There were no surprise filings in South Carolina by Sunday’s deadline, which leaves the state without any competitive races in 2008 according to ratings by CQ Politics. Incumbents appear set to defeat their primary challengers, leaving little room for changes among South Carolina’s House and Senate delegations.
Despite concerns that first-term Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham would face a major challenge from the right, orthodontist Buddy Witherspoon remained his sole primary challenger by Sunday’s deadline. Two Democrats — trial attorney Michael Cone of Mt. Pleasant and Bob Conley of North Myrtle Beach — will challenge Graham in November. CQ Politics rates the race Safe Republican.
Four-term Republican Rep. Henry E. Brown Jr. has drawn two primary challengers and two Democratic challengers for the 1st Congressional District race. Republicans Katherine Jenerette, a commissioned Army officer, and Paul V. Norris have filed to take on Brown in the June 10 primary. Businesswoman Linda Ketner of Charleston and frequent candidate Ben Frasier of Wadmalaw Island filed to challenge Brown in the general election. CQ Politics rates the race Safe Republican.
Republican Rep. Joe Wilson , who is running for his fourth full term representing South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District, drew two Democratic challengers: Blaine Lotz of Hilton Head and Robert Miller of Beaufort. Lotz served in the Defense Department in Intelligence Oversight during the Clinton administration and Miller is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq. One Republican — retired Federal Small Business Administration employee Phil Black — also filed to challenge Wilson. CQ Politics rates the race Safe Republican.
In the 3rd District race, third-term GOP Rep. J. Gresham Barrett did not draw any primary challengers and only one Democrat — former Air Force pilot Jane Dyer of Easley. CQ Politics rates the race Safe Republican.
Republican environmental engineer Charles Jeter filed to challenge GOP Rep. Bob Inglis for his sixth term in the 4th District. Three Democrats also have filed for the race: aerospace engineer Ted Christian and Bryan McCanless, founder of the National Business Association, both from Greenville, and Paul Corden from Spartanburg. Corden retired recently as program manager for professional development at Spartenburg Community College. CQ Politics rates the race Safe Republican.
Democrat John M. Spratt Jr. , who has the longest tenure of the state’s current House members, will face off against Republican Albert F. Spencer for the state’s 5th Congressional District. Spencer took 37 percent of the vote against Spratt in 2004. CQ Politics rates the race Safe Democrat.
Democratic Rep. James E. Clyburn faces one Republican challenger — Nancy Harrelson — for a ninth term representing South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District. CQ Politics rates the race Safe Democrat.
Democrats McCanless and Conley filed on Sunday, according to records from the state Democratic Party, making them the party’s last-minute entrants for 2008.
