South Carolina Elects 1st Black GOP Congressman From Deep South Since Reconstruction

South Carolina voters have elected the first black Republican to Congress from the Deep South since Reconstruction.

State Rep. Tim Scott on Tuesday easily defeated perennial Democratic candidate Ben Frasier and five third-party candidates to win the 1st District seat left vacant by the retirement of Republican U.S. Rep. Henry Brown.

The 45-year-old Scott will be the nation's first black GOP congressman since Oklahoma's J.C. Watts retired in 2003.

The district reaches from the sea islands south of Charleston, through the city where the Civil War began and north along the coast to the Myrtle Beach area.

Scott swamped his opponents in fundraising. The conservative businessman also picked up the endorsements of tea party groups and Sarah Palin.