Carter Declares Victory in District 97 GOP Nomination

Ed Carter, current chair of the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce, has announced victory in the Republican race for S.C. House District 97 seat.

According to his campaign, he has defeated Jordan Bryngelson, who vied to earn his party's first nomination toward political office. Carter will go on to face Democratic incumbent Rep. Patsy Knight for S.C. House District 97 in the fall. 

Carter's campaign battled trying to ditch the past leading up to the primary. Carter had previously run for this very seat as a Democrat in 2000, and had also retired from the U.S. Air Force 20 years ago following an allegation of sexual harassment. 

Despite the rumor mill churning, Carter out-raised Bryngelson . 

Less than 12 percent of voters turned out Tuesday — only 2,838 voted in this Republican race. With 74 of 74 precincts reporting in Dorchester County, S.C. House District 97 was the closest race in Dorchester County: Carter won just 244 more votes than his opponent. With 54 percent of the vote, however, there should be no threat of a runoff. Usually runoffs only occur when either candidate does not get more than 50 percent of the vote, according to Dorchester County Board of Elections and Voter Registration Director Josh Dickard. 

Bennett scored more than 60 percent of the vote. Rose fell at less than 40 percent. The finally tally of voters voting for the race was 6,851, with Bennett recieving 4,117 of those votes.