Eric Graben, Democratic candidate for Congress in South Carolina’s 4th district, announced that Secretary & Governor Dick Riley, Congresswoman Liz Patterson and Lt. Governor Nick Theodore have endorsed his candidacy.  Riley served as U.S. Secretary of Education for President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001 and was the first two-term governor of South Carolina, serving from 1979 to 1987. Patterson, the first woman elected to Congress from South Carolina, represented the 4th Congressional District for three terms.  Theodore served as a state representative, state senator and eventually Lt. Governor from 1987 until 1995. 

“I have known Eric Graben for over a decade as he has served the Democratic Party in Greenville County and South Carolina and served it well,” said Riley.  “I think he will make an excellent Congressman, and I am an enthusiastic supporter.”

“Serving in Congress has given me a unique insight into what it takes to be successful in Washington on behalf of the citizens that send you there” said Patterson.  “Eric Graben is a man rooted in his faith, love for our community, and desire to serve.  I cannot think of a better person for the 4th District to elect and send to Washington to do our business.  I urge the voters to nominate him on June 12th.”

“For as long as I can remember, Eric Graben has been working to make the upstate a better place” said Theodore in a statement. “As chairman of the Greenville Democratic Party, he was responsible for electing candidates that have helped to shape our community into what it is today.  He is a great South Carolinian, a strong Democrat and a man of strong faith and compassion who will find solutions to the challenges our country faces, and I am proud to be standing with him in his run for Congress.”

“I am honored to have support of three of South Carolina’s greatest public servants, Secretary Riley, Congresswoman Patterson and Lt. Governor Theodore,” said Graben.  “Secretary Riley was selected by Time magazine as one of the 10 best cabinet members of all time and was a model of how to bring people together to make Washington work.  Congresswoman Patterson is a true public servant who made the people of the upstate proud during her time in office, and Lt. Governor Theodore was always a leader the upstate could be proud of who put partisan politics aside to make our state a better place.  These are the grand masters of public service who I look up to, and I will strive to follow their examples in Congress.”

Graben’s announcement builds on his campaign’s momentum.  Over the past two months, Graben has announced a series of elected officials and community leaders who are supporting his candidacy, including:

State Representative Chandra Dillard, Greenville County Councilwoman Xanthene Norris,

Greenville City Councilwoman Lillian Brock Flemming, Former Greenville City Councilwoman Gaye Sprague, Former Greenville City Councilwoman Diane Smock, and Former Greenville City Councilwoman Michelle Shain as well as state and national leaders State Senator and two time Democratic nominee for Governor Vincent Sheheen, former State Senator Harry Chapman Jr, former South Carolina Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum, and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education and former Democratic Nominee for State Superintendent of Education Frank Holleman, and Monier Abusaft, former Spartanburg NAACP President