Pee Dee House seat stays in Democrat hands with Election Day win

A long-serving Democratic lawmaker held onto his northern Pee Dee state House seat, putting up a late night surge to hold back his GOP challenger by less than 500 votes.

Jackie Hayes, who’s represented state House District 55 since 1999, took 50.4 percent of the vote to Robert Norton’s 45.8 percent — his 5,363 votes were only 482 more than Norton according to unofficial results.

Hayes couldn’t immediately be reached for comment on Nov. 8, but his victory thwarted hopes by the S.C GOP for a pick up in the region. State GOP executive director Drew McKissick last month said the district — which covers parts of Darlington, Dillon, Horry and Marlboro counties —was a priority race for Republicans.

Hayes, known in Columbia as “Coach” for his Hall of Fame career leading Dillon High School’s football team to seven state titles and 300 wins over his 29-year career, is a member of the legislature’s powerful budget writing committee.