Incumbents defending their positions against challengers may have a much cushier path to victory in South Carolina. As Joe Biden might say, this is a big effin’ deal for Palmetto State voters.
https://twitter.com/#!/CarolineOneal/status/198417398527827968
The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that candidates who failed to submit statements of economic interest at the exact same time they filed for office must be removed from the ballot.
The ruling means that some state senators who were expecting tough primary fights, including Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, and Larry Martin, R-Pickens, suddenly find themselves unopposed in June’s GOP primary.
It also means some would-be candidates — including Kerry Wood, who says he filed for office at 11:52 a.m. and filed his economic interest statement minutes later, at 12:30 p.m. March 30 — are off the ballot, leaving incumbents without an opponent in the November general election.
https://twitter.com/#!/RepAlanClemmons/status/197786438358667264
https://twitter.com/#!/adambeam/status/197805495472496640
https://twitter.com/#!/RLCofSC/status/198401106072715264
[W]hat is evident is the voters of South Carolina are the real losers. We regret that this turn of events almost exclusively target non-incumbents and leave incumbents unscathed.
South Carolina Supreme Court judges are elected by the General Assembly, leading some to suspect corruption.
https://twitter.com/#!/petervruegner/status/197818954033541120
Last night, South Carolina attorney Todd Kincannon tweeted a request for disqualified candidates to get in touch with him.
https://twitter.com/#!/ToddKincannon/status/198210714677166082
https://twitter.com/#!/ToddKincannon/status/198210833053007873
This morning he filed a complaint in U.S. District Court on behalf of state senate candidate Amanda Somers and others.
https://twitter.com/#!/ToddKincannon/status/198400162933116928
This afternoon, voters will find out which candidates have been forced off the primary ballot.
https://twitter.com/#!/SCVote/status/198413756567523328
https://twitter.com/#!/TylerMJones/status/198436724026769408
Will the national media bother to cover this story?
Update: The state Republican Party released this statement about disqualified candidates.
https://twitter.com/#!/MattMooreSC/status/198444163426037760
Update 2: The state Democratic Party has released a list of certified candidates
https://twitter.com/#!/ReachPhillips/status/198455899222843392
https://twitter.com/#!/SSReaney/status/198460748475797504
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