Horry County runoff election: Voters choose final school board primary candidate

Republican voters chose their final candidate for the Horry County Schools Board of Education Tuesday night in a close runoff election.

Jason Morgan will appear on the ballot for HCS Board of Education District 10 on Nov. 3, 2026, based on preliminary results. No candidate registered to run as a Democrat alternative in the race.

With support from about 53.67% of voters – or 1,391 votes – Jason Morgan will appear on the ballot for HCS Board of Education District 10 on Nov. 3, 2026, according to unofficial results. Stephen Whisnant came in second with roughly 46.33% of votes.

“I’m grateful and thankful to everyone who has supported me and the voters who voted for me ... Now I’m ready to get to work,” Morgan said Tuesday night.

In the initial three-man primary race, Morgan and Whisnant took first and second place, beating out candidate David Warner to advance to the runoff. Morgan won 38.96% of the vote, while Whisnant garnered 34.11%.

Morgan, a retired state trooper who has volunteered as an EMT and firefighter, owns a security company. His wife is an HCS teacher, and his three children attend district schools. Before running for the Board of Education, Morgan got involved with HCS to advocate for his son with a learning disability and went on to volunteer on HCS and local school committees.

As a candidate, Morgan said his priorities as a school board member would be making sure HCS is financially conservative and using his security background to help with safety in schools.

“It’s students first. It’s making sure that everything, that every decision made puts students first,” said Morgan, “And for me, as a representative of the people, it’s making sure that I am a voice first, that I’m an ear for the people, which means not only the students, but the families, the parents and guardians, the faculty and the staff, listening to them and their needs, and then advocating for those needs at the board level.”

This story was originally published June 23, 2026 at 9:05 PM.