GOP leaders to consider protest in SC House race

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — State Republican Party leaders will consider a primary election protest brought by an incumbent who lost by fewer than 75 votes.

The state GOP executive committee will hold a hearing Thursday brought by five-term veteran Rep. B.R. Skelton of Six Mile. He alleges his opponent, Ed Harris, did not properly file paperwork needed to be a candidate.

Harris beat Skelton in last week’s primary with 51.6 percent of just under 2,220 votes cast.

If the GOP board agrees with Skelton, then the 79-year-old retired Clemson economics professor will be the Republican on November’s ballot. No Democrat is seeking the seat.

Dozens of legislative candidates were removed from the ballot after last month’s state Supreme Court ruling on improperly filed paperwork. Skelton was among six incumbents who lost in the primaries.