The Senate 27 contest between Democratic Sen. Vincent Sheheen and Republican challenger Steve Kelly was still too close to call Tuesday night, but Sheheen was leading in early Kershaw County returns.

Kelly was leading in the Lancaster County portion of the district. No results were available Tuesday night for Chesterfield County.

The race was a rematch of February’s special election. Sheheen defeated Kelly, longtime chairman of Kershaw County Council, for the seat, which came open after the death of longtime Democratic Sen. Donald Holland.

Sheheen, who had a strong lead Tuesday night in his home county, has pledged to change the state’s system of school funding, taking the burden off local property owners. Under his plan, the state would increase the sales tax while reducing property taxes.

Sheheen also has said he wants to focus on building infrastructure in small towns and rural areas to attract more small business ventures.

A Camden attorney, Sheheen started his public service career in 2000, when he was elected to House District 52. He made a bid for the seat after his uncle, former House Speaker Bob Sheheen, decided not to run after nearly a quarter-century of service.

Sheheen was in his second House term when he ran for the Senate.

A win by Sheheen would keep a Democrat in the seat for the next two years. It also would continue the Sheheen family’s legacy of public service.

The 33-year-old lives in Camden with his wife, Amy, and sons Austin, Joseph and Anthony.

A win by Kelly would mean that, for the first time in decades, voters would be sending a Republican senator from Kershaw County to the state Legislature.

Kelly has pledged to bring high-paying jobs to the area and to focus on education to ensure skilled workers for those jobs.

He proposes eliminating the sales tax exemptions in state law that no longer provide an economic benefit, to offset the rising cost of property taxes in funding education.

Kelly, a self-employed home builder, has helped bring infrastructure and economic development to Kershaw County as chairman of Kershaw County Council. Under his leadership, three industrial parks have opened, and the county has been aggressively pursuing a plan to bring sewer service to Elgin and other county areas.

If he wins, a special election will be set to fill his at-large council chairmanship.

Kelly, 53, lives in Camden. He and his wife, Beth, have three children, Stephen III, Travis and Lindsey.

The Senate 27 district includes most of Kershaw County, except the West Wateree area; a large portion of Chesterfield County; and a small portion of Lancaster County.