Media contact: Claire Brady

claire@scgop.com

At the close of the 2022 candidate filing period, the Red Wave is a tsunami

(Columbia, S.C.) – At noon the 2022 candidate filing period closed with a record number of Republican candidates to be on the midterm ballot. See below for South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick’s full statement:

“South Carolina Republicans had our winningest election cycle in 2020, and we saw that success continue in local elections in 2021. Now in 2022, it’s clear the Red Wave is about to become a tsunami, with a record-breaking 484 Republican candidates filed for office in a midterm election,” said SCGOP Chairman Drew McKissick.

“As evidenced by continued party switches and record numbers of Republicans filing for office in historically Democrat areas of our state, it’s obvious our conservative message is spreading and bringing new people into our Party who reject the radical ‘woke’ Democrat agenda. Maybe that’s why the state Democrat Party had to resort to last ditch, mass robo-calls to try and recruit candidates–again.”

2022 Candidate Filing Data:

• 484 Republican candidates filed for office compared to 315 Democrats
• 402 Republicans filed in 2018, 387 Republicans filed in 2014
• This is the largest margin between Republican candidates filed and Democrat candidates filed in a midterm
• 2022 – 167 more Republicans
• 2018 – 44 more Republicans
• 2014 – 62 more Republicans
• Democrats failed to file candidates in 188 offices, including four of the seven Constitutional offices
• 279 Republicans are running in a primary compared to 139 Democrats facing a primary
• 76 offices have a Republican primary
• 36 offices have a Democrat primary
• Nine incumbents switched to the Republican Party
  • Abbeville – probate judge
  • Chester – probate judge
  • Chesterfield – three county council members
  • Darlington – probate judge
  • Dorchester – county council member (announced in February)
  • Edgefield – coroner
  • Jasper – county council member

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