SC incumbents rake in cash ahead of challengers, filings show. What to know

A little more than a year out from their next election, South Carolina’s incumbents maintained a strong cash lead over their challengers.

Each incumbent U.S. House member and senator ended the year’s third fundraising quarter — from July to September — with more money in the bank, according to data from the Federal Election Commission.

So far, only five of South Carolina’s seven U.S. House members face challengers in 2022.

Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott also is up for reelection.

Here’s what fundraising looked like in each competitive race:

Senate race

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott ended the third quarter with a considerable cash lead over his challengers.

Scott’s war chest had more than $18.8 million in it by the end of September. The North Charleston Republican brought in about $30.3 million in contributions so far this election cycle.

State Rep. Krystle Matthews, D-Berkeley, ended the quarter with about $7,500 on hand. This cycle, she has brought in about $39,000 in contributions.

The only other candidate in the Senate race who has reported raising any funds is Angela Geter, who reported having about $5,900 on hand.

1st District

Daniel Island Republican Nancy Mace bested her five competitors, ending September with more than $1.3 million on hand.

Overall this election cycle, Mace has received more than $2.1 million in contributions.

Her next closest primary challenger is Republican Lynz Piper-Loomis.

Piper-Loomis reported about $7,460 cash on hand as of the end of September. In all, she has reported receiving more than $41,700 in contributions.

The only other congressional hopeful running for the 1st Congressional District seat who has reported any fundraising is Republican Ingrid Centurion, who reported having about $5,600 on hand.

2nd District

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, ended the third fundraising quarter with about $144,000 on hand, according to election filings.

So far this cycle, Wilson has received about $346,600 in contributions, spending $282,000.

Wilson has far outpaced his challengers, with the next closest — Democrat Juddson Larkins — ending the quarter with almost $7,000 on hand.

Democrat Gregory Karr came in with the third most available cash, with about $4,500 at the end of September.

4th District

U.S. Rep. William Timmons, R-Greenville, only has one challenger who reported raising any funds last quarter.

Republican Michael LaPierre reported ending the quarter with nearly $22,000 after receiving $3,760 in contributions thus far this election cycle. LaPierre’s other campaign funds come from a loan, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Timmons ended the quarter with about $96,000 on hand. So far this election cycle, Timmons has received about $221,000 in contributions.

6th District

Though he has three competitors running against him, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, was the only person to report any fundraising during the last quarter.

Clyburn ended September with more than $2.3 million on hand. This cycle, he has brought in $1.2 million in contributions.

7th District

U.S. Rep. Tom Rice, R-Myrtle Beach, managed to raise more money in the field of about 10 challengers, marking a success for him in the state’s most competitive race.

Rice ended September with $1.8 million on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission. This cycle, Rice has brought in $1.1 million in contributions.

Rice is facing a particularly competitive race after he voted to impeach former President Donald Trump earlier this year following the riot at the U.S. Capitol.

His vote inspired other Republicans to challenge him, including Graham Allen, who ended the quarter with the second most cash on hand, about $303,500. Though he ended the quarter with considerably less on hand than Rice, Allen has brought in a significant amount of contributions of about $646,000.

Allen is followed by S.C. Rep. Russel Fry, R-Horry, who ended the quarter with almost $221,000 on hand. Other candidates who reported fundraising included Garrett Barton with about $181,000, William Richardson with about $116,400 and Tom Dunn with $2,700.