In his 19th run for congress since 1972, tonight Ben Frasier suffered his worst defeat.
Elizabeth Colbert-Busch took 96 percent of the vote in the March 19 Democratic primary, defeating Frasier 15,776 to 679 in what many hope will be his last bid for the 1st Congressional District.
His four-percent take is the lowest Frasier's taken in any of his many elections.
After a quick confirmation following the 7 p.m. poll closing, Colbert-Busch immediately directed her attention to the general election.
“I want to say to the voters of the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina – Democrats, Independents and Republicans – I have been listening and I hear you,” she said tonight from a victory party in West Ashley.
Frasier has been dubbed “the perennial candidate” after his many runs for federal office, and as “pseudo-Democrat” due to his platforms that have traditionally contrasted with tenets associated with the Democratic Party.
For example, Frasier has openly offered anti-labor statements, and frequently declared goals of serving to the advantage of wealth.
In the Republican primary Mark Sanford, former governor and holder of this same congressional office for three terms ending in 2000, led the slate of 16 candidates with almost 37 percent of the vote.
Sanford is likely to face Curtis Bostic, former Charleston County Councilman who narrowly edged state Sen. Larry Grooms for second place in tonight’s race, in an April 2 runoff.
Because there is less than one percent difference in votes between Bostic and Grooms, though, an automatic recount must be conducted, according to Charleston County’s Board of Elections and Voter Registration.
The winner of the Republican runoff will face Colbert-Busch in the May 7 general election.
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