Republican Daniel Rickenmann defeated Democrat Tameika Isaac Devine during Tuesday night’s mayoral election in Columbia by 4 percentage points. Richland County, where Columbia is located, saw President Joe Biden win by 38 percentage points last year. According to a New York Times analysis of the election, precincts in Columbia overwhelming voted in favor of Biden. …Obama had released an audio message to support Devine, and the former president himself carried Richland County by 29 points and 33 points in 2008 and 2012, respectively. Clyburn, a top ally of Biden and whose congressional district also includes parts of Columbia, also endorsed Devine. Following Rickenmann’s win over Devine, Republicans say it’s evidence of a growing “red wave” that will see Republicans re-capture the House during the 2022 midterms.
