Newcomer Jermaine Johnson declares victory over 22-year incumbent in SC House primary
South Carolina state Rep. Jimmy Bales, a Democrat from Lower Richland who spent 22 years at the State House, lost his primary Tuesday night to newcomer and decades younger challenger Jermaine Johnson, who sought to cast the House District 80 race as a reflection of contrasts between a seasoned veteran and fresh face with a progressive message.
Johnson, 34, had a commanding lead over Bales, 84, Tuesday night as results continued to trickle before midnight.
With nearly all Kershaw and Richland precincts reported, Johnson had a nearly 56 percentage point lead by midnight.
Johnson will face Republican Vincent Wilson in November.
“This right now, it is just a surreal feeling right now,” Johnson told The State. “When I started getting some of those unofficial numbers, I was in my office and I started screaming so loud. All of my past history just came to my mind and thinking about all of the things that I’ve overcome and had to overcome to get this nomination. I still haven’t grasped the entire feeling yet. It’s still just happening.”
The State also reached out to Bales, who did not immediately respond.
Of Hopkins, Johnson campaigned heavily on new leadership in the State House, pledging to lift up the Lower Richland district.
A College of Charleston graduate, Johnson has been involved with the Richland County Recreation Commission and owns a consulting firm. He also worked on Andrew Yang’s unsuccessful presidential campaign in South Carolina, who endorsed Johnson along with former state Rep. Bakari Sellers. On top of his firm work, Johnson also is an adjunct professor at online Webster University in South Carolina.
Johnson, who is black, recently told The State he became more energized to win in the wake of national protests of mostly younger people calling for the end of racism and police brutality after the death of George Floyd, who died in May after an officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes while Floyd pleaded that he couldn’t breathe. Four officers have since been charged in Floyd’s death.
Bales, meanwhile, had cast his campaign as one entirely about experience, telling The State this was his final run.
Bales, a former educator and Richland County councilman, was first elected to the South Carolina House in 1999, eventually chairing the county’s legislative delegation and sitting on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee which writes the budget each year.
“All the respect to Dr. Bales,” Johnson said. “I told him at the very beginning it wasn’t personal. I wanted to learn from him. He actually gave me my first legislative book. I actually respect Dr. Bales, and I hope and pray that he will continue to work with me.”
The newcomer’s race stretching from Kershaw to Richland counties didn’t come without some headaches.
The COVID-19 outbreak led to a shortage of poll workers — many of whom are 65 years and old, a vulnerable age group to contracting the virus — which then resulted in a consolidation of precincts, forcing confusion among voters and, in some cases, hours long waits.
In some instances, voters at one polling precinct complained that their ballot did not include the House District 80 race.
Should Bales choose to protest the results, he would to make his case by Monday to the S.C. Democratic Party, which ultimately decides whether to grant the protest and hold another election, said Chris Whitmire, spokesman for the State Election Commission.
Joseph Bustos contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 10:41 PM with the headline "Newcomer Jermaine Johnson declares victory over 22-year incumbent in SC House primary."
