Complex sentence: The district was one of the seats that the Democrats lost to the Republicans during the election; before the 2010 election, congressman John M. Spratt had represented the district since 1983 but was defeated 55% to 45% in 2010.
Split into simpler sentences: The district was one of the seats that the Democrats lost to the Republicans during the election. Before the 2010 election, congressman John M. Spratt had represented the district since 1983 but was defeated 55% to 45% in 2010.