Midlands, SC lawmakers draw 2020 challengers during time when election cycle uncertain – By Maayan Schechter (The State) / March 31 2020
Former Columbia City Councilman Moe Baddourah — who last year lost his city seat to a newcomer — filed Monday to run for the South Carolina Senate seat currently held by firebrand freshman state Sen. Dick Harpootlian.
To face the Richland Democrat, Baddourah, a businessman and field engineer, would have to win a three-way GOP primary that includes Randy Dickey and Benjamin Dunn, a failed U.S. Senate candidate who lost to Harpootlian in the 2018 midterms by fewer than 2,000 votes.
Baddourah, who also has run for Columbia mayor and Richland County Council, did not respond by press time.
Harpootlian, who will not face a Democratic opponent, told The State on Monday he looks forward to a “robust campaign” in the fall.
“Whoever wins the Republican primary better be able to talk about issues and not hackneyed political slogans,” said Harpootlian, whose first term so far has included nearly blocking a deal between the state and the Carolina Panthers football team to bring their North Carolina operations across the border, calling for more transparency in the state budget and fighting operations of some college bars.
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