Scott, Jr., state senator
• James E. Smith, Jr., state representative (running for re-election)
• Leon Stavrinakis, state representative (running for re-election)

Polling

Results

Independent and third parties

Candidates

Declared

• Jill Bossi (American Party), vice president of the American Red Cross

Removed from ballot

• Brandon Armstrong (Independent), businesswoman

General election

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 28, 2014

Endorsements

Individuals

• Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska, Republican vice-presidential nominee in 2008

Organizations

• American Conservative Union
• FreedomWorks
• Government Is Not God PAC (GING-PAC)
• United States Chamber of Commerce

Organizations

• AFL-CIO
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers
• United Automobile Workers

Individuals

• Brandon Armstrong, businesswoman and former Independent candidate for this seat

Organizations

• The Centrist Project

Predictions

Polling

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Calhoun (largest town: St. Matthews)
• Clarendon (largest city: Manning)
• Sumter (largest city: Sumter)
• Richland (largest city: Columbia)

References

Notes

References

1. Holpuch, Amanda. (2014-11-05). "Tim Scott becomes first black senator elected in south since Reconstruction". The Guardian.
2. (December 6, 2012). "South Carolina Republican US Sen. Jim DeMint resigning to take over at Heritage Foundation". [[The Washington Post]].
3. (December 6, 2012). "All eyes on Nikki Haley to pick Jim DeMint successor". [[Politico]].
4. (December 10, 2012). "Buzz builds around Jim DeMint successor". [[Politico]].
5. (December 17, 2012). "Tim Scott to succeed Jim DeMint in Senate". [[Politico]].
6. (December 11, 2012). "First on CNN: Haley finalizes short list for DeMint seat".
7. (December 10, 2012). "Mulvaney in touch with Haley about Senate seat". [[Politico]].
8. Wilson, Reid. (December 6, 2012). "Who Will Replace Jim DeMint?". National Journal.
9. (December 7, 2012). "Stephen Colbert to Nikki Haley: Pick Me".
10. Robillard, Kevin. (December 10, 2012). "PP: South Carolina voters want Stephen Colbert".
11. (December 8, 2012). "Nikki Haley: I won't appoint Stephen Colbert to Senate".
12. "Tim Scott quiet on Mark Sanford congressional run". Politico.Com.
13. Shain, Andrew. (March 27, 2014). "ELECTION 2014 (updated): Who's filed for statewide, State House, Congressional offices". [[The State (newspaper).
14. "Official results 2014 Statewide Primary Election June 10, 2014". South Carolina State Election Commission.
15. Renee Standera. (October 3, 2013). "County council member to run for U.S. Senate seat". wistv.
16. George Mast. (March 17, 2014). "Senator Allen Installed as Chair of National Foundation for Women Legislators". senatenj.com.
17. Zou, Jie Jenny. (March 27, 2014). "Former York County Council member to run for Scott's U.S. Senate seat". [[The Herald (Rock Hill).
18. Jamie Self. (September 14, 2013). "Exclusive: Another unknown Democrat seeks US Senate seat in SC". The State.
19. Shain, Andrew. (December 13, 2013). "Former Obama aide sets sights on Scott's US Senate seat". [[The State (newspaper).
20. Self, Jamie. (March 6, 2014). "Democrat Wade exits US Senate race citing fundraising woes". [[The State (newspaper).
21. Shain, Andrew. (December 9, 2012). "THE BUZZ: A reunion, of sorts, for the Sanfords?". [[The State (newspaper).
22. Beam, Adam. (August 25, 2013). "The Buzz: Rand Paul on Lindsey Graham, second Democrat may challenge Tim Scott". [[The State (newspaper).
23. [http://media.clemson.edu/newsroom/Palmetto-Poll-June-2014.pdf Clemson University]
24. (March 24, 2014). "Tega Cay exec running for U.S. Senate". Fort Mill Times.
25. Self, Jamie. (November 27, 2013). "ELECTION 2014: Independent collecting signatures to run against Tim Scott". [[The State (newspaper).
26. Kopf, Schuyler. (August 12, 2014). "Independent challenger to Tim Scott fails to get on the ballot". [[The Post and Courier]].
27. [http://thespeechatimeforchoosing.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/governor-sarah-palins-first-endorsement-of-2014-senator-tim-scott-of-south-carolina/ Governor Sarah Palin’s First Endorsement of 2014: Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina. A Time For Choosing]
28. (May 5, 2014). "American Conservative Union PAC Endorses Senator Tim Scott". Tim Scott for Senate.
29. Glueck, Katie. (March 17, 2014). "FreedomWorks backs Ted Yoho, Tim Scott, Mark Sanford". [[Politico]].
30. York, Frank. (January 7, 2014). "GING-PAC Endorses Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) For 2014!". GING-PAC.
31. (January 30, 2014). "Chamber of Commerce Endorses Senator Tim Scott". Tim Scott for Senate.
32. (2014). "SC AFL-CIO Endorses Candidates For the US House and Senate". AFL-CIO.
33. (2014). "Election 2014: Boilermakers recommend candidates". Boilermakers.
34. (2014). "Official UAW Endorsements- South Carolina". UAW.
35. (July 9, 2014). "Breaking News: The Centrist Project Voice Endorses a Wide Portfolio of Moderate Candidates". The Centrist Project.
36. "2014 Senate Race Ratings for November 3, 2014".
37. "The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks".
38. "2014 Senate Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report.
39. "2014 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2014". Real Clear Politics.
40. [http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2014/south_carolina/election_2014_south_carolina_special_senate Rasmussen Reports]
41. [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/2014-midterms-republicans-narrowly-favored-to-capture-senate-in-november/ CBS News/NYT/YouGov]
42. [https://today.yougov.com/news/2014/09/07/battleground-tracker-2014-south-carolina/ CBS News/NYT/YouGov]
43. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141001212629/http://www.winthrop.edu/winthroppoll/default.aspx?id=9804&ekmensel=fee512e3_566_0_9804_3 Winthrop University]
44. Jill Bossi (AP) 1.8%, Other 0.1%
45. [http://today.yougov.com/news/2014/09/07/senate-races-battleground-tracker/ CBS News/NYT/YouGov]
46. "2014 South Carolina Special U.S Senate Election Results".