Sanford falters in South Carolina after critical tweet from Trump

Rep. Mark Sanford, one of President Donald Trump's sharpest Republican critics, was ousted by a primary challenger on Tuesday after Trump waged an extraordinary last-minute effort to defeat him. The South Carolina congressman lost to state lawmaker Katie Arrington, who won Trump's support just hours before the polls closed Tuesday.

The Latest: Trump urges SC voters to dump Rep. Sanford

South Carolina Rep. Katie Arrington, who is running for the first district of South Carolina, celebrates after casting her vote on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville. South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford has lost the Republican nomination for his congressional seat to an opponent who attacked his criticism of President Donald Trump.

Primary takeaways: Women keep winning and a Trump tweet can be fatal

The sitting Republican House member lost his race to state Rep. Katie Arrington, who campaigned as a Trump ally, after the president made a last-minute endorsement of Arrington. Sanford has been one of the few members to criticize the president, and GOP primary voters punished him for it, handing him his first electoral defeat.

S.C. Rep. Sanford predicts defeat; 4 other states vote

South Carolina Rep. Katie Arrington, who is running for the first district of South Carolina, celebrates after casting her vote on Tuesday at Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville. South Carolina Rep. Katie Arrington, who is running for the first district of South Carolina, celebrates after casting her vote on Tuesday at Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville.

Voters weigh heft of Trump backing in South Carolina primary Source: WSOC

South Carolina voters are finally getting their chance to weigh in as polls open Tuesday for the state's primary elections, with a hotly contested governor's race at the top of the ticket. The Republican primary vote is a test for the heft of the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who is backing Gov. Henry McMaster.

Key races to watch on South Carolina primary day

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson faces two GOP primary challengers on Tuesday, one of several key races to watch around the state. File/John A. Carlos II /Special to The Post and Courier South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson faces two GOP primary challengers on Tuesday, one of several key races to watch around the state.

EDITORIAL: Here’s what you need to know to vote

If you're new to South Carolina, or if you're a first-time voter, one of the most important things to know is that the state has open primaries. EDITORIAL: Primary day is almost here - Here's what you need to know to vote If you're new to South Carolina, or if you're a first-time voter, one of the most important things to know is that the state has open primaries.

James Smith still leads fundraising in S.C. Democratic governor race ahead of debate

State Rep. James Smith, backed by a former vice president, continues to outraise Democratic rivals in a South Carolina governor's race where one pollster says many voters still don't have a favorite. With a little more than a week before the June 12 primary, Smith also has more money in the bank than Charleston businessman Phil Noble and Florence attorney Marguerite Willis, according campaign disclosures filed with the state Ethics Commission over the weekend.

What South Carolina’s 2018 governor candidates say about the issues, the office

Candidates for South Carolina governor, from left to right, top to bottom in alphabetical order: Kevin Bryant , Yancey McGill , Henry McMaster , Phil Noble , James Smith , Catherine Templeton , John Warren and Murray-Lasaine Elementary School Montessori primary student Millard Ackerman works independently on his math skills Wednesday, January 24, 2018. Brad Nettles/Staff Trident Technical College offers specialized training programs for advanced manufacturing, such as these students learning aircraft maintenance.

Dem Candidate May Have Used Veteran Status To ‘Broker’…

The VA barred a Democrat running for governor from receiving agency contracts after an audit found he may have misused his disabled-veteran status Smith is a representative in the state legislature, serves in the National Guard, runs a law firm, and owns and manages a business A Democrat running for governor on his military and small business bona fides may have used his disabled veteran status to obtain government contracts and then hand off the work to non-veteran owned entities, a government audit found. James Smith, a candidate for South Carolina governor in the state's June 12 primary election, is a representative in the state legislature, serves in the National Guard, and runs a law firm in Columbia.

Gowdy aimed to close the circle of South Carolina’s history

Trey Gowdy's emotions sometimes bubble disconcertingly close to the surface, but unlike many members of the political class, he is not all surface. At a breakfast four years ago, the South Carolina Republican had tears in his eyes as he explained when he would leave Congress: after Tim Scott, a Republican congressman who had been appointed to the Senate in 2013 when Jim DeMint resigned, had been elected in his own right.

AP Reporter Rips White House Correspondents’ Dinner as Sean…

South Carolina based Associated Press reporter Meg Kinnard ripped the White House Correspondent's Association Dinner Saturday night for making it harder for reporters in red states to work and be trusted there. The dinner featured vile personal attacks by comedienne Michelle Wolf on senior White House officials Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway.

George F. Will: Gowdy aimed to close the circle of South Carolina’s history

Washington a Trey Gowdy's emotions sometimes bubble disconcertingly close to the surface but, unlike many members of the political class, he is not all surface. At a breakfast four years ago, the South Carolina Republican had tears in his eyes as he explained when he would leave Congress: after Tim Scott, a Republican congressman who had been appointed to the Senate in 2013 when Jim DeMint resigned, had been elected in his own right.

Trey Gowdy Has Some Advice For Trump On How To Handle Rod Rosenstein

Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina said it would be unwise of President Donald Trump to fire deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein while appearing on "Fox News Sunday." "The president is the head of the executive branch.