COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The Latest on a special election runoff to nominate a GOP candidate to fill the former South Carolina congressional seat of Mick Mulvaney (all times local):
9:20 p.m.
The runoff election for the Republican GOP nomination to replace Mick Mulvaney in South Carolina’s 5th District is too close to call.
The difference in votes between former lawmaker Ralph Norman and state legislator Tommy Pope on Tuesday night was less than 1 percent, meaning a recount is automatic.
Mulvaney vacated the 5th District seat to become White House budget director.
The runoff was required when voters in the Republican-leaning district gave Norman and Pope roughly equal support while rejecting the flamethrowers and outsiders in a seven-way GOP primary.
Both candidates selectively align with President Donald Trump, supporting his proposed border wall with Mexico as well as favoring his efforts to promote U.S. economic growth by loosening federal regulations.
The winner will go up against Democrat Archie Parnell on June 20.
___
7 p.m.
Polls have closed in the South Carolina special election runoff to pick a Republican candidate to vie for Mick Mulvaney’s former congressional seat.
Voters had until 7 p.m. Tuesday to cast their votes for state House Rep. Tommy Pope or former legislator Ralph Norman in the 5th Congressional District.
The seat became vacant earlier this year when Mulvaney was confirmed as White House budget director.
Voters who participated in a GOP primary earlier this month were eligible to cast ballots Tuesday. The runoff winner goes on to face Democrat Archie Parnell in a June 20 special election.
The district covers 11 mostly rural counties except for York County, just south of Charlotte, North Carolina.
___
9:35 a.m.
Voters in South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District are going to the polls to pick a Republican candidate for the seat given up when Rep. Mick Mulvaney became White House Budget director.
A state representative and a former state representative are seeking the GOP nomination for the seat Tuesday.
House Speaker Pro Tem Tommy Pope of York led the May 2 primary involving seven Republican candidates.
He faces Rock Hill developer Ralph Norman, who trailed Pope by less than 1 percentage point. Norman resigned to focus on the campaign.
The winner will face Democrat Archie Parnell in the June 20 special election. Powell is a former staff attorney for the House Ways & Means Committee.
The district covers 11 mostly rural counties except for York County, just south of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.