State Rep. Ted Pitts overcame one of the great names in Midlands politics Tuesday.

He bested David Spence, son of longtime Midlands U.S. Rep. Floyd Spence, in a Republican primary battle for a seat in the S.C. House.

No Democrat is running for the seat in central Lexington County, so Pitts’ victory is tantamount to victory in the general election.

The district includes neighborhoods in Irmo, St. Andrews, West Columbia and Oak Grove.

Freshman legislator Pitts relied on a network of ties in neighborhoods made up mostly of newcomers to overcome the sway Spence’s family holds.

Pitts’ appeal centered on efforts to alleviate suburban concerns such as traffic congestion.

“A lot of his issues are what I stand for” on coping with the area’s rapid development, said Robin Vance, who lives near the town of Lexington.

Pitts said the win is “about my message and family and friends getting it out and getting me elected.”

Spence, whose given name is Floyd Davidson Spence Jr., sought to enter politics by following the path his father made 48 years ago by winning a state legislative seat.

But Lexington County today is different from when his father was in Congress. Many newcomers unfamiliar with the name are settling there, particularly in the district where the younger Spence ran.

“He tried to go off the coattails of his father and I didn’t know where he was on many issues,” said Judy Zwanka, who lives near the town of Lexington.

Some relatives and longtime friends of Spence who live near the family farm on the south side of Lake Murray could not vote for him since that area is outside the area where he ran.

“I never like to lose but this is not a finale,” Spence said. “It’s the beginning of a political career. This was a great experience.”

It was the second consecutive election in which Pitts played political giant-killer.

As he did in ousting former state Rep. Bill Riser in 2002, Pitts crafted a campaign appealing to local concerns about managing growth well.

Riser and Spence were “equally big” challenges, Pitts said.

Besides working for more road aid, Pitts wants to pay for schools by exchanging higher sales taxes for reduced property taxes.

The challenge of assuring more aid to schools and relieving bottlenecks on the roads statewide means “we’ve got a full plate” when the Legislature returns to work in January, he said.

Pitts is a double winner this week.

Saturday, the 32-year-old commercial real estate broker is getting married to teacher Christina Reyes.

Reach Flach at (803) 771-8483 or tflach@thestate.com.