Sen. Shoopman
Senator Phil Shoopman of Senate District 5 in Greenville has changed his mind about running for a second term after the primary filings were closed.
Shoopman is completing his first term in the Senate and had filed to run again for his Greenville seat, but in a letter to the party he says, “I cannot continue to provide the desired level of service, and maintain adequate time with my family and private work.”
Now the South Carolina Republican Party will reopen candidate filing for District 5, which makes the other GOP candidate who did file unhappy. Amanda Somers is questioning the legality of the party’s action. She said in a press statement, “This is truly disheartening. When our state begins to make progress with encouraging women to enter politics, this is yet another example of what appears to be insiders cutting deals to preserve the ‘good old boy’ status quo.”
State GOP Chair Chad Connelly says it is legal to reopen the primary. The filing is open from noon on Monday, April 16th, through noon on Wednesday, April 18th.
