SC GOP Chair Advocating for Closed Primaries in the Future

The South Carolina Republican Party Chair, Drew McKissick, is advocating for closed primaries, limiting voting to party members only. This follows the super PAC “PrimaryPivot” encouraging Democrats and Independents to vote in the Republican primary for Nikki Haley. A bill at the State House proposes allowing voters to register with a party or remain independent, but restricts primary participation to registered party members. Despite the Republican Party’s majority in the State House and local offices, Governor Henry McMaster opposes closing primaries, viewing it as an unnecessary hurdle. The bill, H.3695, has over 50 Republican cosponsors but no Democratic support. The South Carolina Democratic Party supports keeping primaries open.