Two Republican candidates -- one who frequently runs and the other a relative political newcomer -- are vying for the S.C. Senate District 36 seat currently held by a Democrat.
The Rev. Leon Winn and Sumter County School Board member Jeff Zell are seeking the seat currently held by Democratic incumbent Sen. Kevin Johnson from Clarendon County.
The district consists of portions of Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter counties. The district, as redrawn, has gained portions of Orangeburg County, including Eutawville, Santee, Vance and Elloree, and the eastern portion of Calhoun County. The redrawn district includes about 13,267 people in Orangeburg County.
District 36 gained about 5,000 individuals in Calhoun County. The district also has about 56,422 people in Sumter County, and about 31,144 people in Clarendon County. The primary matchup is a rerun of the November 2020 general election race.
Winn ended up being Johnson's challenger in that race. Johnson defeated Winn at that time, receiving 57% of the vote. Winn unsuccessfully ran for the seat in 2012.
Winn also unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House District 6 seat in 2014 being defeated by Congressman James Clyburn.
With the exception of his current four-year service on the Sumter School District Board of Trustees (which ends in 2006), Zell has never run for political office. The winner will go on to face the winner of the Democratic primary in the Nov. 5 general election.
Johnson is running against Manning lawyer Eleaze.