Kevin Bryant plays catch up in governor funding race

Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant is putting his own money behind his 2018 gubernatorial bid.

Campaign finance numbers reported to the S.C. Ethics Commission last Sunday show Bryant’s campaign has brought in more than $300,000 in contributions and loans since he announced his bid for the state’s top office in late July.

However, the bulk of that money comes from Bryant.

The Anderson pharmacy owner – a former member of the state Senate’s libertarian William Wallace Caucus – contributed $226,000 to his own campaign and also loaned it another $25,000.

Another 10 individuals and groups contributed $3,500 each.

Thus far, Bryant’s campaign reports spending $6,300.

Bryant has a lot of ground to cover if he wants to financially catch up with his opponents in June’s GOP primary for governor.

Incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster has brought in $1.8 million in contributions. Former DHEC director Catherine Templeton is close behind at $1.5 million. Yancey McGill, a former state senator who was lieutenant governor for less than a year, has raised $420,000.