Live updates: Polls close in Spartanburg County. Here are live results.
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Statewide races, Spartanburg County Council and other elected offices are holding primaries on June 14.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for South Carolina's primary election.
Shortly before 5 p.m., Spartanburg County Elections Director Adam Hammons said overall turnout through late afternoon has been low.
"It's probably 8 or 9 percent, lower than expected, but a typical day," Hammons said. "No major issues, people out voting, and things are running smoothly."
Election results: Spartanburg County results
Election results: Statewide primary races
SC votes: Spartanburg County results
The Herald-Journal has a team of reporters providing updates from voting precincts throughout Spartanburg County, and you can find complete results tonight on goupstate.com.
SC Statehouse primary: Rob Harris upsets Rita Allison, Travis Moore holds off Bill DeVore
Incumbents win County Council primaries
With all precincts reporting, voter turnout was 12.31% countywide, with 24,448 of 198,653 registered voters having cast ballots Tuesday.
With 100% of the precincts reporting, incumbent District 2 Spartanburg County Councilman Jack Mabry had 1,862 votes, or 52.26%, and challenger O'Neal Mintz had 1,701 votes, or 47.74%.
With 100% of the precincts reporting, incumbent District 5 Spartanburg County Councilman Bob Walker had 2,275 votes, or 54.13%. Jeffrey A. Horton Jr. was second with 1,375 votes, or 32.71%. Louis Nespeca was third with 553 votes, or 13.16%.
In County Council District 6, with 100% of the precincts reporting, incumbent Republican Councilwoman Jessica Coker held off challenger Alex Turner. Coker had 1,726 votes, or 53.84%, and Turner had 1,480 votes, or 46.16%.
9:27 p.m. | With more precincts reporting, it appears that the three incumbent members of Spartanburg County Council were on their way to victory.
With 58% of the precincts reporting, incumbent District 2 Spartanburg County Councilman Jack Mabry was leading challenger O'Neal Mintz by a margin of 980 votes to 804 votes, or 54.93% to 45.07%.
With 39% of the precincts reporting, incumbent District 5 Spartanburg County Councilman Bob Walker was leading with 1,046 votes, or 56.21%. Jeffrey A. Horton Jr. was second with 617 votes, or 33.15%. Louis Nespeca was third with 198 votes, or 10.64%.
In County Council District 6, incumbent Republican Councilwoman Jessica Coker was ahead of challenger Alex Turner. With 75% of the precincts reporting, Coker had 1,366 votes, or 55.51%, and Turner had 1,095 votes, or 44.49%.
8:50 p.m. | With 29% of the precincts reporting, incumbent District 2 Spartanburg County Councilman Jack Mabry was leading challenger O'Neal Mintz by a margin of 522 votes to 408 votes, or 56.1% to 43.87%.
With 16% of the preincts reporting, incumbent District 5 Spartanburg County Councilman Bob Walker was leading with 623 votes, or 55.72%. Jeffrey A. Horton Jr. was second with 371 votes, or 33.18%. Louis Nespeca was third with 124 votes, or 11.09%.
In County Council District 6, incumbent Republican Councilwoman Jessica Coker was ahead of challenger Alex Turner. With 45% of the precincts reporting, Coker had 764 votes, or 55.36%, and Turner had 616 votes, or 44.64%.
Spartanburg County Council incumbents, challengers await results
6:21 p.m. | In Spartanburg County Council District 5, incumbent Bob Walker is facing a Republican primary challenge from Jeffrey A. Horton Jr. and Lou Nespeca.
Walker said he visited all 13 precincts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in search of votes and to thank poll workers.
"I know it's a close race from everything I can determine," he said.
Horton said he's been out to the precincts since 7 a.m., and just finished his last day of campaigning at 5 p.m.
"At the end of the day, we've run a good campaign," Walker said. "I feel good. Win or lose, I've had a blast."
Nespeca said he voted early at his precinct, Landrum High School. H said he's received positive feedback from voters throughout the day, and that turout "seems to be light."
On his chances of winning, he said, "It's hard to crack tghe establishmenbt, the incumbents. Most people don't realize these elections are won in the primaries."
A runoff in District 5 is possible if none get more than 50% of the vote.
In District 6, Jessica Coker said turnout appears to be better than the special election she won in 2020 to serve the remainder of Roger Nutt's term. Nutt left County Council after winning the District 34 seat in the state House of Representatives.
She said she campaigned at 10 oif the district's 19 precincts, meeting friends, family and shaking hands with voters.
"I'm cautiously optimistic," Coker said. "I'm hopeful I will get another four years."
Coker faces a Republican primary challenge from Alex Turner, a newcomer to politics.
In District 2, incumbent Councilman Jack Mabry said there are many issues that are prompting voters to come out, including roads and growth in the Boiling Springs area.
"It's hard to tell," he said of his chances on being reelected. "The biggest thing is getting folks out to vote."
His Republican primary challenger, O'Neal Mintz, was at the Lake Bowen Baptist precinct late Tuesday afternoon to greet voters just getting off work.
"I didn't run any polls, but I'm told it's 50-50," Mintz, a former county councilman said. "If I win I'm fine, if I lose I'm fine."
The primary winnr will face Kathleen Wright of the Constitution Party in the Nov. 8 general election. Wright had no primary challenger Tuesday.
Elections Director: Turnout through afternoon has been low
4:57 p.m. | Shortly before 5 p.m., Spartanburg County Elections Director Adam Hammons said overall turnout through late afternoon has been low.
"It's probably 8 or 9 percent, lower than expected, but a typical day," Hammons said. "No major issues, people out voting and things are running smoothly."
D.R. Hill Middle School has light voter turnout
4 p.m. | Poll Clerk Mary Lou Bonte at D. R. Hill Middle School in Lyman said 194 people had voted just before 4 p.m. She said the precinct has 2,800 registered voters.
Concerned about voter apathy
3:30 p.m. | This is Caleb Smith’s second time voting and says voter participation is important. He voted at Fairforest Elementary.
“I was learning in high school about how voter participation is very important. And that it's one of our fundamental rights as Americans,” Smith said.
Samantha Hovis said people can make a difference by voting.
“Everybody can make a difference even in these small elections that a lot of people don't care about," she said. "It's important to make a difference. These people have just as much say, as like a president does in reality, especially about what happens in South Carolina and Spartanburg. So you’ve got to do what's right and you’ve got to make your vote. If you want change, you’ve got to do something about it.”
Light voter turnout at Fairforest Elementary
3 p.m. | Bruce Fahnle, a poll worker at Fairforest Elementary, said 269 people had voted by 3 p.m. He said voter turnout is about 10%.
"The turnout is about what poll workers expected, Fahnle said, and much bigger than the last primary. “The last primary in February of last year, we only had 23 total people (vote),” Fahnle said.
Voter wants new leadership in the Statehouse
3 p.m. | Adrianna Alexander of Wellford said she is voting to show her support for Rob Harris.
“I know he doesn't have any experience in politics, but I've been friends with him now for five years. He follows politics very, very closely. He's very concerned about the community, and he's done things in the community that help, and I believe that some new fresh blood would be good for our house of representatives,” Alexander said.
Inflation, gas and food prices are top concerns
2:40 p.m. | Pat Baker, a voter at the Bethany Wesleyan Precinct and a retired nurse, said her top issues included inflation -- "gas, the price of food and the lack of food." She also said she opposes teaching morality in schools.
"Schools are not focused on reading, writing and arithmetic," Baker said. "They are more focused on social issues."
Almost 200 people had voted at Poplar Springs Fire Station by 2:15 p.m.
2:15 p.m. | About 177 out of 2,709 registered voters had cast ballots by early afternoon.
"For a primary, it's pretty good," said poll manager Deborah Shea.
Poor road conditions concern voters
2 p.m. | Ron Owen, a retired Air Force veteran, said the poor condition of roads was his top local issue, and he voted for Republican Alex Turner over incumbent Jessica Coker in Spartanburg County Council District 6 because Turner promised to fix roads.
"He was at our GOP club meeting," Owen said of Turner. He's not for sitting around. He's for making things happen."
In the Fourth Congressional District, Owen said he voted for Republican Mark Burns over incumbent William Timmons.
Voter Dean Moore, a retired salesman, said he also voted for Turner over Coker because of the roads issue, and for Burns over Timmons.
"(Timmons) didn't stand up for Trump," Moore said. (Burns) has more conservative values."
Boiling Springs voter wants to see change
1:30 p.m. | "It is important to vote because I want to get back to the real America and our freedoms. Eliminate wokeism and I don’t really like the education system," said John Moberly of Boiling Springs and founder of Veteran's Lunch Corps. "I believe we should have Christianity back in the systems.”
Boiling Springs poll worker hopes more people come out and vote
1 p.m. | A poll worker at Boiling Springs Elementary said she makes it an effort to work the polls.
“I started doing this when I wasn’t working. Even though I work full time now but I still make an effort to work as a poll clerk," said Cathy Rush, a poll clerk at Boiling Springs Elementary. "People don’t realize that their vote matters, and it really does. We’ve had 190 people come in today and it would be nice to have more.”
Voter turnout numbers at Holly Springs Baptist Church
12:30 p.m. | At Holly Springs Baptist Church, 180 voters of 3986 registered voters in the precinct have voted so far today. Poll workers said it's "not as much as they would like to see but a decent turnout."
Poll worker at Lake Bowen Baptist Church working double duty
10:55 a.m. | Tori Williams, the poll manager at Lake Bowen Baptist Church in Boiling Springs, said her location didn't have enough poll workers for Tuesday's primary election.
“I am a poll worker because of the need. I love people and you meet a lot of people when doing this. It’s very important because we need more people to get them out expeditiously. We don’t have enough people working here, and I’m working a double duty. If we had more workers, we could move more people quicker. I think the thing is people don’t assume this is a paid position," Williams said.
Sheriff Chuck Wright: Politicians should 'do what they say'
10:30 a.m. | Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright wanted to see consistency, although “some things” need changing. He did not elaborate further.
“Whoever gets elected today, whether it was my choice or not, I just wish that they would do exactly what they say," Wright said. "That’s all I’m asking for, it’s almost an oddity when an elected official does exactly what they say they’re gonna do. I’d like for that to happen, whether it’s me, or Ms. Allison, or the gentleman running against her, it don’t matter. I just want whoever is saying they’re gonna do this, just do it."
District 36 incumbent Rita Allison hoping for big turnout in primary
9:45 a.m. | Rita Allison, incumbent representative for State House District 36 was at the Lyman Event Center precinct Tuesday morning.
“Well, I serve as chair of house education and public works presently, so education, economic development are tremendously important to our committee. Education is the engine that drives economic development, and we certainly are working hard to have the best education for all of our students in the state. That, along with good healthcare for our people, all the things that bring about good quality of life to our citizens, is what we’re about.”- Rita Allison
On Lyman precinct turnout, Allison said: “This is the precinct in which I live and vote. We have 11 precincts in District 36, and I am hoping that people, of course it’s a very hot day, but I am hoping people will come out and voice their vote. Certainly primaries are very important because lots of times, the district is won in the primary. So, with that said, I hope people will come out and vote."
Allison's primary opponent, Rob Harris, was also at the Lyman precinct.
Harris acknowledged he was on the incumbent’s “home turf,” and granted there might be a less-favorable turnout for himself, he stated that along with friends, family and volunteers, they had knocked on 3,500 doors across the district.
"That’s invaluable, getting voters to turnout, explaining your cause, so I am extremely optimistic about the results from across the whole district, not just where I happen to be standing right now,” Harris said.
Anne Ring of Woodruff, poll manager at Lyman Event Center voting precinct, has volunteered there since 2008 presidential election.
“It has run very smoothly, very well ... it’s been pretty steady. What happens is, because we’re so very automated now, things run a lot faster now. We’re not having as many of the long lines as we used to have," Ring said.
“For turnout, we have 4,332 registered voters in this precinct. How many will vote, I’m not really sure. But we’ll find out at the end of the day."
Reidville Elementary School voter: Southern border, inflation key issues for her
8:30 a.m. | About 30 cars sit in the parking lot of Reidville Elementary School, with people eager to vote. The process is moving quickly with voters leaving with their sticker proudly placed on their shirts. Voters are hopeful that their selected candidate will make an impactful change for South Carolina.
"It was very easy to vote and it’s nice to see they require voter ID. I’d like to think the candidate I voted for will make an impact. Sometimes candidates make promises they can’t keep. There are many changes I hope to see for the state such as control of our southern border and a handle on the inflation. It has gotten out of hand and I don’t know how families are able to handle it. It costs me $100 now to fill up my car and I don’t know what to do. I hope they make a change." - Nancy Ellis of Spartanburg
“I found that the voting process was very simple and easy. I think that the candidate I voted for will make a strong change for our state. I want to see our school board improve and get back to teaching what they need to. I want to see our congressmen stand up for the values that conservatives have and the governor lead the state into good will and change." - Tom McIntyre of Greer
Gable Middle School sees early turnout
8 a.m. | There has been a modest turnout of voters this morning, an estimated 75 thus far.
Those with personal investments in the candidates are out bright and early, including Statehouse District 33 candidate and local anesthesiologist Bill DeVore, the challenger to incumbent Travis Moore. Ann Moore, the mother of Travis Moore, was also voting at Gable.
DeVore said, if elected, he would like to see South Carolina be harder on crime and defund vaccine passports. He said he hopes to bring out conservative citizens. “I hope that conservative values win this election," DeVore said.
“You don’t have the right to complain if you don’t vote. It’s important for everyone to voice their opinion, but they don’t have any right to complain about what’s going on or when the laws are made, you need to stay abreast and follow the rules and the things that your legislature is doing," Ann Moore said.
“The gas prices, the food prices at the grocery store, my grocery bill has gone up. There’s only two of us in our family, and normally, my week is usually between $100, $125. Now, it’s $150, $175 a week, And there’s a lot of things I stopped buying that we enjoy. We’ve cut back.” - Ann Moore
Here's what you need to know before you vote:
2022 voter guide
Here's who is running for US Congress and Senate
Here's who is running for countywide offices in Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County roads, growth top issues as 3 council members face primary challenges
Who is running for statewide offices in South Carolina?
Here are candidates running for SC House seats in the Upstate
Before June 14 primary, SC candidates stump for votes at Spartanburg's FR8yard
McMaster clarifies statement about putting more armed officers in South Carolina schools
Where to vote
Here's the list of precincts for Spartanburg County.
To find your individual polling place using your name and birthdate, visit scvotes.gov.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg County primary election 2022: County Council, Statehouse
