Politics & Government

Who will challenge Russell Fry to represent the Myrtle Beach area in Congress? The results

Myrtle Beach area voters went to the polls to vote in the 2024 Democratic Primary to decide who will face U.S. House of Representative for S.C.’s Seventh Congressional District incumbent Republican Russell Fry in the 2024 general election. Photo originally taken November 8, 2022.
Myrtle Beach area voters went to the polls to vote in the 2024 Democratic Primary to decide who will face U.S. House of Representative for S.C.’s Seventh Congressional District incumbent Republican Russell Fry in the 2024 general election. Photo originally taken November 8, 2022. JASON LEE

Myrtle Beach area voters have cast their Democratic primary candidate for South Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District race. The winner will face incumbent Russell Fry in the November 2024 general election.

With all eight counties of the seventh district reporting, according to unofficial results from the South Carolina Election Commission, former Coker University professor Mal Hyman received 12,610 votes. Conway resident and veteran Daryl Scott received 12,205 votes, about a 1.64 percent margin of difference between the two candidates.

According to South Carolina law, mandatory recounts are called when the margin of difference is less than one percent. The Associated Press reports that more than 99 percent of ballots were cast.

Mal Hyman is one of two Democratic candidates in the 2024 primary for the U.S. House from South Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District. primary. A former professor at Coker University in Hartsville, Hyman has previously run twice for the seat.
Mal Hyman is one of two Democratic candidates in the 2024 primary for the U.S. House from South Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District. primary. A former professor at Coker University in Hartsville, Hyman has previously run twice for the seat. Campaign photo

This wasn’t either candidate’s first political race for statewide office. Hyman and Scott had previously run for the Seventh District in the general election after winning the primary.

Hyman said he wanted to conduct debates in all eight counties with Fry and said his “common sense agenda is resonating.”

“We need health care for all, and we need to tax the wealthy their fair share so that we can responsibly invest in the American dream and create more opportunity and security,” Hyman said.

Daryl Scott of Conway is one of two Democratic candidate for U.S. House from South Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District. It’s Scott’s second time running for the seat.
Daryl Scott of Conway is one of two Democratic candidate for U.S. House from South Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District. It’s Scott’s second time running for the seat. Contributed Daryl Scott

Scott said he would wait to comment until the election is officially called, saying he could still win.

Hyman will now prepare to face Fry in the November 2024 general election. This is Fry’s second election cycle; he defeated former incumbent Tom Rice in 2022.

In a statement provided to The Sun News via a spokesperson, Fry focused on national efforts by Republicans to gain control of Congress and the White House and bashed Democrats’ “far-Left agenda have left Americans in the dust.”

South Carolina Seventh Congressional District Incumbent Russell Fry will run for re-election in November 2024. Fry first won the seat in 2022. Photo originally taken November 8, 2022.
South Carolina Seventh Congressional District Incumbent Russell Fry will run for re-election in November 2024. Fry first won the seat in 2022. Photo originally taken November 8, 2022. JASON LEE JASON LEE

“This November, we must elect leaders up and down the ballot who will secure our border, grow our economy, make gas and groceries affordable again, and always put America First,” Fry added.

A Democrat hasn’t represented Fry’s seat since the district was re-established in 2013.

The last Democrat that represented South Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District was in 1933 when the seat was abolished.

Ben Morse
The Sun News
Ben Morse is the Retail and Leisure Reporter for The Sun News. Morse covers local business and Coastal Carolina University football and was awarded third place in the 2023 South Carolina Press Association News Contest for sports beat reporting and second place for sports video in the all-daily division. Morse previously worked for The Island Packet, covering local government. Morse graduated from American University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism and economics and is originally from Prospect, Kentucky.
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