Democrat Evangeline Hundley wins SC primary, will face Ralph Norman in 5th district
South Carolina Democrats have picked the candidate they want to face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman later this year in the state’s 5th Congressional District election.
The Associated Press declared Evangeline Hundley, from Newberry, the winner Tuesday night over challenger Kevin Eckert, a former biological science technician from Sumter.
With about 85% of statewide precincts reported at 11 p.m., Hundley, a real estate agent, was ahead with 58% of the vote.
Norman, R-Rock Hill, has held the seat since 2017, following a special election after then-U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney joined former President Donald Trump’s administration.
Norman also will face competition in November from Larry Gaither, a member of the Green Party. Gaither is from Winnsboro.
Earlier this year, South Carolina’s congressional districts lines were redrawn as part of the once-a-decade redistricting process. The 5th District, which largely maintained the same boundaries as the previous map, includes York, Lancaster, Chester, Cherokee, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Union counties, and parts of Spartanburg and Sumter counties.
In 2020, Norman won reelection against first-time candidate Moe Brown, a former University of South Carolina football player. During Brown’s campaign, he landed key Democratic endorsements from U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and former presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg. Ultimately, Norman was reelected by about 20 percentage points.
This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 11:13 PM.
