Rep. Bowers defeats Rep. Brantley in SC House

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Hampton Rep. Bill Bowers has held onto his seat by defeating fellow Democratic Rep. Curtis Brantley of Ridgeland.

Bowers won Tuesday’s Democratic primary with 57 percent of the vote for a ninth term. No Republican is vying for the seat representing Jasper and Hampton counties.

Brantley loses his bid for a fourth term in the mostly minority district. Brantley is a retired superintendent for Jasper County schools.

The incumbents’ districts were collapsed because of the once-a-decade redrawing of legislative district lines.

Bowers’ district was eliminated to add a seat in coastal Beaufort County.

It’s the second time that the redrawing of lines has shuffled him around. Jasper County was taken from his district after the 2000 Census. He says he feels back at home to be representing the county again.