South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan announced Wednesday that he would not seek reelection, a declaration that comes just a few months after the Republican's estranged wife accused him of infidelity in divorce papers. Duncan, though, did not reference these allegations in sharing the news, instead writing, "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."
There's little question that another Republican will succeed Duncan in the 3rd District, a constituency in the northwestern part of the state (a region known as upstate South Carolina) that favored Donald Trump 68-31 in 2020. The GOP primary will take place June 11, and a runoff will occur two weeks later should no one earn a majority of the vote in the first round. The candidate filing deadline is April 1.
Duncan, who founded a real estate auction company, first entered politics in 2002 when he was elected to the state House. He sought a promotion in 2010 when GOP Rep. Gresham Bartlett left to wage an ill-fated bid for governor, but he had to get through a crowded field of primary foes in what had long been a conservative stronghold.
Duncan's main foes in that six-way race were fellow state Rep. Rex Rice, who initially appeared favored to advance to the runoff, and businessmen Richard Cash and Joe Grimaud. Duncan snagged an important endorsement months before the primary when the hardline anti-tax Club for Growth backed him over Rice, who had alienated the group by supporting a cigarette tax. Each of the main contenders, though, campaigned as hardcore conservatives in a year when the nascent tea party movement was on the rise.
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