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In the crowded race for South Carolina’s third congressional district, one Republican contender is hoping a big money haul will separate her from the field – a growing group which includes a new entry who received an endorsement from former U.S. president Donald Trump.
Air National Guard lieutenant colonel/ nurse practitioner Sheri Biggs – who was the first candidate to announce for this seat – reported raising more than $400,000 during the first quarter of 2024. According to a release from her campaign, that’s a new record for fundraising in this district.
Biggs is expected to report available cash of more than $300,000 when she publishes her quarterly filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) later this month.
“I am profoundly humbled by the trust and confidence in our mission to heal our nation’s mental, fiscal, and spiritual health problems,” Biggs said in a statement announcing the numbers. “Our fundraising success is a testament to the shared belief that it will take conservative outsiders like me – not career politicians, career bureaucrats or career candidates – to fix the major issues our nation faces including securing the southern border, protecting taxpayer dollars, keeping the promises made to our veterans, and fighting for our conservative values.”
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Biggs’ big haul is significant as she previously launched television ads in the district in support of her candidacy.
This devoutly GOP district has been held since January 2011 by congressman Jeff Duncan. A native of Greenville, S.C., Duncan had not been credibly challenged in any election since defeating state senator Richard Cash in a Republican primary election fourteen years ago. Of course, that was before he became embroiled in a sex scandal involving a Washington, D.C. lobbyist back in September – which exposed him to allegations of hypocrisy.
Last month, Duncan announced he would not seek an eighth term in office – sparing himself the indignities of what was shaping up to be a bruising GOP primary campaign.
Cash toyed with the idea of campaigning for this seat, but instead announced his intention to endorse 40-year-old state representative Stewart Jones of Greenwood, S.C. Jones is a member of the SC Freedom Caucus who has spent the last five years representing House District 14 in the S.C. General Assembly.
Also running? Pastor Mark Burns, an “MAGA evangelical” who has secured Trump’s endorsement earlier this week. Burns previously campaigned for the neighboring fourth congressional district, finishing eighth in a 13-person field in 2018.
The race has also attracted U.S. senator Lindsey Graham’s longtime press aide, Kevin Bishop, and perpetual social conservative candidate Michael LaPierre.
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South Carolina’s third district runs along the Georgia and North Carolina borders in the northwestern portion of the state. It includes all of ten counties – Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens (obviously), and Saluda – and parts of Anderson and Greenville counties. In 2022, the district had a partisan voting index rating of +21 Republican – making it the most staunchly GOP congressional district in the Palmetto State.
For those of you keeping score at home, Trump received 69 percent of the vote within this district against incumbent president Joe Biden four years ago. Trump also pummeled former S.C. governor Nikki Haley in the district during last month’s presidential primary election, drawing 67.48 percent of the vote compared to Haley’s 31.84 percent.
Partisan primary elections will be held on June 11, 2024 in South Carolina. If no candidate receives a majority of ballots in a given race, runoff elections would be held two weeks later – on June 25, 2024. The general election – which does not feature a runoff requirement – will be held on November 5, 2024.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina and before that he was a bass guitarist and dive bar bouncer. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven (soon to be eight) children.
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4 comments
Disgusting choices all, but what can you do? It’s South Carolina. We will just end up replacing one fake Christian with another fake Christian; who will worship the orange calf, and say and do things no real Christian would ever say or do. It’s all so sad what has become of a once Greate State.
How much of her money comes from self funding or Duncan? To launch a full website complete with a video (bad as it was) the day after Duncan announces he will not run shows that this was an inside job to hand pick the person to replace him. Also, let’s do some research people – it doesn’t take much to find out that Biggs’ husband has donated to Clyburn and Schumer. Seriously people – do your research and know that this is not who we need in DC representing SC 3rd Congressional District.
Show me the MONEY! People are not gonna be fooled by the deep pockets of her wealthy husband. Voters in this district want someone who not only talks the talk but walks the walk and understands the district. Looked her up and she’s not a native South Carolinian nor has she lived very long. I’m wondering if this is who Duncan wants to follow him. Is there any connections?
Don’t get me wrong.I commend her for her service to our country and she’s probably a nice lady.
Exactly! Duncan’s campaign manager (former now I guess) is running her campaign and members of his staff are connecting her with people so sure looks like she is the chosen one. That’s not how it works in the 3rd Congressional District. While I appreciate her service so much, Biggs is not from here (has only been in SC for 7-8 I years believe), she has ZERO experience in policy making and her husband has financed Democrats. Times like we are in now require someone with proven leadership and a backbone to stand up for what is right and protect our liberties. Stewart Jones is the one for the job!