Ellen Weaver, chairwoman of the SC Education Oversight Committee and CEO of Palmetto Promise Institute, won the Republican Party nomination for SC education superintendent, in a runoff election Tuesday.

Weaver defeated Town of Lexington Councilwoman Kathy Maness. She is the executive director of the the Palmetto State Teachers Association. Maness’ office is on State Street in West Columbia.

Weaver won 64 percent of the vote to 36 percent for Maness. About 175,000 votes were cast in the runoff. Weaver won in Lexington County with 57.51 percent of the vote to 42.49 percent for Maness. A little more than 14,000 votes were cast in the runoff in Lexington County.

Weaver worked for former US Sen. Jim DeMint and she was endorsed by Rep. R.J. May (R-Lexington.)

Maness was endorsed by outgoing SC Education Superintendent Molly Spearman.
Weaver will face Democrat Lisa Ellis in November.