Message Sent: Incumbent Rep. Tom Rice Gets Blown Away In South Carolina Republican Primary After Voting To Impeach Donald Trump

Tom Rice, the only Republican member of South Carolina’s Congressional delegation who voted for Donald Trump’s impeachment in 2021, has lost his bid for re-election.

Election results show State Rep. Russell Fry, who had Trump’s backing, won with 51 percent of the vote Tuesday in a field of seven candidates. Rice was second with just 25 percent.

Rice now becomes the the first House Republican who voted to impeach Trump to be ousted.

Full 2022 South Carolina Primary Election Results 

Rice had been a relatively uncontroversial and reliable conservative, representing his area since the district was first created for the 2012 But last year, Rice was one of just 10 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for Trump’s impeachment over the January 6th at the U.S. Capitol. Many of his GOP colleagues who made that same choice decided not to seek re-election, fearing a primary challenge.