Democrat pauses bid for SC’s 7th District just 1 month after announcement

The first Democratic challenger for any of South Carolina’s 2026 U.S. House races suspended his campaign Tuesday, less than a month after publicly launching his bid.

John Vincent, who announced his candidacy April 17 in Florence, announced in a Facebook post Tuesday he was suspending his campaign to challenge 7th District Congressman Russell Fry for the seat that spans the Grand Strand and much of the Pee Dee.

The decision comes exactly two months after Vincent filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission establishing his campaign.

“When we decided to enter the congressional race 60 days ago, the country was on fire, rule of law threatened and the needs of this district greater than ever. That has not changed,” Vincent wrote on Facebook. “What is different for us, after an intense two months, is that the mood in this district, maybe the state, is apathetic.”

Neither Vincent nor the state Democratic party responded Tuesday to requests for comment.

When Vincent, a Myrtle Beach resident, officially kicked off his campaign at a restaurant in Florence, he told the SC Daily Gazette he felt certain he could pull off an upset.

His tone changed in Tuesday’s post.

“We can’t win without people who believe, and this district is not close today,” he said.

Navy veteran hopes to be first Democrat this century to represent Grand Strand, Pee Dee in Congress

The closest a Democrat has gotten to winning the 7th District since South Carolina gained it back following the 2010 census was in 2012, the first election with the recrafted voting map. That year, Democrat Gloria Bromell Tinubu received 44% of the vote, losing to Tom Rice, then-chairman of Horry County Council.

Rice, who angered Republicans in the ruby red district for voting to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021, was ousted by Fry.

The 40-year-old won re-election in November with 65% of the vote, the most decisive win for the seat this century.

Vincent, a Navy veteran who retired in 2003 as command master chief petty officer — one of the branch’s highest ranks for enlisted sailors — was hoping to become the first Democrat to represent the Grand Strand since it was part of the state’s 6th District. Jim Clyburn, the state’s lone Democrat in Congress, has represented the reconfigured 6th District since 1992.

In Tuesday’s post, Vincent said he’s received positive feedback, but his crowds are small, and contributions are coming in small batches — probably from “people who can barely afford it.”

Vincent had $7,500 in his campaign account as of March 31, according to the latest FEC filings. When he spoke with the Daily Gazette last month, he said his account had grown to $30,000.

That compares to more than $625,000 Fry had on hand at the end of March, according to his FEC filing.

“Those who can afford it, have a wait-and-see attitude, steeped in apathy that might not change until it’s too late to win,” Vincent wrote.

Albeit brief, Vincent’s experience as a candidate doesn’t bode well for the party in a state where the GOP is becoming more dominant with every election cycle.

While he’s not completely closing the book on his campaign, Vincent said he will focus on political activism so future Democrats eyeing a congressional bid don’t have the same experience he did.

“We need to wake up this district, the state, and the country, to what is happening and what we could lose,” he said. “We will aim to create better conditions for candidates.”

Other potential challengers

Since Vincent announced his bid last month, two other Democrats have submitted paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for the U.S. House in next year’s elections.

Alex Harper, an assistant solicitor in York and Union counties, filed his statement of candidacy form on April 25 for the 5th District, represented by Ralph Norman since 2017. The Rock Hill developer is mulling a run for governor.

Harper is participating in a meet-and-greet event Tuesday evening in Tega Cay.

David Robinson II of Columbia filed with the FEC on Saturday to again challenge 2nd District Congressman Joe Wilson. The Lexington County Republican won re-election last November with 60% of the vote.