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South Carolina: Flood gates open for Charleston congressional seat

January 13, 2010 —

At least 18 politicians have expressed interest, to one degree or another, in running for the seat in Congress that will be vacated next year by five-term US Rep. Henry Brown (R), 74, in South Carolina’s 1^st District (Charleston, etc.). “It has thrown things completely wide open,” says Charleston attorney Waring Howe, a former Democratic National Committeeman, noting that “Now more candidates will jump in, including some elected officials.” 

Most of the potential candidates are Republicans, reflecting the district’s GOP voting history. Food Lion grocery chain heiress and liberal activist Linda Ketner, a Democrat, did run a strong race (48 percent) in 2008, but the district has a GOP voting history, giving John McCain 56 percent in 2008 and President Bush 61 percent in 2004. Moreover, the political tide here as elsewhere has turned away from President Obama and his party, so the district’s voters are likely to keep the seat in Republican hands.

Three GOPers had already been running before Brown announced his retirement on January 4. 

Carroll “Tumpy” Campbell III has significant name ID as the son of former Gov. Carroll Campbell, Jr. In addition, his campaign bio describes him as “an entrepreneur, public policy authority, and civic volunteer” who also heads “a strategic consultation, business management, communications and public relations firm.”  He serves or has served on a number of business, civic and educational boards in South Carolina. In his 3^rd Quarter financial report, Campbell showed he had raised $103,000 in the past three quarters, with about half that on hand.  

Katherine Jenerette, a veteran of the US Army and the Persian Gulf War, former Brown staffer, TEA Party activist, and photogenic mother of four who garnered 19 percent of the primary vote against Brown in a three-way race in 2008, has also already been in the race. While insiders question her ability to win either the nomination or the General Election, they note she has several advantages, including some name ID from her 2008 race, being from Horry County in a primary field possibly dominated by Charleston area contenders, and being the lone female in a race with a half-dozen or so males. “She’s sort of an outsider… she’s kind of got that Sarah Palin thing going on,” says Charles Waring, publisher of the biweekly Charleston Mercury. He notes that she needs to spend more time in Charleston, where she is not known. And her ability to raise serious money is questionable. In the 3^rd Quarter, she had raised $6,700, a small fraction of what she would need to mount a competitive campaign.  

Ryan Buckhannon, a businessman (retail tile, marble and stone) and former chiropractor, is a member of the Isle of Palms City Council.  

Mt. Pleasant Town Councilman Mark Fava had announced earlier, but withdrew from the race late last year. 

Part of the reason for Brown’s opposition in recent GOP primaries is that he has a somewhat moderate voting record -- 70 percent conservative, 30 percent liberal says the National Journal. 

Other Republicans have also publicly expressed interest in the race. 

Paul Thurmond (R), 33, is a Charleston County Commissioner and son of the late US Sen. Strom Thurmond (R). Like Campbell, Thurmond would have immediate name recognition. “You have got to give him top-tier potential,” says Waring, who adds that Thurmond “has been a reasonable voice on the Charleston County Council.” On the downside, he is not known personally in the Myrtle Beach area, though his name will be familiar enough. 

State Sen. Chip Campsen (R) “is the ‘Golden Boy’ of many conservatives,” says Waring; “The TEA Party crowd loves him… he could really be a force.” It is not certain whether Campsen will run, however. 

State Sen. Larry Grooms (R) is dropping out of the governor’s race and is expected to run for congress. Like several others, Grooms is strong with the TEA Party folks.

Former US Rep. Tommy Hartnett (R), 68, who served in Congress from the 1^st District from 1981 to 1987, has said he’s giving the race consideration.  

State Rep. Jim Merrill (R), a former state House Majority Leader, has been non-committal in his public statements on the congressional race, but according to news reports, has been making calls to potential backers.  

State Sen. Luke Rankin (R) is from Conway, in the less-populated Northern part of the district; so far, he has not committed to the race.  

Another factor in the race, especially in the Myrtle Beach area in Horry County in the Northeastern part of the district, is that after the 2010 census, South Carolina could gain a seventh congressional seat. Since much of the recent growth in the state has been on the coast, Myrtle Beach could end up as the population center of a new district. That possibility may encourage some Horry County politicos to keep their powder dry in 2010, then run in a more hospitable bailiwick in 2012. Nevertheless, two Myrtle Beach lawmakers, state Reps. Alan Clemmons (R), who will likely chair the redistricting subcommittee, and Thad Viers (R), a former aide to Brown, have been mentioned as potential candidates.  

Rod Shealy, a long-time political consultant (R) who worked with Brown, says finances will be a major factor. A serious candidate “has got to put together $500,000 in four months, for television buys.” On the Republican side, Thurmond “probably has the ability” to raise that kind of money, says Shealy. “He has the Strom Thurmond network to some extent.” As for Campbell, his fundraising was anemic in the 3^rd Quarter -- $50,000 -- but with Brown out of the race, he may do better.  

Robert Dobbs has political experience in local government, though not in South Carolina; he is a relative newcomer to the district. He and his wife, a former staffer for US Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), operate a sports bar and restaurant in Georgetown, a low-population part the District.  

Dick Withington, 66, a retired accountant and former Navy officer, lives on Pawleys Island. He moved there from Atlanta in 2001. He ran for the state House in 2004 as a last minute replacement candidate and lost. His main goal is ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Other Democrats have been mentioned or expressed interest in the congressional race in the wake of Brown’s pending retirement. 

Robert Barber barely lost (49.8 percent) a race for lieutenant governor in 2006 against the charismatic/controversial incumbent Andre Bauer. He did, however, carry Charleston County with 61 percent of the vote. 

Ketner has not ruled out another race, but observers generally believe she will not run. “Her time was the last election,” says Waring, when the Obama surge was strong among minority voters and others in the Charleston area.  

Mullins McLeod, a former chairman of the Charleston County Democratic Party, is currently running for governor, but has so far not gained a lot of traction. With Brown retiring, McLeod could switch to the congressional race, where he would be better known. 

State Rep. Leon Stavronakis (D) is in his second term representing a district that leans Republican. Howe notes that prior to serving in the House, Stavronakis ”was a capable and popular member of the Charleston County Council.” 

The filing period begins March 16 and closes March 30. The primary is June 8, with a runoff, if no candidate receives a majority, on June 22.