Gloria Tinubu, Preston Brittain
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP, WLTX) - A judge has ordered a runoff for the Democratic nomination in South Carolina's new 7th congressional district.
Judge Larry B. Hyman Jr. ruled Friday that the state Election Commission was wrong when it refused to count votes for a candidate who dropped out of the race. By deciding not to count the votes, the commission declared Gloria Bromell Tinubu got a majority and won last week's primary.
Supporters of second-place finisher Preston Brittain sued, saying state law requires all votes cast to be counted to determine if a candidate has a majority.
The State Election Commission said while their policy has always been not to count votes of withdrawn candidates, they will abide by the judge's. The commission says they are preparing election machines with the proper ballots to be ready in time for Tuesday.
With all votes counted, Bromell Tinubu got 49 percent of the vote, while Brittain got 37 percent.