Gambrell Wins Runoff for O'Dell's Senate Seat

South Carolina Rep. Mike Gambrell will be the Republican to fill the seat the S.C. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Billy O'Dell in January. Grambrell won the runnoff to determine the GOP representative for the seat Tuesday, receiving almost 58 percent of the vote, defeating his challenger Rockey Burgess by more than 15 points.

The seat was left vacant after Sen. Billy O'Dell, who had the seat for more than 27 years, died in January.

"I am very honored and very humbled," said Gambrell, who lives in Honea Path.

Following the March 22 special election, which led to the runoff, Gambrell received the endorsement of for caniddate Greenwood City Attorney Tripp Padgett and the widow of the late Senator O'Dell.

Gambrell did very well Tuesday night in Greenwood and Abbeville Counties, and also won a majority of votes in Anderson County, which has the largest number of District 4 voters.

Gambrell will face Burgess again in a June 14 primary to decide the Republican nominee for November, when the full term for the Senate seat will be part of the ballot.