A quiet but unusual primary season is winding down in South Carolina as voters prepare to go to the polls on Tuesday to decide nominees for both of the state's U.S. Senate seats.
Voters will also settle five congressional primaries and select between a bevy of candidates vying to become state superintendent of education and lieutenant governor. There are also more than two dozen contested primaries for nominations for the state House of Representatives.
Generally between 17 and 25 percent of registered voters cast ballots in statewide primaries, according to the South Carolina Election Commission. Two years ago, the primary turnout was unusually light - only about 12 percent — after 250 candidates were tossed off the ballot statewide because of improperly filed paperwork.
Some things to look for as the votes come in on Tuesday night:
Can incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham win nomination to a third term without a runoff?
—Graham faces six GOP challengers who argue he is not conservative enough. Still, being able to tap a $7 million war chest, the incumbent is the prohibitive favorite. The only question is will the seven candidates split the vote to the extent that Graham can't get the more than half needed to avoid a runoff two weeks later? Six years ago he garnered 67 of the primary vote against a single opponent. There is a two-way Democratic primary for the seat.
How will Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott fare in his first statewide campaign?
—Scott is running against Randall Young of Greenville for the party nomination to seek the unexpired term of former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint. DeMint resigned in late 2012 and Scott, a former congressman, was appointed to the seat by Gov. Nikki Haley. In his last contested primary in 2010, Scott easily won a runoff after winning a third of the vote in a nine-way GOP primary in the 1st District. Three Democrats are also running for the Senate seat.
What role will big names play in the race for superintendent of education?
—Eight Republicans are running, including Sally Atwater, the widow of the late, well-known Republican strategist Lee Atwater. State Association of School Administrators director Molly Spearman had more money than Atwater going into the primary while former deputy superintendent of education Meka Childs, once an education adviser to former Gov. Mark Sanford and who has been endorsed by Sanford's wife Jenny, is also running. Four Democrats also want the job. Education Superintendent Mick Zais did not seek re-election.
More big names in the lieutenant governor's race
—This is the last time South Carolina voters elect a lieutenant governor. Beginning in 2018, the lieutenant governor and governor will run as a ticket. Four Republicans want the nomination, including Henry McMaster, a former state party chairman who ran for the job in 1990 and has been appearing on TV ads with his bulldog "Boots." Among the other GOP candidates is another hopeful with a well-known name, Mike Campbell, the son of the popular late South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell. The winner of Tuesday's Republican primary faces Democratic state Rep. Bakari Sellers in November.
Expect no problems for congressional incumbents
—Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson the 2nd District and Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn in the 6th have primary opposition this time around. But they should have no problems what with large campaign accounts, wide name recognition and little-known opponents.