SC Sen. Rose loses re-election bid

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Sen. Mike Rose has lost his bid for a fourth term.

Sean Bennett defeated Rose in Tuesday’s Republican primary with 60 percent of the vote. No Democrat is seeking the seat.

The 64-year-old Rose was seeking a second back-to-back term. The Summerville businessman and retired Air Force major previously served in the Senate from 1988 to 1996.

Bennett is former chairman of the Charleston area economic development alliance and CEO of a financial planning firm in Summerville.

Rose joins at least three other legislative incumbents losing their primary bid. They include Republican Reps. Steve Parker of Boiling Springs and B.R. Skelton of Six Mile, and Democratic Rep. Curtis Brantley of Ridgeland.