Felder, Norman easily win S.C. House races

In a re-match of their 2012 race, incumbent S.C. Rep. Raye Felder (R-Fort Mill), handily beat Libertarian candidate Jeremy Walters to win another two-year term representing District 26.

Felder captured 80 percent of the vote to win 7,290 to 1,812. There were 29 write-in votes for different candidates.

Felder, 52, is the former longtime owner of a Fort Mill insurance office. Walters, 43, of Fort Mill, is vice chairman of the South Carolina Libertarian Party and works as a carpenter.

District 26 includes Fort Mill and part of Rock Hill. It was established for the 2012 election, after the 2010 census and the redrawing of House district lines in South Carolina.

“I’m just very thankful and humbled,” Felder said late Tuesday night.

“I’m humbled by the support and humbled that people recognize I am working hard and working to represent everyone – not one party or another party. Once your elected you really have no party behind your name – you’re elected to represent everyone.”

When the 2015 House sessions begins, ethics reform will be a top priority for her agenda, Felder said.

Felder and Walters first went toe-to-toe two years ago when Felder narrowly won her first bid for statewide office.

Norman re-elected

In another landslide win on Tuesday, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-Rock Hill), was re-elected to a fourth term in S.C. House District 48. He beat Democrat Barry McGrew, who did little campaigning after filing to run in March.

Norman, 61, is a real estate developer. His district includes the Tega Cay, River Hills and Lake Wylie areas near the North Carolina border, as well as parts of northern Rock Hill.

Felder and Norman’s successful re-election campaigns guarantee them each another two years in office. The new legislative term begins in January.

South Carolina legislators are paid $10,400 a year and are given a $1,000 monthly allowance to operate their office and serve constituents.

Anna Douglas of The Herald contributed.

This story was originally published November 4, 2014 at 11:33 PM with the headline "Felder, Norman easily win S.C. House races."