Democrat Harpootlian opens wide lead in SC Senate race

10:55 p.m.

With 90 percent of the result in, Dick Harpootlian may be the next senator from Richland County. He has 53 percent of the vote to Dunn’s 48 percent.

10:13 p.m.

With a majority of districts now reporting, Harpootlian is maintaining his lead with 54 percent of the vote.

52 percent of precincts in Senate District 20 are now reporting.

9:50 p.m.

With 44 percent of the vote in in Senate District 20, Harpootlian is ahead with 57 percent of the vote to Dunn’s 43 percent.

9:15 p.m.

With 33 percent of the result in, Harpootlian is pulling away from Dunn by a wide margin. Harpootlian has 64 percent of the vote to 36 percent for the GOP Ballentine attorney, according to the New York Times.

8:57 p.m.

The most-watched S.C. State House race in the Columbia area may flip from one party to another on Tuesday

In Senate District 20, Democrat Dick Harpootlian is leading Benjamin Dunn with 58 percent of the vote with 4 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.

Harpootlian, an attorney and former chairman of the state Democratic Party, is running for the Legislature after years as one of the state’s most outspoken political talkers. He’s lashed state lawmakers for corruption and incompetence, promising to shake up the State House.

Dunn, a Ballentine attorney who once ran against U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, defeated three opponents in a special GOP primary by focusing on taxes, infrastructure and restructuring state government.

A win by Harpootlian would be the first net gain for Democrats in the state Senate since 2000. The district held by Republican John Courson for more than 30 years before he resigned after pleading guilty to misconduct in office earlier this year.

This story was originally published November 6, 2018 at 8:57 PM.