After struggling through several tough re-election challenges, Senator Dick Elliot, Horry County's last Democratic legislator, has decided not to seek re-election this year. 

In an announcement made after filing has opened, it'll be interesting to see if this allows Democrats enough time to find a candidate willing to take a chance on holding the GOP-leaning seat without the benefit of Elliot's name recognition or incumbency. He joins two other long-time Democratic Senators - John Land and Phil Leventis - in opting not to seek re-election.

Several Republicans have looked at the seat. Current 15th Circuit Solicitor Greg Hembree announced for the seat last fall.

2001 District

While the Democratic primary will likely pick Land's successor, the seats held by Elliot and Leventis were swing districts whose districts were tilted in favor of Republican candidates - Elliot by shedding many of his best Democratic precincts in Dillon, Marion and Marlboro Counties and Leventis by picking up GOP precincts in Kershaw and Richland Counties.

Elliot started his Senate career by knocking off Senator Gene Carmichael in the 1992 Democratic Primary after serving in the State House **. Carmichael was a long-time Senator who returned to the Senate in 1991 after taking a break for much of the 1980s due to a conviction in a federal vote-buying investigation.

** Editor's note: This correction was made thanks to an anonymous reader who caught my mistake. Originally I had overlooked his previous service in the House. Thanks!