House Majority Leader Rick Quinn was handed a stunning defeat Tuesday by political novice Nathan Ballentine in District 71.

Meanwhile, three high-profile state senators found themselves headed for runoffs.

Ballentine charged that Quinn had neglected the residents of the district — which covers areas of Irmo, Dutch Fork and Harbison and a sliver of Chapin. He said he knocked on at least 3,000 doors during his bid to replace Quinn.

Quinn, 38, said his focus on the state budget made it impossible to connect with voters.

Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Charleston, one of Quinn’s best friends in the House, said the loss was “devastating to me personally.”

“It’s clearly a reflection of the negativity and anti-incumbency that is so prevalent now,” he said.

In the Senate, Democratic state Sen. Maggie Glover will face Kent Williams in a runoff for the seat she has held for more than a decade.

Glover is one of only two women in the S.C. Senate, and the only one who is black.

In Charleston, Republican Sen. John Kuhn finds himself in a runoff with one-time state Rep. Chip Campsen. Kuhn made headlines recently when he got involved in a spat with S.C. first lady Jenny Sanford.

And Sen. Bill Branton, R-Dorchester, is in a runoff with challenger Randy Scott.