State Treasurer
Republican Primary
- Thomas Ravenel - 2004 Senate Republican primary candidate and businessman
- Greg Ryberg - 2002 Treasurer candidate, state Senator from Aiken
- Rick Quinn - former SC House Majority Leader
- Jeff Willis - real estate developer
The Republican treasurer's race was hotly contested. Ryberg and Quinn were initially seen to be the front-runners, and Ryberg, the 2002 Republican nominee, made an early $2 million loan to his campaign. Ultimately, Ravenel defeated his opponents in the primary just short of the necessary 50 percent total to prevent a run-off. Ryberg and Quinn both withdrew from the run-off, citing the need for party unity behind Ravenel. Ravenel easily defeated Willis in the run-off.
| Republican Treasurer primary results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | |
| Republican | Thomas Ravenel | 115,976 | 48.2% | |
| Republican | Greg Ryberg | 62,617 | 26% | |
| Republican | Rick Quinn | 45,737 | 19% | |
| Republican | Jeff Willis | 16,117 | 6.7% | |
| Totals | 240,447 | 100% | ||
| Republican Treasurer primary run-off results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | |
| Republican | Thomas Ravenel | 120,124 | 76.6% | |
| Republican | Jeff Willis | 36,785 | 23.4% | |
| Totals | 156,909 | 100% | ||
General Election
The treasurer's race pitted Thomas Ravenel, a young millionaire and emerging politician, against Grady Patterson, a nine-term incumbent who did not face primary opposition. The race was largely fought over the state of South Carolina's employee pension fund, with Ravenel taking issue with the state's projected unfunded liability and its failure to invest the fund in equity funds, which he claims would boost returns. Patterson retorted by pointing out Ravenel's inexperience and accusing Ravenel of using the race as a platform to run against incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham, which Ravenel denied was his intention. Thomas Ravenel won the election, but was indicted on June 19, 2007 on cocaine charges, and has been suspended as Treasurer.
| South Carolina Treasurer Election, 2006 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Thomas Ravenel | 566,540 | 52.2% | +4.5% | |
| Democratic | Grady Patterson (incumbent) | 518,966 | 47.8% | -4.4% | |
| No party | Write-ins | 422 | <0.1% | ||
| Majority | 47,574 | 4.4% | +0.1% | ||
| Turnout | 1,085,928 | 44.2% | -8.5% | ||
Read more about this topic: South Carolina Elections, 2006
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