The seat opened up as Republican U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint honored a three-term limit pledge and ran for U.S. Senate.

The heavily Republican Upstate district, which DeMint last won in 2002 with 69 percent of the vote, brought out three GOP contenders and two Democrats.

Only Inglis could claim he had actual experience in the job. He held the seat for three terms before honoring his own term limits pledge and stepping down in 1999.

That was persuasive for Charles Williams, 70, of Simpsonville. "Inglis was the man. He has proven himself," Williams said.

With 20 percent of precincts reporting, Inglis had 88 percent of the vote. Carole Wells followed with 8 percent and Jack Adams with 4 percent.

Contests elsewhere involved unchallenged incumbents and several perennial candidates who faced long odds.

-- In the 1st District, two men with ties to grocery chains squared off again. Two years ago, Reform Party candidate Bob Batchelder of Myrtle Beach, who works at a Winn Dixie, ran unsuccessfully against Republican Rep. Henry Brown, a retired Piggly Wiggly executive. On Tuesday, Brown beat Batchelder in the GOP primary. Brown faces Garden City marriage counselor James Dunn, who is running on the Green Party and United Citizens tickets.

-- In the 2nd District, Republican Rep. Joe Wilson had no primary opponent and will face Democrat Ray Ellisor and the Constitution Party's Steve Lefemine in November.

-- In the 3rd District, Republican Rep. Gresham Barrett was unopposed.

-- In the 5th District, Democratic Rep. John Spratt will face Republican Albert Spencer, Gaffney resident and Limestone College physical education professor, this fall.

-- In the 6th District, perennial candidate Gary McLeod of Manning beat newcomer Mike Reino of Florence in the Republican primary. McLeod also is running as a Libertarian and Constitution Party candidate, hoping to blend those votes in his biennial attempt to unseat Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn in November.

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