The primary of June 13 was quite revealing for local politicos in spite of the low turnout. In the 32 Columbia wards, 3,895 Republicans and 3,405 Democrats voted for governor. Some say Democrats crossed the aisle to unseat Governor Sanford. Other say the Democratic races were just not controversial enough to get the faithful out of their air-conditioned houses.

Even Steven : Only four wards were even close in partisan votes: Ward 3 (Earlewood), Ward 4 (Elmwood Park), Ward 5 (Olympia), and Ward 11 (Owens Field).

Elephant Heavy : Ward 1 (Wales Garden), Ward 6 (Bradley School), Ward 10 (Hollywood-Rosehill), Wards 12-17 (Rosewood, Shandon, Heathwood, Melrose), 23-26 (Shandon, Mays Park, Kilbourne Park, Hampton Hill), and Ward 34 (Pinehurst) were strongly Republican.

The largest Republican turnout was in Ward 25 (Lake Katherine) (428), Ward 16 (Dreher) (368), and Ward 17 (Brennen)(352). Less than 10 Republicans voted in wards 7-9, 19, and 32.

Donkey Dominant : The Democrats packed Wards 2 (Cottontown), 7-9 (Allen-Benedict, Barhamville), 18-22 (Edgewood, Eau Claire), 29 (Ridgewood), and 31-33 (Hyatt Park, Read Street, King Park).

Democratic turnout was heaviest in Ward 21 (Greenview) (288), Ward 22 (Eau Claire) (263), and Ward 24 (Mays Park) (208). Wards with the lowest number of Democrats voting were Ward 30 (Arsenal Hill) (23) and Ward 5 (Olympia) (36).

Non-voters Rule : Overall, the turnout was poor, but it is never good. The Democrats still control north Columbia and the Republicans lay claim to central and east Columbia, but the lines are blurred and block voting was less prevalent. The greater test comes in November.