Gerald Malloy Withdraws Election Protest in South Carolina

Former South Carolina State Senator Gerald Malloy has withdrawn his protest regarding the election results for Senate District 29, conceding to Republican J.D. Chaplin, who won by a narrow margin of 87 votes after a recount. Malloy's protest was initially sparked by significant discrepancies in the vote counts, particularly in Lee County, where it was reported that nearly 300 votes were counted twice. Despite expressing concerns over the integrity of the election process and asserting that the certified results were inaccurate, Malloy acknowledged that continuing the protest would leave the district without representation during a critical period. As a result, he has instructed his attorneys to cease further action and has called Chaplin to assist in the transition. The South Carolina Election Commission is still reviewing the electoral discrepancies but has not provided further comments on the matter. Malloy, a 22-year incumbent, emphasized his respect for the Senate and the need for stability in governance.