Vincent Sheheen wins Democratic nomination for governor in South Carolina; GOP still undecided

Sheheen wins Democratic primary for SC governor

COLUMBIA, S.C. — State Sen. Vincent Sheheen has won the Democratic nomination for South Carolina governor.

Sheheen picked up a majority of the votes Tuesday to avoid a runoff with either state Education Superintendent Jim Rex or state Sen. Robert Ford.

Sheheen is a Camden lawyer who pushed for a cigarette tax increase this year and wants to streamline government. He picked up a number of endorsements from established Democrats, including Jim Hodges, the party’s last governor.

Sheheen also wants to create a centralized strategy to bring jobs to the state and plans to provide aid to entrepreneurs.

Sheheen will face one of four Republicans in November’s election. South Carolina last elected a Democratic governor in 1998.