COLUMBIA — A three-term solicitor from the Upstate beat out a Grand Strand state senator to become the GOP nominee for South Carolina’s next top prosecutor.
When The Associated Press called the race at 8:48 p.m., David Stumbo was leading with 55% of the vote over Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, a businessman-turned-lawyer from Murrells Inlet. About 64% of ballots had been counted, according to unofficial state Election Commission results.
Stumbo has been the chief prosecutor for Abbeville, Greenwood, Newberry and Laurens counties since voters first elected in 2012.
He had the backing of 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe following his third-place finish in the June 9 primary.
Stumbo will take on Democrat Richard Hricik, a Charleston personal injury attorney, in the November race to replace Attorney General Alan Wilson, who on Tuesday became the GOP nominee for governor.
South Carolina hasn’t elected a Democrat as the state’s chief prosecutor in 36 years. The last Democrat in the office, Travis Medlock, did not seek re-election in 1994 as he made an unsuccessful bid for governor.
A Democrat hasn’t won any statewide office in South Carolina since 2006.
Whoever wins in November will oversee the 380-employee office and serve as the state’s chief prosecutor, as well as chief defender when state law is challenged in state and federal courts. The office’s responsibilities include overseeing the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, representing the state in death penalty appeals, and convening the State Grand Jury.
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