Pickens County Republican Party
Invitations to upcoming events for 2026
SC Governors race are here
Update on Closed Primary and Call to Action
This week, we took a giant step forward on Closing our SC Primaries. The previous House Bill H.3310 was modified to address deficiencies in the implementation of the bill. In the new bill, H.5183 requires voters in the Republican primary be registered as Republicans, no independents and no unaffliated.
In addition, it addresses the “chaos of implementation” suggested by detractors, by allowing voters to “register as Republicans” at the time of voting in the upcoming primaries. This minimizes the issue of Republican voters coming to the polls to vote in the primaries and being turned away because they didn’t preregister.
In future primaries, only registered Republicans will be voting in the Republican primary. While not perfect, as a poll worker, I believe this offers the simplest and cleanest path to closed primaries.
The link below will provide a good summary of the difference between the two bills. Please call or email Weston Newton, the chair of the Judiciary Committee and Jay Jordan, the subcommittee chair and tell them to quickly hear this bill and move it forward. Also, request your local House Member to support this bill. It is an election year.
Below is contact information:
House Judiciary Committee Members
Weston Newton Chair (R-Bluffton)
WestonNewton@schouse.gov
803-734-3120 | 843-706-6111
Jay Jordan (R– Florence)
JayJordan@schouse.gov
803-734-3114 | 843-662-4474
Pickens County House Members
Neal Collins (District 5) (Easley)
collins.neal@gmail.com
864-350-4175 | 803-212-6913
Bill Whitmire (District 1) (Wahalla)
864-638-4237 | 803-734-3068
Phil Bowers (District 3) (Six Mile)
pickensgop@bellsouth.net
864-634-4246 | 803-212-6908
Davey Hiott (District 4) (Pickens)
hiott@bellsouth.net
864-420-0155 | 803-734-3022
Thomas Beach (District 10) (Piedmont)
thomasbeachforschouse@gmail.com
864-448-6336 | 803-212-6931
Your PCRP leadership will continue to follow this bill, provide updates and coordinate action. Thank you for all you do for the Republican Party and our beautiful community.
God Bless,
Christy Wistar, 1st Vice-Chair
Communications Committee
PCRP Leadership Team
The South Carolina Republican Creed
I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon. If I can seek opportunity, not security, I want to take the calculated risk to dream and build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for dole.
I prefer the challenges of life to guaranteed security, the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.
I will not trade freedom for beneficence, nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master, save my God.
It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid. To think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations; to face the whole world boldly and say,
“I am a free American.”