Dick Harpootlian concedes to Russell Ott following close SC Senate District 26 primary

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Rep. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun, is one step closer to moving into the upper chamber after he defeated Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Richland, who conceded Wednesday morning, in a closely-watched Midlands Democratic primary.

Harpootlian and Ott faced off to replace longtime Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington, for the recently redrawn District 26.

The district now includes sections of Richland, Lexington and Calhoun counties.

Unofficial results from the South Carolina Election Commission show Ott won with 51 percent of the vote to Harpootlian’s 49 percent.

“There’s no substitute for hard work so that’s what paid off,” Ott said in an interview Tuesday night at his watch party in West Columbia.

Harpootlian believes “hometown pride” in Calhoun County pushed Ott over the finish line.

He believes the close race came down to those voters turning out in high numbers.

Ott, who is from Calhoun County, substantially out-performed Harpootlian there, garnering more than 80 percent of the votes.

“The system worked yesterday, and it worked like it’s supposed to work in America,” Harpootlian told reporters in a press conference outside his law office Wednesday. “We went through a process yesterday. I lost.”

Harpootlian also attributed his loss to lower than expected voter turnout in Richland and Lexington counties.

While disappointed about his defeat, he said he has no regrets about how he ran the campaign, and about his six years of service in the Senate.

Ott credited his grassroots campaign.

“We made a decision early on that we were going to every single part of this district, we weren’t going to ignore anyone,” he said. “So we’ve gone to every neighborhood, we’ve gone to the rural parts of Calhoun County, the suburbs of Lexington and the urban streets of Columbia. And we have talked with folks, we’ve knocked on doors. We’ve listened to what they’ve had to tell us, and at the end of the day, I think that showing that we care, that we want to know what matters to them, I think that’s what ultimately put us over the top.”

Harpootlian’s ouster from the Senate closes a storied chapter in Midlands Democratic politics.

He is the former solicitor for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, served on Richland County Council in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was twice the chairman of the state Democratic party.

The colorful senator mused sarcastically about his career.

“The tragedy from yesterday is that such a promising political future was nipped so early in the bud,” he said. “I had to get that out. I feel better now.”

Harpootlian downplayed the suggestion that his defense of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh, which gave him national recognition, played any role in the voters’ minds.

“We didn’t see any evidence of that,” he said. “I think this was about factors other than that, but let me say this to you. I am a lawyer, I’ve been a prosecutor, I’ve been a defense lawyer, and if that played a factor in anybody’s decisions yesterday, so be it. That’s who I am. And I haven’t changed in 50 years, I’m not going to start changing now.”

Ott said he wants to earn the trust of Harpootlian’s supporters, and all voters in the district, in November.

“I want to build a level of trust with them, that they are excited about coming and joining this campaign and making sure that we get across the finish line in November,” he said. “It is very important that we hold onto this seat as a Democratic seat. We’ve seen what infighting occurs when

Harpootlian said he will be supporting Ott in the general election, and called him a man of good character.

However, Harpootlian believes Ott does need to clarify his positions on certain issues like guns and abortions rights.

He said the pair had a productive conversation on Wednesday morning.

The November election will pit Ott against the winner of the Republican runoff between Christ Smith and Jason Guerry.

Worker’s Party candidate Harrold Geddings is also running.

Harpootlian said he has no intention to seek another public office at this time, but did not rule out another run.

He looks forward to having more time to practice law and pursue his passions, he said.

Ott released a statement following Harpootlian’s remarks, which reads:

“I appreciate Dick Harpootlian calling me this morning to concede the race. We had a cordial and respectful conversation where he pledged to support our campaign in November. This race was never about any individual. It was about the people of Senate District 26. At the end of the day, people deserve honesty, integrity, and hard work from their elected representatives.

Now we’re going to get back to work to win in November. I’m so grateful to everyone who was a part of this campaign. I especially want to thank my friends and neighbors in Calhoun and lower Lexington for their strong support. Those are the folks who know me best — and I’ll work hard to earn that same level of trust with everyone in Richland and Lexington Counties.”

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