U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, S.C. Rep. Bill Hixon open up big fundraising leads

Aug. 15—U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and S.C. Rep. Bill Hixon, R-North Augusta, have opened up big fundraising leads in the only competitive partisan general election races local to Aiken County.

Filings with the Federal Election Commission indicate that Wilson has raised $750,879.55 and has $289,493.52 in cash on hand as of June 30.

Wilson represents South Carolina's Second Congressional District which includes Aiken and Barnwell counties along with much of the suburbs of Columbia.

His Democratic opponent, Judd Larkins, has raised $62,843.89 and has $6,970.58 in cash on hand.

Edgefield County is included in the Third Congressional District currently represented by U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C. Duncan did not face a primary opponent and does not face a general election opponent.

The Third Congressional District is the most Republican-leaning district in South Carolina, according to Cook Political Reports.

Filings with the South Carolina Ethics Commission indicate that Hixon has raised $14,849.22 including $7,249.22 from April 1-June 30.

Hixon represents District 83 in the South Carolina House. The district includes most of North Augusta and all of southern Edgefield County.

His opponent, Democrat J.D. McCoy, has raised $1,266.18 including $634.60 from April 1-June 30.

Hixon received $1,000 each from the South Carolina Realtors PAC, the Carolinas AGC (contractors) PAC, Southeastern Freight Lines, the South Carolina State Farm Agents and Associates PAC and Augusta general contractor Charles Hayward.

He also received $999.22 from the South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association PAC.

McCoy received a total of $500 from two family members and contributed $134.60 to his own campaign.

As of June 30, Hixon has $47,950.66 in cash on hand, and McCoy has $168.97 in cash on hand including a $105 loan from himself.

None of the other South Carolina House members representing Aiken County faces an opponent in the 2022 general election.

The House District 81 race was most likely decided in the Republican primary. S.C. Rep. Bart Blackwell, R-Aiken, defeated challenger Betsy Lamb.

The House District 82 was most likely decided before the primary when the South Carolina Democratic Party decertified Brian "Ryan B" Doyle leaving S.C. Rep. Bill Clyburn, D-Aiken, as the only candidate in the race.

S.C. Rep. Melissa Oremus, R-Graniteville, and S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, did not face opponents in the primary and do not face opponents in the general election.