Mr. Patterson, 78, is the current state treasurer and held the post from 1967 to 1994.

Mr. Ryberg, 56, who has served in the state Senate since 1993, was winning Aiken County, but as 11 p.m. neared, state results showed Mr. Ryberg losing to his opponent by about 40 percent to 60 percent.

In Aiken County, as of 10:17 p.m., Mr. Ryberg was carrying the county with 64 percent to Mr. Patterson's 36 percent.

Mr. Ryberg did not answer telephone calls for comments Tuesday night.

State House District 84 Rep. Roland Smith, who was running unopposed in his race for re-election, said he believes that Mr. Ryberg increased his name recognition significantly during his campaign but that it did not appear to be enough.

"I don't think he was known across the state when the campaign began," Mr. Smith said. "I don't think that's true now."

--From the Wednesday, November 6, 2002 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle