Deon Tedder leads SC Sen. District 42 runoff by 11 votes; recount likely

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – State Representative Deon Tedder has won the South Carolina Senate District 42 primary runoff by 11 votes, but a recount is expected.

State Reps. Deon Tedder and Wendell Gilliard remained neck-and-neck for most of the night as votes were counted in Charleston and Dorchester counties.

Unofficial results from the South Carolina Election Commission show Rep. Tedder earned 2,064 votes against Gilliard’s 2,052 votes. Tedder leads by 11 votes.

The runoff came after neither candidate received over 50% of the votes in the three-candidate primary election earlier this month, forcing a runoff between the top two choices.

Tuesday’s close margin has triggered a recount, which a candidate can call for when the votes are separated by less than 1%.

The winner will face Republican Rosa Kay in the November 7th general election.