COLUMBIA, S.C. — Richland County voters decided several key races on Election Day, and WLTX will have live real-time election results from all of those contests.
Watch Now: Live election coverage on WLTX+, available on Roku, Amazon Fire, and Apple TV. For a look at numbers from all contests, News19's Elections Results Page has you covered.
Among the key contests were the penny tax referendum, the sheriff's race, two top state legislative contests, and several school board races. Here's a look at some of the key races in Richland County.
Richland Penny Tax Referendum Results
The Transportation Penny Tax, initially approved in 2012, is up for renewal and has become a pivotal issue for the county. County Council members are urging voters to renew the tax, which funds major transportation projects like the Greene Street Bridge. If voters approve, the tax could generate approximately $4.5 billion, earmarked for transit improvements, community investments, and infrastructure expansion. A second question on the ballot will ask if the county should be authorized to borrow up to $950 million, allowing faster project implementation. The vote could shape transportation development and infrastructure upgrades across Richland County for years to come.
Richland County Sheriff Race Results
In the sheriff’s race, longtime Democratic incumbent Leon Lott faces Republican challenger Jim Walker. Lott, who has served for 28 years, has focused on building community relations and reducing youth gun violence. His campaign highlights his dedication to community-oriented policing and life-skills programs for young people. Walker, a former sergeant with the department, calls for departmental restructuring and enhanced training, advocating for a more collaborative relationship between deputies and the community. Both candidates prioritize reducing gun violence but propose differing strategies for fostering change in the department.
South Carolina House District 75 Race Results
In what’s arguably one of the most closely watched races, Republican Kirkman Finlay and Democratic incumbent Heather Bauer battled for the seat in South Carolina’s House District 75. In recent weeks, both campaigns ran TV attack ads on each other in heavy rotation, as well as mailers, in the seat that includes the Shandon and Lake Katherine areas near Columbia and Forest Acres.
Finlay, a former representative for the district from 2013 to 2022, said he wants to bring renewed focus to parental choice in education, local infrastructure projects, and workforce development. He told News19 that empowering parents and lowering taxes will drive growth and improve local schools. Bauer, the incumbent since 2022, said she wants to see more accountability in school spending and local control in education. She told News19 her priorities include addressing urgent infrastructure needs by collaborating directly with the South Carolina Department of Transportation and working to bring jobs through international trade initiatives.
South Carolina State Senate District 26 Race Results
In South Carolina’s Senate District 26 race, voters in Lexington, Richland, and Calhoun Counties were choosing between two candidates to replace retiring Senator Nikki Setzler.
Democrat Russell Ott, a veteran state representative from Calhoun County, and Republican Jason Guerry, a newcomer from Lexington County both advances to the race after facing primary challenges. Both candidates said education was a priority, with Ott advocating for increased funding for public schools and improved teacher pay, while Guerry supports expanding trade skill programs in schools. On health care, Ott emphasized the importance of Medicaid expansion and reducing prescription costs, while Guerry focused on controlling healthcare costs and addressing high medical expenses. Infrastructure improvements, especially in energy, water, and road projects like the Carolina Crossroads project at I-20 and I-26 were also highlighted by both candidates as vital to the district. As for inflation, Ott pointed to support for small businesses as a solution, while Guerry criticized government spending as a key driver of rising costs. The two also disagreed on abortion, with Ott opposing a total ban and calling the current six-week ban "dangerous," while Guerry, who identifies as pro-life, supports evaluating the impacts of the six-week restriction before deciding on any other restrictions.
