Bryant wins District 3 Senate seat

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The Republican candidate won the election with 24,996 votes to Democratic contender Mike Mullinax's 14,356 votes, according to unofficial election results.

Incumbent Bob Waldrep is retiring after holding the seat for 12 years.

Bryant, 37, who helps run family-owned Bryant Pharmacy in Anderson, said revamping the criteria for how tax dollars are spent on prescription medications could save millions.

"When it's not a life-threatening situation, I think we ought to try generic alternatives first, for pain management, that sort of thing," he said. "I've identified as much as $61 million in Medicaid prescription waste. I have some health care reform that I think I would have a little more influence over. I just feel like being a pharmacist I'll have more insight."

Bryant said he also plans to propose tort reform to reduce frivolous lawsuits which he expects to have a widespread effect.

"I believe tort reform is going to help education. I think we spend a lot of money in education to help fight lawsuits," he said.

Bryant would also like to see commercial property tax eliminated.

"I think we'd go a long way to open up more jobs," he said.

Bryant, whose three children are home schooled, said he is a proponent of giving parents more options in where their children attend school - whether public, private, public charter or home schooled.

"I'll be supporting Gov. Sanford's put parents in charge bill," he said.

He said this will create competition in the education marketplace, thus improving all schools in the area.