Columbia, SC (AP) - Controversial Sen. Lee Bright, who sponsored a transgender bathroom bill that failed in South Carolina, has been defeated in a GOP primary runoff.
The Roebuck Republican was the only incumbent publicly opposed by the state Chamber of Commerce's political committee, which ran several radio ads against him. The ads criticized Bright's bill as a time-wasting political stunt and faulted him for not supporting bills aimed at fixing South Carolina's crumbling roads.
The two-term senator was defeated by former state Rep. Scott Talley. Both the chamber and Gov. Nikki Haley supported Talley in the runoff.
Four years ago, Haley endorsed Bright for the seat representing Greenville and Spartanburg counties.
Bright led a four-way primary two weeks ago with 38 percent of the vote over Talley's 27 percent.
Two GOP Senate committee chairmen and a longtime Democrat also lost.
