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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Tim Scott easily won the Republican primary in South Carolina on Tuesday, setting up a general election that could make him the state's first elected black senator.
Early returns Tuesday showed Scott, 48, with about 90 percent of the vote over challenger Randall Young. Scott also is the heavy favorite to win in November in this heavily Republican state.
Scott, who was appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley after Jim DeMint resigned from the Senate, took office in 2013 and had yet to face a statewide election. He previously served one term in the U.S. House and gained instant attention as one of only two black U.S. senators and the only black Republican in that chamber.
Young, 69, did no campaigning after filing as a candidate.
Richland County Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson won the Democratic nomination to face Scott. Both Dickerson and Moore are black, setting the stage for November to be South Carolina's first-ever U.S. Senate general election between two black candidates.
American Party candidate Jill Bossi is also competing in the November election.
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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP
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