Southard Wins District 100 Special Election

Berkeley County Planning Commission Chairman Eddy Southard, a Republican, won Tuesday's special election to fill the open seat in S.C. House District 100, according to unofficial results.

Southard won with nearly 60 percent of the vote, defeating Moncks Corner Town Councilwoman Tonia Aiken-Taylor, a Democrat. The seat was left open by the death in May of Rep. C. David Umphlett Jr., a Republican.

GOP leaders rang the alarm last week that they could lose this traditionally Republican seat as Democrats came out heavily to support Aiken-Taylor in early absentee voting. But work in the last week brought out the votes needed for a GOP win.

"Berkeley County residents made a great choice in Eddy Southard. I know Eddy will proudly represent District 100 with conservative, reform-minded leadership," said S.C. GOP Chairman Chad Connelly.

This was likely be the last time that any Goose Creek resident will be voting in the district. A redrawing of the Statehouse districts pushes District 100 farther north to make room for Goose Creek's and Hanahan's new District 15.