CVSC Special Election Update: Recent Primary Results and November 4th Election
Every local and state election in South Carolina directly impacts CVSC’s ability to fight for clean air, protected land and water, and a renewable energy future. Each elected official becomes a conservation champion who will use their political power to drive progress on our shared priorities, or an opponent who stands in our way. With little public discourse and historically low turnout, these elections—and the future of South Carolina—are often decided by just a handful of votes.
On October 21st, key primary elections in Lexington, Spartanburg, and Greenville demonstrated both the promise and the challenges we face with each election outcome.
In House District 88 (Lexington), our endorsed candidate, Brian Duncan, is advancing to a runoff election on November 4th following a tight four-way Republican primary. Duncan is a small business owner, veteran, and longtime Lexington County resident who grew up testing groundwater with his father. He’s committed to protecting clean water, ensuring polluters are held accountable, and fighting for responsible, community-driven growth.
Brian Duncan finished the primary within 31 votes of his nearest challenger. Low voter turnout will be a concern in the upcoming runoff election as well, so we’ll be working hard to support Brian Duncan in this critical race and encourage conservation voters to text your friends in Lexington County to go vote for Brian Duncan.
Runoff Election Details for House 88:
- Early Voting: October 29 through October 31
- Early Voting Location: Lexington County Voter Registration Office (605 West Main Street, Suite C, Lexington)
- Runoff Election Day: Tuesday, November 4
On the flip side of the coin, in Senate District 12 (Spartanburg/Greenville), Former Senator Lee Bright narrowly beat two conservation candidates in the Republican primary with just over 50% of the vote. Bright has a long track record of opposing conservation legislation and consistently received low scores on CVSC’s legislative scorecard during his prior time in the Senate. This is a disappointing outcome for those who care about clean air, water, and land protection in the Upstate.
This outcome reinforces our determination to elect conservation-minded leaders to the General Assembly, where their leadership will be essential to advancing our conservation priorities.
Looking ahead, the House District 98 (Dorchester) primaries will be held on November 4th, and we’re proud to have endorsed Brian Hill for the GOP primary. Hill is committed to ensuring that new development is both responsible and sustainable. Brian brings integrity and a solutions-oriented approach to governance and will be a great partner on conservation issues if elected. As an advocate for parks and trails, he believes it is very important that the young people of our state have ample access to the outdoors.
We will continue to monitor these races closely and keep you informed as results come in. Thank you for standing with us as we fight for the South Carolina we all love.