Where to vote and who's running: A guide to Horry County's primary races (2024)

Most Grand Strand incumbents won't face any opposition in the June 11 primaries, but there are a few contested races.

One Horry County Council member has primary opposition, as does one Horry County Board of Education member. There are also primary challenges for the county auditor, four state representatives and a longtime state senator.

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party will hold their primaries that day. Voters can only vote in one primary. Runoffs will be held June 25. The general election is Nov. 5.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. People must bring their Photo ID to the polling place. There are 124 voting precincts in Horry County.

Those who need polling place information can visit scvotes.gov or call the Horry County Voters Registration and Elections office at 843-915-5440.

Here’s a snapshot of each primary race:

U.S. House of Representatives District 7

Democrats Mal Hyman and Daryl W. Scottare vying for the chance to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, R-Surfside Beach,this fall.

A longtime educator, Hyman has touted his support for universal health care, reducing student debt and ending tax breaks for companies that relocate overseas.

Scott is a Conway native who has campaigned on his rise from a financially struggling home to S.C. National Guard service. His platform includes support for women's rights, improving health care and border security.

District 7 covers Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Marlboro, Marion, Horry and Georgetown counties, and part of Florence County.

S.C. Senate District 33

Perhaps the highest profile race in Horry County, this Republican Primary features longtime state Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, and former Conway City Councilman Autry Benton. The winner will face Democrat Pete John Bember in November.

Having served in the S.C. Senate since 1993, Rankin is a known quantity. An attorney, he chairs the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee and his supporters have highlighted his extensive experience. He's also touted his support for tax cuts, higher pay for law enforcement and bond reform.

Benton, meanwhile, is essentially a political novice but has campaigned on the need for a fresh, bold voice in Columbia. A Marine Corps veteran and businessman, he won a special city council election and served a few months last year before deciding to challenge Rankin instead of seeking a full council term. Benton's platform focuses on improving the area's infrastructure. He also supports judicial and tort reform.

S.C. House District 57

In this race, incumbent Rep. Lucas Atkinson, D-Marion, faces a primary challenge from Cynthia Ford. The winner will meet Republican Kevin Taylor Coleridge in November.

A consultant, Atkinson has served in the House since 2017. He sits on the Agriculture and Rules Committee and has highlighted his support for farmers. He's also campaigned on his goal of improving infrastructure and education.

A political newcomer, Ford lives in Mullins. She has a master's degree in psychology and has also studied criminal justice and nursing. She worked as a juvenile probation officer for the state Department of Juvenile Justice and has also served in the Air National Guard. Her platform calls for improving school safety and supporting farmers.

District 57 touches Horry, Marion and Williamsburg counties.

S.C. House District 58

This Horry County race features incumbent Rep.Jeff Johnson, R-Conway, and challenger John Beatty. With no Democratic opposition, the winner of this Republican Primary is a lock to take the seat.

A lawyer and businessman, Johnson has held the House seat for nearly a decade. He chairs the Legislative Oversight Committee and sits on the Judiciary Committee. He's touted his support for veterans, bond reform and tougher penalties for drug dealers.

An Air Force veteran and businessman, Beatty has campaigned on his concerns about "unbridled growth" the county and how it has impacted schools, roads and taxes. He supports communities charging impact fees that force developers to pay for the infrastructure needed to support growth.

This district covers southern Conway and stretches along the U.S. Highway 501 corridor west to Aynor.

S.C. House District 61

Incumbent Carla Schuessler, R-Myrtle Beach, faces two primary challengers in her bid for a second term. Shannon Grady and Patrick Herrmann are the other Republican candidates. The winner will face no Democratic opposition in November.

Schuessler is a business development manager for an engineering firm. She has campaigned on her support for improving roads and bridges, cracking down on fentanyl trafficking, mitigating flooding and bolstering public safety.

A South Carolina native, Grady played softball at Coastal Carolina University, then spent nearly three decades in education. She returned to Horry County in 2018 and unsuccessfully ran for an Horry County Council seat in 2022. Grady's platform calls for reevaluating the tax structure to put more funding into infrastructure. She's also touted her anti-abortion views and her opposition to critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public schools.

A business owner, Hermann attended Coastal Carolina University and now lives in the Forestbrook area. His platform focuses on cutting wasteful spending, boosting pay for teachers and firefighters, and improving outdated infrastructure.

This district runs from Conway east to the Intracoastal Waterway, covering much of the strip between U.S. Highway 501 and S.C. Highway 544.

S.C. House District 106

In this primary, incumbent Rep. Val Guest, R-Myrtle Beach, faces a rematch with Brian Sweeney for the South Strand seat.

Guest defeated in Sweeney in the Republican Primary two years ago en route to winning his first term. He replaced Russell Fry, who is now serving in Congress. With no Democratic opposition in November, the winner of this GOP Primary is all but guaranteed to take the seat.

An attorney, Guest has campaigned on prioritizing public safety, aligning local road projects with the state's 10-year plan and safeguarding energy infrastructure.

With a "drain the Columbia swamp" platform, Sweeney has portrayed himself as a conservative outsider who will challenge the status quo. He's called for forcing developers to pay for new infrastructure, stronger domestic violence regulations and tougher policies on illegal immigration.

Horry County Auditor

In her bid for a second term,Horry County Auditor Beth Calhoun faces a Republican Primary challenge from Tina Hardee, a longtime employee of the Horry County Treasurer's Office. The winner faces no Democratic opposition in November.

The auditor is responsible for the county's tax billing.

Calhoun has campaigned on what she's done during her first term, including changing staff policies and guides, updating the office's website and adding online forms for user convenience.

Hardee, meanwhile, has pointed to her nearly 18 years of service in the treasurer's office. In that role, she said she's worked closely with the auditor, assessor and finance departments. Hardee maintains the auditor's office needs to be modernized with online registration and drive-thru services. She's also said she will verify documents to ensure only legal residents can register their vehicles.

Horry County Council District 10

Incumbent Horry County Councilman Danny Hardee faces two challengers in the Republican Primary. Timothy Davis and Kenny Lee are vying for the seat. The winner will meet Democrat Brian Palmer in November.

Hardee is seeking his third term in office. His campaign has touted his efforts to improve fire and EMS services, recreation facilities and waste management centers.

A U.S. Army veteran and land surveyor who lives in Green Sea, Davis has campaigned on the need to improve public safety and government transparency, lower property taxes and reduce traffic congestion. Sustainable development is also a key part of his platform.

A small business owner and former county police officer, Lee's platform includes improving roads and infrastructure, enhancing public safety departments, streamlining county services and making drainage upgrades.

District 10 is vast, stretching from S.C. Highway 31 through northwestern Horry all the way to the state line. A swath of the S.C. Highway 90 corridor lies in this district.

Horry County Board of Education District 11

Three Republicans will be on the ballot for the District 11 Horry County Board of Education seat, but just two candidates are actually running.

Incumbent Shanda Allen is facing a challenge from longtime educator Darrell Ricketts.Jennifer Gaskins originally filed to run but later withdrew from the race, according to a video she posted on social media. By the time she dropped out, Gaskins said it was too late to get her name off the ballot. She has endorsed Ricketts.

No Democrats filed for the seat.

Allen was elected to the school board in 2016. She runs Allen Aviation with her husband Al, an Horry County councilman who represents the same district. Shanda Allen has campaigned on her local roots and her support for family values.

Ricketts spent over three decades with Horry County Schools, working as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. His campaign has focused on his experience and his ability to connect with teachers, students and parents. Ricketts has highlighted the need for adequately funding district operations, making schools safer and addressing growth.

He unsuccessfully ran for school board chairman in 2022.

District 11 covers a swath of western Horry County, including parts of the Aynor, Conway and Green Sea areas.