A special election for
South Carolina's 1st congressional district was held on May 7, 2013, to fill
the seat following the resignation of U.S. Representative
Tim Scott, who was appointed to the
United States Senate by
Governor Nikki Haley
Nimrata Nikki Haley (née Randhawa; born January 20, 1972) is an American diplomat and politician who served as the 116th and first female governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017, and as the 29th United States ambassador to the United Na ...
to fill
the seat previously held by
Jim DeMint.
DeMint resigned from the Senate on January 1, 2013, to accept a position as president of
The Heritage Foundation.
The filing period for candidates lasted between January 18 and January 28, 2013. The special primary elections took place on March 19, 2013.
Businesswoman
Elizabeth Colbert Busch
Elizabeth Colbert Busch (born December 10, 1954) is an American economist and politician who is the Director of Business Development at Clemson University's Restoration Institute, and was the Democratic Party nominee for the 2013 special election ...
won the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
primary and
Mark Sanford, the former governor of South Carolina who held the seat from 1995 to 2001, advanced to a runoff with former Charleston County Councilman Curtis Bostic for the
Republican Party
Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party.
Republican Party may also refer to:
Africa
*Republican Party (Liberia)
* Republican Part ...
nomination. Prior to the runoff, 14 Republicans and one Democrat signed the "Reject the Debt" pledge put out by the nonpartisan
Coalition to Reduce Spending
The Coalition to Reduce Spending is a non-partisan political advocacy group based in Alexandria, Virginia, the United States. The mission of the Coalition to Reduce Spending is to advocate for reduced federal spending and balanced budgets. The c ...
. In the runoff election on April 2, Sanford defeated Bostic. Eugene Platt, a
James Island Public Service Commissioner, was nominated by the
South Carolina Green Party
The South Carolina Green Party is a ballot-qualified political party in the state of South Carolina. It is the state affiliate party of the Green Party of the United States.
History
The party had been the South Carolina affiliate of the Natural ...
. In the general election on May 7, Sanford received 54% of the vote, beating Colbert Busch (45%) and Platt (1%).
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
* Keith Blandford, businessman and
Libertarian
Libertarianism (from french: libertaire, "libertarian"; from la, libertas, "freedom") is a political philosophy that upholds liberty as a core value. Libertarians seek to maximize autonomy and political freedom, and minimize the state's e ...
nominee for this district in
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
* Curtis Bostic, former Charleston County Councilman (defeated in runoff)
[
* Ric Bryant, engineer
* ]Larry Grooms
Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms (born March 20, 1964) is a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 37th District. He has served as the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee since 2007.
Early life
Grooms grew up in ...
, state senator[
* Tim Larkin, defense engineer and member of the South Carolina Army National Guard
* Chip Limehouse, state representative]Governor of South Carolina
The governor of South Carolina is the head of government of South Carolina. The governor is the '' ex officio'' commander-in-chief of the National Guard when not called into federal service. The governor's responsibilities include making year ...
and former U.S. Representative (won primary)
* Teddy Turner, high school teacher and son of Ted Turner
Declined
* Carroll Campbell III, businessperson and son of former governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.
Carroll Ashmore Campbell Jr. (July 24, 1940December 7, 2005), was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 112th governor of South Carolina from 1987 to 1995. Prior to this, he served as a member of the South Carolina Senat ...
George E. Campsen III
George E. "Chip" Campsen III (born March 30, 1959) is an American politician. He is a member of the Republican party.
Political career
Campsen is a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 43rd District since 2004. Pr ...
, state senatorCharleston County
Charleston County is located in the U.S. state of South Carolina along the Atlantic coast. As of the 2020 census, its population was 408,235, making it the third most populous county in South Carolina (behind Greenville and Richland counties). ...
School Board member[
* Thomas Ravenel, former state treasurer][
* ]Jenny Sanford
Jennifer Sullivan Sanford (born September 11, 1962) is the former First Lady of South Carolina and a former investment banker.
She was married to Governor Mark Sanford.
Early life and education
Sanford was born and raised in Winnetka, Illinoi ...
, former First Lady of South Carolina
* Duffie Stone, Judicial Circuit Solicitor[
* Elliott Summey, Charleston County Councilman][
* Paul Thurmond, state senator]
Primary
Results
Runoff
Polling
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
* Elizabeth Colbert Busch
Elizabeth Colbert Busch (born December 10, 1954) is an American economist and politician who is the Director of Business Development at Clemson University's Restoration Institute, and was the Democratic Party nominee for the 2013 special election ...
, director of business development at Clemson University’s Restoration Institute, (won primary; also nominated by the South Carolina Working Families Party)
* Ben Frasier Benjamin Frasier Jr. (born c. 1942) is a perennial candidate for political office in South Carolina, having run for Congress over fifteen times since 1972. Weigel, David (5 April 2013)The Alvin Greene Scam: It Lives! ''Slate (magazine)'' He actually ...
, perennial candidate, former aide to Congressman L. Mendel Rivers
Lucius Mendel Rivers (September 28, 1905 – December 28, 1970) was a Democratic U.S. Representative from South Carolina, representing the Charleston-based 1st congressional district for nearly 30 years. He was chairman of the House Armed Se ...
Withdrawn
* Bobbie Rose, former teacher and nominee for the 1st district in 2012
* Martin Skelly, businessperson
Declined
* Robert Burton, pilot and retired Air Force Colonel
* Wendell Gilliard
Wendell G. Gilliard (born July 1, 1954) is an American politician, steelworker, and union official. A Democratic Party (United States), Democrat, Gilliard serves as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing the 111th ...
, state representative[
* Blaine Lotz, Chairman of the Beaufort County Democratic Party][
* Leon Stavrinakis, state representative
]
Primary
Results
Green Party
On the Ballot
* Eugene Platt, James Island Public Service Commissioner and 1990 Democratic Party candidate for the 1st district (won primary)
Declared
* Larry Carter Center, political activist
General election
On May 7, 2013, Mark Sanford won the election and took the seat vacated by U.S. Representative Tim Scott.
Polling
Results
County results
References
External links
Elizabeth Colbert Busch for Congress
Eugene Platt for Congress
Mark Sanford for Congress
{{South Carolina elections
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