Indigo Journal

Chad McGowan Drops US Senate Bid

Posted on 10. Feb, 2010 by Jennifer Read in Election 2010

Leading Democratic Senate candidate Chad McGowan announced Wednesday that he is ending his brief bid to unseat Republican Sen. Jim DeMint.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that now is the wrong time for me to mount a successful campaign for the United States Senate,” said McGowan. “The demands of a young family place a premium on every minute. There is nothing more important to me than my wife and three small children. In order to fulfill my duties as a husband and a father, I’ll be leaving the race for United States Senate effective immediately.”

The Rock Hill attorney thanked his supporters and said he would be offering full refunds to each of his contributors. Since announcing his Senate bid in October, the conservative Democrat has raised almost $250,000, a respectable figure but well shy of DeMint’s $3.2 million cash on hand.

McGowan’s unexpected departure from the race leaves retired automotive executive Mike Ruckes of Summerville and North Myrtle Beach resident Gary Stephens as the only declared Democratic candidates. However, according to FEC records, neither Ruckes nor Stephens have any cash on hand to wage competitive campaigns.

So will S.C. Democrats be able to field a viable challenger to DeMint in the fall?

Currently, Charleston County Councilman Vic Rawl is weighing a possible Senate bid, but has not formally announced his intentions. Another name being thrown around is current Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod, who is facing a competitive five-way primary battle. McLeod has the ability to self-finance and the campaign infrastructure in place to hit the ground running; however, McLeod’s campaign said Wednesday that the Charleston attorney remains committed to the governor’s race.

Democrats have until the end of March to find a credible candidate to run in November.