South Carolina state Rep. Thad Viers (R), once considered the frontrunner in the Palmetto State’s new 7th district, dropped his Congressional bid today after being arrested on harassment charges.

“As of today, I am withdrawing from the race for South Carolina’s new 7th Congressional District due to personal reasons, and I will not be a candidate for any office in 2012,” he said in a statement.

Viers, the first candidate to enter the race for the Myrtle Beach-based seat, was arrested and being held in a Myrtle Beach jail on charges of harassment, according to local news reports.

At least seven other Republicans, including former state Lt. Gov. André Bauer, are vying for the GOP nomination in the district, which Roll Call rates as Safe Republican.