COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina’s primaries could foretell the fate of Gov. Nikki Haley’s proposals in her final two years in office.
Tuesday’s elections represent Haley’s last chance to change who runs the Republican-dominated Legislature while she’s governor.
Her incumbent targets include South Carolina’s most powerful lawmaker, Senate President Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman of Florence. Voters will decide whether he returns for a 10th term.
Haley also has campaigned against Ethics Chairman Luke Rankin of Myrtle Beach and the leading senator on K-12 issues, Wes Hayes of Rock Hill.
A Haley political group has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars backing her opposition campaigns. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster and other Haley allies have worked to re-elect the incumbents.
Others facing primary opposition include Senate Judiciary Chairman Larry Martin, Haley’s chief Senate ally.
