2018 South Carolina Secretary of State election
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County results
Congressional district results
Precinct resultsHammond: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% 90%+ Whittenburg: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% 90%+ Tie: 50% | ||||||||||||||||
The 2018 South Carolina Secretary of State election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the secretary of state of South Carolina. Incumbent Republican Mark Hammond sought another term in office, running against Democratic challenger Melvin Whittenburg. Primary elections were held on June 12, 2018.
Republicans have held this office since 1991.
Republican primary
Three other Republicans challenged Hammond in the Republican primary. Hammond won a majority of votes, avoiding the need for a runoff primary election and securing the Republican nomination.[1]
State Representative and primary challenger Joshua Putnam criticized Hammond for his office's failure to place the state seal on over one hundred enacted laws, which is required by law.[2] Hammond said the issue had been addressed, and that the enforceability of the implicated laws were not impacted.[3]
The race focused on the use of technology in accomplishing the duties of the office. Hammond highlighted a crack-down on “disreputable charities” and increasing e-filing for businesses. His challengers argued the Secretary's office used outdated or poorly designed technology that was difficult for citizens and businesses to use.[3]
Democratic primary.
Melvin Whittenburg was the sole-declared candidate and automatically became the Democratic nominee following the June 12 primary election.
General election
Hammond defeated Whittenburg in the general election, winning a fifth term in office.
Whittenburg, a former Exonnmobile executive and soldier, argued that Hammond had been in office too long, the technology used by his office was too burdensome, and more investment needed to be made in bringing business opportunities to rural areas.[4] Hammond stated his tenure produced more efficiency for businesses, contributed to the state's economic growth in the 2010s, and protected charitable donors. He also argued that his relationship with state lawmakers would better advance the goals of the office compared to a political newcomer like Whittenburg.[4]
Predictions
| Source | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Governing | Safe R[5] |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |
|
970,576 | 57.11% | −2.30% | |
| Democratic | Melvin T Whittenburg | 727,952 | 42.83% | +2.41% | |
| Write-in | 968 | 0.06% | ±0.00% | ||
| Total votes | 1,699,496 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
| County | Mark Hammond Republican |
Melvin Whittenburg Democratic |
Write-ins Other parties | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| Abbeville | 5,629 | 65.86% | 2,916 | 34.12% | 2 | 0.02% |
| Aiken | 37,878 | 63.69% | 21,556 | 36.25% | 38 | 0.06% |
| Allendale | 641 | 23.88% | 2,100 | 76.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Anderson | 45,187 | 72.11% | 17,454 | 27.85% | 27 | 0.04% |
| Bamberg | 1,619 | 37.16% | 2,736 | 62.79% | 2 | 0.05% |
| Barnwell | 3,883 | 53.44% | 3,383 | 46.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Beaufort | 40,213 | 57.37% | 29,847 | 42.59% | 28 | 0.04% |
| Berkeley | 36,900 | 56.44% | 28,438 | 43.49% | 43 | 0.07% |
| Calhoun | 3,108 | 52.37% | 2,825 | 47.61% | 1 | 0.02% |
| Charleston | 67,569 | 46.35% | 78,098 | 53.57% | 102 | 0.07% |
| Cherokee | 11,974 | 71.86% | 4,685 | 28.12% | 3 | 0.02% |
| Chester | 5,796 | 53.37% | 5,056 | 46.56% | 7 | 0.06% |
| Chesterfield | 6,890 | 57.59% | 5,068 | 42.36% | 5 | 0.04% |
| Clarendon | 5,937 | 49.24% | 6,118 | 50.74% | 3 | 0.02% |
| Colleton | 7,242 | 54.89% | 5,948 | 45.08% | 4 | 0.03% |
| Darlington | 12,163 | 52.42% | 11,031 | 47.54% | 7 | 0.03% |
| Dillon | 4,106 | 50.37% | 4,043 | 49.61% | 2 | 0.02% |
| Dorchester | 28,798 | 56.99% | 21,715 | 42.97% | 24 | 0.05% |
| Edgefield | 5,741 | 61.38% | 3,609 | 38.59% | 3 | 0.03% |
| Fairfield | 3,589 | 38.97% | 5,614 | 60.96% | 5 | 0.05% |
| Florence | 23,762 | 52.37% | 21,593 | 47.58% | 21 | 0.05% |
| Georgetown | 14,694 | 56.99% | 11,085 | 42.99% | 4 | 0.02% |
| Greenville | 108,826 | 62.19% | 67,042 | 38.31% | 133 | 0.08% |
| Greenwood | 14,552 | 63.18% | 8,471 | 36.78% | 11 | 0.05% |
| Hampton | 2,629 | 40.16% | 3,915 | 59.79% | 3 | 0.05% |
| Horry | 73,846 | 66.94% | 36,455 | 33.03% | 47 | 0.04% |
| Jasper | 4,451 | 47.71% | 4,875 | 52.25% | 4 | 0.04% |
| Kershaw | 14,753 | 63.32% | 8,525 | 36.59% | 21 | 0.09% |
| Lancaster | 20,703 | 62.93% | 12,177 | 37.01% | 15 | 0.05% |
| Laurens | 13,394 | 66.07% | 6,862 | 33.86% | 15 | 0.07% |
| Lee | 2,217 | 34.91% | 4,131 | 65.05% | 2 | 0.03% |
| Lexington | 68,018 | 68.86% | 30,693 | 31.07% | 74 | 0.07% |
| Marion | 4,020 | 38.61% | 6,389 | 61.37% | 2 | 0.02% |
| Marlboro | 3,223 | 42.07% | 4,435 | 57.90% | 3 | 0.04% |
| McCormick | 2,354 | 53.30% | 2,062 | 46.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Newberry | 8,246 | 63.56% | 4,719 | 36.36% | 9 | 0.07% |
| Oconee | 20,486 | 74.52% | 6,995 | 25.45% | 12 | 0.04% |
| Orangeburg | 9,564 | 31.27% | 21,010 | 68.69% | 12 | 0.04% |
| Pickens | 29,371 | 76.30% | 9,103 | 23.65% | 20 | 0.05% |
| Richland | 48,372 | 34.43% | 92,000 | 65.48% | 123 | 0.09% |
| Saluda | 4,705 | 68.73% | 2,136 | 31.21% | 5 | 0.07% |
| Spartanburg | 62,023 | 65.48% | 32,648 | 34.47% | 56 | 0.06% |
| Sumter | 15,102 | 43.99% | 19,211 | 55.96% | 11 | 0.03% |
| Union | 5,352 | 60.11% | 3,547 | 39.85% | 4 | 0.04% |
| Williamsburg | 3,894 | 33.72% | 7,650 | 66.25% | 5 | 0.04% |
| York | 57,156 | 60.04% | 37,983 | 39.90% | 50 | 0.05% |
| Totals | 970,576 | 57.1% | 727,952 | 42.8% | 968 | 0.1% |
References
- ↑ "South Carolina Secretary of State election, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "Incumbent Hammond wins SC GOP Secretary of State primary". AP News. 2018-06-13. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- 1 2 Brown, Kirk. "Challengers criticize South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- 1 2 Kummerer, Samantha (2018-11-02). "Mark Hammond seeks fifth term for Secretary of State against U.S Army veteran". WMBF News. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ Jacobson, Louis (2018-06-01). "Secretary of State Races Are More Competitive and Important Than Ever". Governing. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
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