COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
The state Republican Party plans to endorse a candidate who is challenging Jake Knotts for his state Senate seat.
The state GOP executive committee voted unanimously to endorse Lexington County petition candidate Katrina Shealy.
Shealy was among more than 250 candidates statewide who were determined ineligible for the November ballot because of improper campaign paperwork.
Shealy fought to have her name restored to the ballot before the primary through a protest hearing with the state Republican Party, but the state Election Commission ruled she could not be restored because a deadline set by the Supreme Court had already passed.
Shealy unsuccessfully tried to run on the GOP ticket against Knotts back in 2008.
The party source says the decision comes after connections Knotts has with people involved in video gaming in Lexington County.
State Ethics Commission records show that Knotts accepted at least $7,000 from businesses connected to the Danny Frazier's operation video gambling operation.
In response to the decision, Sen. Knotts released the following statement:
"This isn't the first time that my opponent has tried to bring in folks from outside Lexington County to campaign against me."
"This was to underscore the main difference between my incumbent and me: I'm running to serve the people of Lexington County, while she's beholden to outside political interests.
"For my part, that's the approach I'm going to continue to take. I'm going to keep my campaign focused right here in Lexington County, and let her campaign in other parts of the state.
Political expert and USC professor Mark Tompkins says Knotts may even benefit from butting heads with party.
"The interesting part about this is that Senator Knotts has always been an anti-establishment sort of figure and this might well reinforce that message. He sounds like a guy who's out there taking on the good old boys and taking on the establishment, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm not sure that the endorsement of the Republican Party leadership is something that every voter in his district cherishes," Tompkins said.
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SC Senator Jake Knotts (Source: SC Legislature Online)
Katrina Shealy
