COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina is heading toward its first open attorney general election in more than 15 years, with Republican David Stumbo and Democrat Richard Hricik offering different resumes for the statewide post.
Alan Wilson has held the job since 2011 and is now running for governor. Stumbo, 50, survived a June 23 GOP runoff against Stephen Goldfinch. Hricik, 59, had no Democratic primary foe. Statewide early voting runs Oct. 19–31, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
The office is South Carolina’s chief legal shop: criminal appeals, defending statutes, advising agencies, consumer cases and securities work. About 300 people work there, including roughly 90 lawyers.
Stumbo is in a fourth term as solicitor for Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens and Newberry counties. He stresses 22 years as a prosecutor and says he would lean into violent-crime cases, grow the internet-crimes-against-children unit, and open regional AG offices beyond Columbia.
Hricik is a Charleston-area civil lawyer who says he is financing his bid without taking donations. He wants stronger consumer and property-rights work, a more reachable office, and closer scrutiny of large data-center and development permits that could lift utility bills or strain water supplies.
No Democrat has won the attorney general’s office here in more than 30 years. Both nominees say residents would come first if they take Wilson’s chair.
