SCGOP puts Katrina Shealy back on the ballot — but will it stick? - A state Senate candidate kicked off the June primary ballot for incorrectly filing an ethics document has been recertified by the South Carolina Republican Party thanks to a last-minute plea by Gov. Nikki Haley, Palmetto Public Record reported yesterday. The surprise decision raises the question whether a political party can refute the explicit ruling of the state Supreme Court, which removed Lexington tea party activist Katrina Shealy from the ballot in the first place earlier this month.
Senate gives preliminary OK to changes in election rules - In an attempt to head off future problems like that this month that led to the disqualification of more than 180 candidates for state and local offices, the state Senate Wednesday gave preliminary approval to changing the rules governing election filings, according to The State’s Andy Shain. Meanwhile, the state Attorney General’s office issued an opinion Wednesday that said the ousted candidates can run as a petition candidates in the general election.
SC governor and lieutenant governor could run together in 2018 - Voters will be asked in November whether the governor and lieutenant governor should run together, but the change wouldn’t take place until 2018, according to the Associated Press’ Seanna Adcox. The House agreed Wednesday with the Senate’s move to delay the joint ticket change by four years.
Former SCGOP official files FOIA over recent Winthrop Polls - After Republican criticism of Winthrop University’s widely published surveys of public opinion, a former state GOP official has asked the school to turn over all records related to the last three Winthrop Polls, including respondents’ identities, according to the Rock Hill Herald’s Shawn Cetrone. Kurt Pickhardt, who worked for the S.C. Republican Party and then for former GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty, requested a broad bundle of documents, including records of how respondents were chosen and who questioned them.
SC budget bill hits a snag - A Republican state senator is blocking efforts to add nine new judges to South Carolina’s court system, according to The State’s Adam Beam. A state budget proposal – already approved by the House and entering its third day of debate today in the Senate – includes $2.9 million to add six family court judges and three circuit court judges.
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