York County Voters Decide Council, Probate and Statehouse Primaries

York County voters settled a slate of local and legislative primary contests Tuesday, choosing a new probate judge nominee, two County Council nominees and three South Carolina House nominees with all precincts reporting in the June 9 primary.

The outcomes matter because they narrow the field for the November general election in races that touch county government, the local court that handles estates and marriage licenses, and three seats in the General Assembly. Every winner cleared a majority of the vote, so none of these contests advances to a June 23 runoff. In four of the six races, Tuesday’s result effectively decided the seat, because no opposing party candidate filed for the fall. Two races, House Districts 26 and 47, head to contested general elections.

Probate Judge

The countywide Republican primary for York County Probate Judge drew the largest turnout of the local races, with 24,093 ballots cast. Anna Miller won the nomination with 15,117 votes, or 62.74 percent. Daniel Harshaw finished with 8,976 votes, or 37.26 percent.

No Democrat filed for the office, so Miller will not face a general election opponent and is positioned to take the seat in November. The probate judge oversees matters including estates, guardianships, involuntary commitments and marriage licenses.

County Council District 3

In the Republican primary for County Council District 3, Tommy Adkins won outright in a three way field. Adkins took 2,882 votes, or 69.18 percent, of the 4,166 ballots cast. Brad Sims finished second with 796 votes, or 19.11 percent, and Stephanie Brown drew 488 votes, or 11.71 percent.

With no Democrat on the November ballot in the district, Adkins is unopposed in the general election.

County Council District 7

Debi Cloninger won the Republican primary for County Council District 7 with 2,758 votes, or 61.89 percent. Scott Couchenour received 1,698 votes, or 38.11 percent. A total of 4,456 ballots were cast in the contest. As in District 3, no Democrat filed, so Cloninger is unopposed in November.

State House District 26

District 26 is one of two York County legislative races headed to a contested general election. Incumbent Rep. David W. Martin won the Republican primary with 2,419 votes, or 53.90 percent. Elizabeth Enns finished with 2,069 votes, or 46.10 percent, in a race that drew 4,488 ballots.

Martin advances to the fall, where he will face Democrat Jenny Desch and Workers Party candidate Kiral Mace in a three way contest.

State House District 47

District 47 produced one of the more closely watched Democratic primaries in York County this cycle. Justin Bennett won the nomination with 835 votes, or 58.15 percent, over Peter Martinez, who received 601 votes, or 41.85 percent, from the 1,436 ballots cast.

Bennett now advances to a general election against Republican incumbent Tommy Pope, a well known figure in York County politics who previously served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the South Carolina House.

State House District 49

In District 49, incumbent Rep. John R. King won the Democratic nomination with 3,196 votes, or 80.95 percent. Perry Sutton received 752 votes, or 19.05 percent, from the 3,948 ballots cast. No Republican filed in the district, so King will not face a general election opponent and is positioned to keep the seat in November.

What comes next

House Districts 26 and 47 are set for contested general elections on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. District 26 will be a three way race between Martin, Desch and Mace, while District 47 pits Bennett against incumbent Tommy Pope. The other four races are effectively decided, pending certification and the formality of the November ballot. Results reported on election night are unofficial until certified. Voters can review official totals and contest details through the South Carolina Election Commission at scvotes.gov and the York County Board of Voter Registration and Elections.

Sources: Unofficial South Carolina 2026 primary results, all precincts and counties reporting, June 9, 2026, as reported by the South Carolina Election Commission and York County election officials; general election candidate information provided by the publisher.