2024 South Carolina Senate election explained

Election Date:November 5, 2024
Election Name:2024 South Carolina Senate election
Country:South Carolina
Type:legislative
Ongoing:yes
Previous Election:2020 South Carolina Senate election
Previous Year:2020
Next Election:2028 South Carolina Senate election
Next Year:2028
Seats For Election:All 46 seats in the South Carolina Senate
Majority Seats:24
Leader1:Thomas Alexander
Party1:South Carolina Republican Party
Leader Since1:December 6, 2021
Leaders Seat1:1st
Seats Before1:30
Leader2:Brad Hutto
Party2:South Carolina Democratic Party
Leader Since2:November 17, 2020
Leaders Seat2:40th
Seats Before2:15
Seats Needed2: 9
Map Size:350px
President
Before Election:Thomas C. Alexander
Before Party:South Carolina Republican Party
Last Election1:30
Last Election2:16

The 2024 South Carolina Senate election will be held on November 5, 2024, alongside the 2024 United States elections.[1] Primary elections will take place on June 11, 2024.

Certified parties

The political parties certified in South Carolina for the 2024 elections include the typical Republican and Democratic parties, Drew McKissick chaired by and Christale Spain, respectively. Additionally, several third-party candidates are running for state senate elections:[2] [3]

Special elections

District 31 (March 29, 2022)

After longtime Republican incumbent Hugh Leatherman died in November 2021, a special election was held to fill his seat to represent Florence, South Carolina, in the Senate.[7] A Republican primary was held on January 25, and a special election was held on March 29.[8]

District 42 (May 11, 2023)

Democratic incumbent Marion Kimpson resigned May 11, 2023, after an appointment to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations within the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.[9] Democratic primary was held on September 5, a Democratic runoff was held on September 19, and the special election was held on November 7.[10]

District 19 (January 2, 2024)

Incumbent John L. Scott Jr. died August 13, 2023, from blood clot complications.[11] A special election was held on January 2, 2024.[12]

Summary

DistrictIncumbentPartyElected SenatorPartyResult
1stThomas C. AlexanderRepThomas C. AlexanderRepRepublican hold
2ndRex RiceRepRex RiceRepRepublican hold
3rdRichard CashRep
4thMichael GambrellRepMichael GambrellRepRepublican hold
5thThomas D. CorbinRepThomas D. CorbinRepRepublican hold
6thDwight LoftisRep
7thKarl B. AllenDemKarl B. AllenDemDemocratic hold
8thRoss TurnerRep
9thDanny VerdinRep
10thBilly GarrettRep
11thJosh KimbrellRep
12thScott TalleyRep
13thShane MartinRepShane MartinRepRepublican hold
14thHarvey S. Peeler Jr.RepHarvey S. Peeler Jr.RepRepublican hold
15thWes ClimerRep
16thMichael JohnsonRep
17thMike FanningDem
18thRonnie CromerRepRonnie CromerRepRepublican hold
19thTameika Isaac DevineDem
20thNew Seat
21stDarrell JacksonDemDarrell JacksonDemDemocratic hold
22ndMia McLeodInd
23rdKatrina ShealyRepCarlisle Kennedy RepRepublican hold
24thTom Young Jr.Rep
25thA. Shane MasseyRepA. Shane MasseyRepRepublican hold
26thNikki G. SetzlerDem
Dem
27thPenry GustafsonRep
28thGreg HembreeRep
29thGerald MalloyDem
30thKent M. WilliamsDem
31stMike ReichenbachRep
32ndRonnie A. SabbDem
33rdLuke A. RankinRep
34thStephen GoldfinchRepStephen GoldfinchRepRepublican hold
35thThomas McElveenDem
36thKevin L. JohnsonDem
37thLarry GroomsRepLarry GroomsRepRepublican hold
38thSean BennettRepSean BennettRepRepublican hold
39thVernon StephensDem
40thBrad HuttoDem
41stSandy SennRep
42ndDeon TedderDemDeon TedderDemDemocratic hold
43rdChip CampsenRep
44thBrian AdamsRep
45thMargie Bright MatthewsDemMargie Bright MatthewsDemDemocratic hold
46thTom DavisRep

Retirements

Five incumbents did not seek re-election.[13]

Democrats

  1. District 26: Nikki G. Setzler retired.
  2. District 35: Thomas McElveen retired.

Republicans

  1. District 6: Dwight Loftis retired.
  2. District 12: Scott Talley retired.

Independents

  1. District 22: Mia McLeod retired.

Incumbents defeated

In primary election

Three incumbent senators, one Democrat and two Republicans, were defeated in the June 11 primary election. One more incumbent senator, a Republican, was defeated in the June 25 primary runoff election.

Democrats

  1. District 26: Dick Harpootlian lost renomination to Russell Ott.[14]

Republicans

  1. District 23: Katrina Shealy lost renomination to Carlisle Kennedy.[15]
  2. District 27: Penry Gustafson lost renomination to Allen Blackmon.[16]
  3. District 41: Sandy Senn lost renomination to Matt Leber.

Detailed results

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

District 1 covers parts of Oconee and Pickens Counties. Incumbent Thomas C. Alexander will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election. If reelected, it will be his eighth full-term and mark over 30 consecutive years in the Senate.[18]

District 2

District 2 is contained within Pickens County. Incumbent Rex Rice will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election. It will be his third term in office.

District 3

District 3 consists of Northern Anderson County. Republican incumbent Richard Cash will seek a second full term, while Democrat and mental health counselor, Jessicka Spearman,[19] [20] will seek to unseat him in the general election.[21]

District 4

Incumbent Michael Gambrell will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.

District 5

Incumbent Tom Corbin will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.

District 13

Incumbent Shane Martin will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.

District 14

Incumbent Harvey S. Peeler Jr. will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.

District 18

Incumbent Ronnie Cromer will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.

District 21

Incumbent Darrell Jackson (politician) will run unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.

District 23

Incumbent Republican Katrina Shealy ran for re-election, but was defeated in the Republican primary. Shealy had drawn national attention during the previous legislative session when she joined with the chamber's other female senators, including two other Republicans, in a filibuster of a proposed total abortion ban.[22] Her actions drew the ire of the state Republican party, leading to her primary challenge, which she lost in a runoff.[23]

District 25

Incumbent A. Shane Massey will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.

District 26

During the 2021 decennial reapportionment, Democratic incumbents Nikki G. Setzler and Dick Harpootlian were drawn into the same district. Setzler, the longest serving state senator in office in the country, has chosen to retire rather than seek a thirteenth term.[24] State Representative Russell Ott defeated Dick Harpootlian for the Democratic nomination while Jason Guerry defeated Chris Smith for the Republican nomination.[25] [26]

District 27

Incumbent Republican Penry Gustafson ran for re-election, but was defeated in the Republican primary. Gustafson had drawn national attention during the previous legislative session when she joined with the chamber's other female senators, including two other Republicans, in a filibuster of a proposed total abortion ban. Her actions drew the ire of the state Republican party, leading to her primary challenge, which she lost.

District 34

Incumbent Stephen Goldfinch will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.

District 37

Incumbent Larry Grooms will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.

District 38

Incumbent Sean Bennett will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.

District 40

District 40 covers Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, and Orangeburg counties. Incumbent Brad Hutto has held the seat since 1996. If he retains the seat, it will mark his eighth full term. Bamberg Democrat Kendrick Brown has filed to challenge him in the primary, and Bamberg Republican Sharon Carter has filed to challenge the winner in the general election.[27]

District 41

Incumbent Republican Sandy Senn ran for re-election, but was defeated in the Republican primary. Senn had drawn national attention during the previous legislative session when she joined with the chamber's other female senators, including two other Republicans, in a filibuster of a proposed total abortion ban. Her actions drew the ire of the state Republican party, leading to her primary challenge, which she lost.

District 45

Incumbent Margie Bright Matthews will run unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.

District 46

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: South Carolina State Senate elections, 2024 . 2024-02-22 . . en.
  2. Web site: Certified Political Parties of South Carolina . April 13, 2024 . South Carolina Election Commission.
  3. News: Wilder . Anna . April 5, 2024 . 6 SC candidates for Congress aren’t Democrat or Republican. Here are your third party candidates . April 14, 2024.
  4. Web site: 2023-09-25 . Research Shows Term Limits for Candidates Favored by American Voters; Only The Alliance Party Requires its Candidates to Agree to Term Limits . 2024-04-14 . Yahoo Finance . en-US.
  5. Web site: Marchant . Bristow . Tired of Democrats and Republicans? SC party hopes you’ll give new option a try . 2024-04-14 . The Greenville News . en-US.
  6. News: Bustos . Joseph . April 1, 2024 . Filing closed for SC’s 2024 elections. Who’s running in Midlands Senate primaries . April 14, 2024 . The State.
  7. News: Adcox . Seanna . Wilks . Avery . Hugh Leatherman, powerful SC senator who controlled state budget for decades, dies at 90 . 14 April 2024 . The Post and Courier . 21 November 2021.
  8. Web site: State Senate District 31 Special Election . SCVotes.gov . South Carolina Election Commission . 14 April 2024. 17 November 2021.
  9. Web site: 2023-03-12 . Kimpson leaving South Carolina Senate to join Biden admin . 2024-03-22 . AP News . en.
  10. Web site: June 2021 . State Senate District 42 Special Selection . April 14, 2024 . South Carolina Election Commission (SCVotes.gov).
  11. Web site: Bustos . Joseph . August 13, 2023 . South Carolina State Sen. John Scott of Richland County dies. He was 69 . The State.
  12. Web site: August 23, 2023 . State Senate District 19 Special Election . April 14, 2024 . South Carolina Election Commission (SCVotes.gov).
  13. News: Kenmore. Abraham. Adcox. Seanna. SC’s GOP ‘sister senators’ among legislators facing primary opposition. April 1, 2024. South Carolina Daily Gazette. June 13, 2024.
  14. News: Holdman. Jessica. Kenmore. Abraham. Harpootlian loses Senate seat, ‘sister senators’ lose ground and Freedom Caucus expands. June 12, 2024. South Carolina Daily Gazette. June 13, 2024.
  15. News: Carlisle Kennedy defeats Katrina Shealy in closely watched Senate 23 race. June 25, 2024. WLTX. June 26, 2024.
  16. News: Reynolds. Nick. Thompson. Alexander. GOP voters boot 2 'Sister Senators' in SC primaries after they broke ranks on abortion. June 13, 2024. The Post and Courier. June 13, 2024.
  17. Web site: 24 SC Forecast . 2024-04-11 . projects.cnalysis.com.
  18. Web site: 2024-03-19 . Here’s who has filed to run for the South Carolina legislature in 2024 . 2024-04-12 . WCBD News 2 . en-US.
  19. Web site: Hinton . G.E. . March 31, 2023 . Senate advances gender-identity bills . 2024-04-25 . Carolina News & Reporter . en-US.
  20. Web site: Episode 15: Ain’t No Kid in South Carolina Ever Been Whupped Upside the Head for Telling Their Parents They Are Gay or Trans . 2024-04-25 . YCDP: York County SC Democratic Party . en-US.
  21. Web site: Moss . Savannah . Swann . Samantha . April 1, 2024 . Candidate filings close. Who's on ballot? Contested races in Upstate in June, November. . 2024-04-25 . The Greenville News . en-US.
  22. Web site: Pollard . James . 2023-05-23 . South Carolina's only women senators resist new abortion restrictions up for debate . 2023-08-04 . PBS NewsHour . en-us.
  23. Web site: Collins . Jeffrey . July 1, 2024 . Voters kick out all GOP women in South Carolina Senate after they blocked total abortion ban . July 12, 2024 . The Washington Times.
  24. News: Collins . Jeffrey . January 10, 2024 . Longest currently serving state senator in US plans to retire in South Carolina . February 15, 2024 . Associated Press.
  25. News: Holdman. Jessica. Kenmore. Abraham. Harpootlian loses Senate seat, ‘sister senators’ lose ground and Freedom Caucus expands. June 12, 2024. South Carolina Daily Gazette. States Newsroom. August 16, 2024.
  26. News: Kenmore. Abraham. SC Senate could have no GOP women after only chairwoman ousted in runoff. June 25, 2024. South Carolina Daily Gazette. States Newsroom. August 16, 2024.
  27. Web site: Whitbeck . Alexandra . 2024-04-02 . Who filed for the Nov. 5 election? . 2024-05-12 . The People Sentinel . en.