| Election Name: | 2020 South Carolina Senate election |
| Country: | South Carolina |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 South Carolina Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 South Carolina Senate election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Seats For Election: | All 46 seats in the South Carolina Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 24 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Image1: | File:Harvey Peeler (cropped 2).png |
| Leader1: | Harvey S. Peeler Jr. |
| Party1: | South Carolina Republican Party |
| Leaders Seat1: | 14th |
| Last Election1: | 28 |
| Seats Before1: | 27 |
| Seat Change1: | 3 |
| Seats After1: | 30 |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,399,659 |
| Percentage1: | 59.52% |
| Image2 Size: | 115 |
| Leader2: | Nikki G. Setzler (stepped down) |
| Party2: | South Carolina Democratic Party |
| Leaders Seat2: | 26th |
| Last Election2: | 18 |
| Seats Before2: | 19 |
| Seat Change2: | 3 |
| Seats After2: | 16 |
| Popular Vote2: | 924,535 |
| Percentage2: | 39.31% |
| Leader Since1: | January 8, 2019 |
| Leader Since2: | November 12, 2012 |
| Map Size: | 350px |
| Before Election: | Harvey S. Peeler Jr. |
| After Election: | Harvey S. Peeler Jr. |
| Before Party: | South Carolina Republican Party |
| After Party: | South Carolina Republican Party |
| President pro-tempore | |
The 2020 South Carolina State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 2020 United States elections. South Carolina voters elected state senators in all 46 senate districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the South Carolina Senate, with all of the seats up for election each cycle. The primary elections on June 9, 2020, determined which candidates appeared on the November 3, 2020, general election ballot.
Following the previous election in 2016, Republicans had control of the South Carolina Senate with 27 seats to Democrats' 19 seats.
Following the succession of Republican Kevin Bryant to Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina,[1] the seat for District 3 became vacant. A primary was held April 11, a primary runoff was held on April 25, and the special election took place on May 30, 2017. The primary field was initially crowded with eight candidates including:[2]
Bryant endorsed Cash,[6] [7] and Cash ultimately won the primary after a head-to-head runoff with Burdette.[8] Although he faced an uncontested general election, a last minute write-in effort was attempted. The majority of the write-ins were for Burdette, though she denied participating in the effort. Ultimately, the effort failed and Cash received almost 82% of the vote.[9] [10]
In March 2017, Republican John Courson was suspended from his seat on charges of corruption in the South Carolina State House. After pleading guilty to misconduct in office, he resigned in June, triggering a special election.[11] Democratic and Republican primaries were held on August 14, a Republican primary runoff was held on August 28, and a special election was held on November 6, concurrently with the 2018 South Carolina House of Representatives election.[12] Ultimately, Courson would escape jail time and only be required to perform 100 hours of community service for using campaign funds for personal expenses.[13]
After William Timmons succeeded Trey Gowdy in representing South Carolina's 4th Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, a special election was held to find a replacement senator for the 6th District. A Republican primary was held on January 22 and a special election was held on March 26.[14] [15]
| Party | Votes | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | +/− | % | |||||
| South Carolina Republican Party | 1,399,659 | 59.52 | 30 | +3 | 65.22 | ||
| South Carolina Democratic Party | 924,535 | 39.31 | 16 | -3 | 34.78 | ||
| Write-in | 17,735 | 0.75 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | ||
| Alliance Party | 7,928 | 0.34 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | ||
| Libertarian Party of South Carolina | 1,909 | 0.08 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | ||
| Total | 2,351,766 | 100.00 | 46 | ±0 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters | 3,547,181 | 100.00 | |||||
| Turnout | 2,351,766 | 66.3 | |||||
| Source: South Carolina Election Commission[16] | |||||||
No incumbents were defeated in their primaries.
| align=center | District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40 • District 41 • District 42 • District 43 • District 44 • District 45 • District 46 |
District 1 covers parts of Oconee and Pickens Counties. Incumbent Thomas C. Alexander ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election. He was reelected to a seventh full-term in the Senate.[23]
District 2 is a part of Pickens County. Incumbent Rex Rice ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election. He was reelected to his second term in office.[23]
District 3 consists of the Northern parts of Anderson County.
Incumbent Richard Cash was challenged by Anderson County Councilman Craig Wooten in the Republican Primary.[24] Both candidates took conservative stances, opposing abortion and illegal immigration while supporting the Second Amendment, economic development in the wake of COVID-19, and infrastructure improvements. Cash framed his candidacy around being a proven conservative who introduced legislation to stop abortions in South Carolina and to expand the rights to conceal-carry weapons. In contrast, Wooten framed himself as a less absolutist, more pragmatic conservative who sought to politically elevate Anderson County to the level of other major areas in South Carolina, such as Charleston, Greenville, and Columbia. During the primary race, over $150,000 was raised, and Cash was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund, Republican Liberty Caucus, and South Carolina Citizens for Life.[25] Cash defeated Wooten with 57% of the vote.[26] [27]
Retired teacher Judith Polson ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[28] In the general election, Cash was again endorsed by the same groups with the addition of the SC Chamber of Commerce.[29] Cash was reelected with 74% of the vote, marking his first election to a full term.[30] [31]
District 4 is made up of parts of Abbeville, Anderson and Greenwood Counties. Incumbent Michael Gambrell ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Jose Villa ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[28] [32] In the general election, Villa campaigned on Medicaid expansion and education and criminal justice reform. However, Gambrell defeated him with 73% of the vote, and was elected to his second term.[33]
Incumbent Tom Corbin faced opposition in the Republican primary.[34] Michael McCord ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Dwight Loftis ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Hao Wu ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[32]
Incumbent Karl B. Allen faced opposition in the Democratic primary. Jack Logan ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[35]
Incumbent Ross Turner faced opposition in the Republican primary, but ran unopposed in the general election.[36]
Incumbent Danny Verdin ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.[37]
Incumbent Floyd Nicholson ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[38]
Incumbent Glenn Reese ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Josh Kimbrell ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[39]
Incumbent Scott Talley faced opposition in the Republican primary. Dawn Bingham ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[40]
Incumbent Shane Martin ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.[41]
Incumbent Harvey S. Peeler Jr. ran unopposed in the Republican primary, but faced opposition from a third-party candidate in the general election.[41]
Incumbent Wes Climer ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Vickie Holt ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[41]
This seat was one of three open seats in this election cycle. Four candidates ran in the Republican primary, with two advancing to a runoff.[42] Ramin Mammadov ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Mike Fanning faced opposition in the Democratic primary.[43] Erin Mosley ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Incumbent Ronnie Cromer faced opposition in the Republican primary.[44] Christopher Thibault ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Incumbent John L. Scott Jr. ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.[41]
Incumbent Dick Harpootlian ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[45]
Incumbent Darrell Jackson ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.[41]
Incumbent Mia McLeod ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[46]
Incumbent Katrina Shealy ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Bill Brown ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Tom Young Jr. ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Lisa Williams was set to run unopposed in the Democratic primary, but withdrew before it took place.
Incumbent A. Shane Massey faced opposition in the Republican primary.[47] Shirley Green Fayson ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Nikki G. Setzler ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[48]
Incumbent Vincent Sheheen ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Penry Gustafson ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Incumbent Greg Hembree ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.[41]
Incumbent Gerald Malloy ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[49]
Incumbent Kent M. Williams faced opposition in the Democratic primary,[50] but ran unopposed in the general election.
Incumbent Hugh Leatherman ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.[41]
Incumbent Ronnie A. Sabb faced opposition in the Democratic primary.[51] David Ellison ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Incumbent Luke A. Rankin faced opposition in the Republican primary, but ran unopposed in the general election.[21]
Incumbent Stephen Goldfinch ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Emily Cegledy ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Thomas McElveen ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.[41]
Incumbent Kevin L. Johnson faced opposition in the Democratic primary.[52] Leon Winn ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Incumbent Larry Grooms ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Kathryn Whitaker ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. A third-party candidate also contested the general election.
Incumbent Sean Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican primary. John Lowe ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
This seat was one of three open seats in this election cycle. Four candidates ran in the Democratic primary, with two advancing to a runoff.[53] Tom Connor ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Incumbent Brad Hutto faced opposition in the Democratic primary,[54] but ran unopposed in the general election.
Incumbent Sandy Senn faced no opposition in the Republican primary. Two candidates ran in the Democratic primary.[55]
Incumbent Marlon Kimpson ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.[41]
Incumbent Chip Campsen ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Richard Hricik ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
This seat was one of three open seats in this election cycle. Two candidates ran in the Democratic primary, and two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[56]
Incumbent Margie Bright Matthews ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Rodney Buncum ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Incumbent Tom Davis ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Nathan Campbell ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
| District | Primary | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Democratic | 2.6% | |
| 16 | Republican | 4.7% | |
| 12 | Republican | 5.6% | |
| 33 | Republican | 5.8% | |
| 10 | Republican | 7.0% | |
| 3 | Republican | 13.6% | |
| 44 | Republican | 22.6% | |
| 18 | Democratic | 24.2% | |
| 41 | Democratic | 26.0% | |
| 7 | Democratic | 30.4% | |
| 17 | Democratic | 35.8% | |
| 8 | Republican | 36.4% | |
| 26 | Republican | 37.6% | |
| 7 | Democratic | 40.2% | |
| 5 | Republican | 40.8% | |
| 40 | Democratic | 42.0% | |
| 20 | Republican | 43.0% | |
| 36 | Democratic | 49.8% | |
| 22 | Republican | 51.6% | |
| 30 | Democratic | 53.4% | |
| 32 | Democratic | 55.2% | |
| 25 | Republican | 57.6% | |
| 29 | Republican | 64.8% | |
| 44 | Democratic | 71.2% |
| District | Primary | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Republican | 9.6% | |
| 33 | Republican | 16.8% | |
| 39 | Democratic | 30.4% |
| District | Winning Party | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Republican | 1.9% | |
| 27 | Republican | 2.1% | |
| 17 | Democratic | 3.1% | |
| 20 | Democratic | 6.6% | |
| 29 | Democratic | 7.5% | |
| 26 | Democratic | 8.9% | |
| 11 | Republican | 10.8% | |
| 10 | Republican | 12.1% | |
| 43 | Republican | 12.5% | |
| 39 | Democratic | 13.1% | |
| 44 | Republican | 14.1% | |
| 36 | Democratic | 14.9% | |
| 38 | Republican | 17.7% | |
| 45 | Democratic | 18.9% | |
| 37 | Republican | 20.1% | |
| 15 | Republican | 20.4% | |
| 32 | Democratic | 21.3% | |
| 22 | Democratic | 24.4% | |
| 7 | Republican | 25.3% | |
| 16 | Republican | 26.5% | |
| 12 | Republican | 29.9% | |
| 6 | Republican | 30.3% | |
| 46 | Republican | 31.5% | |
| 34 | Republican | 33.5% | |
| 25 | Republican | 39.1% | |
| 18 | Republican | 44.5% | |
| 23 | Republican | 45.1% | |
| 4 | Republican | 45.5% | |
| 3 | Republican | 48.1% | |
| 5 | Republican | 52.3% | |
| 14 | Republican | 68.2% |