By Abraham Kenmore
SCDailyGazette.com
COLUMBIA — U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan will not seek re-election to an eighth term to South Carolina’s 3rd District, his office announced Wednesday.
The Republican congressman represents 11 counties along South Carolina’s northern border with Georgia, from Edgefield to Oconee, including his home county of Laurens.
The 58-year-old former auctioneer served eight years in the South Carolina House before first winning his congressional seat in 2010.
He called his time in Congress a “privilege and honor” but said it’s time for another man or woman to serve the district.
As of his last campaign disclosure, Duncan had nearly $1 million cash on hand for a re-election bid. No other Republican has filed federal campaign disclosures to indicate an official run. However, Duncan’s announcement is bound to lead to a competitive GOP primary for the reliably Republican seat.
“At some point in a career, one needs to step aside and allow others to bring fresh ideas and abilities into the fight for liberty, just as I have,” Duncan said in a statement.
State Sen. Richard Cash of Anderson County confirmed to the SC Daily Gazette he is contemplating a bid for the seat. Cash, one of the Statehouse’s most staunch abortion foes since he won a special election in 2017, said he’s praying about the possibility. He thanked Duncan for his service to the district.
The announcement follows allegations of infidelity from Duncan’s wife made last fall in court filings. Duncan made no mention of the allegations in his statement. He said on X, formerly Twitter, in September that he would not comment on a “deeply personal matter.”
Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report.
Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the S.C. Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where he reported on Georgia legislators, military and housing issues.
