Former State Senator Lee Bright is set to win the Republican primary election for State Senate District 12, having received 50.9% of the vote. If the results remain certified, he will run unopposed on the Dec. 23 ballot. Bright previously held the seat from 2009 to 2017 and is the lead sponsor of the Constitutional Carry bill and the Firearms Freedom Act. The special election follows the resignation of Senator Roger Nutt, who resigned due to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

Three Republican candidates have filed for the South Carolina Senate District 12 special election. The candidates are Hope Blackley, former Spartanburg County Clerk of Court; Justin Bradley, former Spartanburg County Council member; and Lee Bright, former State Senator. Filing is still open for the position through Saturday, Sept. 6.

State Rep. Bobby Cox, a Republican from Greer, has announced his intention to run for State Senate District 12 following Sen. Roger Nutt's resignation due to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Cox resigned from his House seat to run for the Senate seat, which will save taxpayer dollars by holding the House and Senate special elections at the same time. Cox, a former Army ranger, has been a representative since 2018 and plans to focus on pro-law enforcement legislation if elected to the Senate. He also plans to introduce a bill to provide health care coverage for families of first responders who died in the line of duty.