Harry Cato Has First Serious Opposition in 19 Years as Lawmaker
Rep. Harry Cato, who was first elected to the South Carolina House to represent District 17 in 1990 and was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the House in 2008, is facing two challengers in the June 8 Republican primary election. Cato has been the only candidate on the ballot for most of his 10 District 17 elections and has never been challenged in a Republican primary.
Last month, Nathan Earle, a Travelers Rest Attorney announced his candidacy to challenge Cato in the Republican primary.
Tom Corbin, a Tigerville small business owner, will announce his candidacy for the District 17 House seat on Monday, March 15 at 4:30 p.m. at Clearview Baptist Church Family Life Center on State Park Rd.
Cato is expected to announce he is seeking reelection prior to the opening primary filing date of March 16.
District 17 covers the northern part of Greenville County south of the North Carolina Line reaching from Spartanburg County at Gowensville and Lake Lanier on the east to include Travelers Rest and Marietta in the western part of the District. The residents of this formerly Democrat stronghold have voted heavily Republican in the past two decades.