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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond has won a third term.

Hammond easily won re-election Tuesday over Democrat Marjorie Johnson who thought the office should be appointed rather than elected.

Hammond was first elected Secretary of State in 2002 and previously served as Spartanburg County Clerk of Court.

Hammond has said he wants to step up protections against counterfeit merchandise and to press lawmakers for increased protections for charitable donors.

Johnson campaigned on making the secretary of state's office a nonpartisan position appointed by lawmakers, or wrapping its responsibilities into those of the lieutenant governor, as several other dozen states do.

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