Michael Gambrell Explained
| Michael Gambrell |
| State Senate1: | South Carolina |
| State1: | South Carolina |
| District1: | 4th |
| Term Start1: | May 24, 2016 |
| Preceded1: | Billy O'Dell |
| State House2: | South Carolina |
| District2: | 7th |
| Term Start2: | December 5, 2006 |
| Term End2: | May 24, 2016 |
| Predecessor2: | Ronnie Townsend |
| Successor2: | Jay West |
| Birthname: | Michael Wayne Gambrell |
| Birth Date: | 10 January 1958 |
| Alma Mater: | Clemson University (BS, 1980) |
| Party: | Republican |
| Occupation: | Entrepreneur |
Michael Wayne Gambrell (born January 10, 1958) is an American politician and businessman who has represented South Carolina's 4th Senate District since 2016. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 7th District from 2006 to 2016.
Early life and education
Gambrell was born January 10, 1958 in Belton, South Carolina to Aaron and Robbie Gambrell. He graduated with a B.S. from Clemson University in 1980.
S.C. House of Representatives (2006-2016)
Gambrell served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2006 through 2016, representing the 7th district (parts of Anderson County).[1] [2]
In 2015, in the wake of the Charleston church shooting, Governor Nikki Haley called on the state legislature to open debate about the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina Capitol. Gambrell was in the minority of members who voted against opening debate.[3] In July 2015, Haley signed a bill into law authorizing the flags removal.[4] [5]
S.C. Senate
Gambrell was first elected to the South Carolina Senate during a special election in 2016 when incumbent William H. O'Dell died in office.[6] [7] He has represented South Carolina's 4th Senate district (portions of Abbeville, Anderson, and Greenwood Counties).
In 2022, Gambrell voted for the Fetal Heartbeat Act, legislation that banned abortion in the state after six-weeks.[8]
Personal life
Gambrell is self-employed at M&R Enterprises.
Electoral history
| Year | Office | Type | Party | Main opponent | Party | Votes for Gambrell | Result | Swing | Ref. |
|---|
| Total | % | . | |
|---|
| 2006 | S.C. Representative | Rep. primary | | Republican | Dan Harvell | | Republican | 1,477 | 53.83% | 1st | N/A | | N/A | [9] |
|---|
| General | | Republican | Ron Gilreath | | Democratic | 4,300 | 56.04% | 1st | N/A | | | Hold | |
| 2008 | General | | Republican | Richard Kelly | | Democratic | 8,232 | 70.26% | 1st | +14.22% | | | Hold | [10] |
|---|
| 2010 | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | 6,216 | 99.58% | 1st | +29.32% | | | Hold | [11] |
|---|
| 2012 | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | 9,457 | 99.31% | 1st | -0.27% | | | Hold | [12] |
|---|
| 2014 | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | 6,290 | 99.59% | 1st | +0.28% | | | Hold | [13] |
|---|
| 2016 | S.C. Senator | Rep. primary | | Republican | Rockey Burgess | | Republican | | 45.50% | 1st | N/A | | N/A | [14] |
|---|
| Rep. primary runoff | | Republican | Rockey Burgess | | Republican | | 57.00% | 1st | N/A | | N/A | [15] [16] |
| Special | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | 1,246 | 91.75% | 1st | N/A | | | Hold | [17] |
| Rep. primary | | Republican | Rockey Burgess | | Republican | 6,075 | 64.95% | 1st | +7.95% | | N/A | [18] |
| General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | 28,064 | 99.15% | 1st | +7.40% | | | Hold | [19] [20] |
| 2020 | General | | Republican | Jose Villa | | Democratic | 31,129 | 72.71% | 1st | -26.44% | | | Hold | [21] [22] [23] |
|---|
|
External links
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Notes and References
- Web site: South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography: Senator Michael W. Gambrell . 2024-04-18 . South Carolina General Assembly.
- Web site: Lewis . J.D. . South Carolina During the 2000s - The 117th General Assembly (2007-2008) . 2024-06-25 . Carolana.
- Web site: 2015-06-24 . South Carolina lawmakers weigh in on removal of Confederate flag from state Capitol grounds . 2024-04-26 . WYFF . en.
- News: Chappell . Bill . July 9, 2015 . South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Signs Confederate Flag Bill Into Law . April 25, 2024 . NPR.
- Web site: South Carolina Confederate Battle Flag Removal Bill Signing Ceremony C-SPAN.org . 2024-04-26 . www.c-span.org.
- Web site: The Associated Press . January 12, 2016 . SC Senate remembers Billy O'Dell, who died in office . 2024-04-26 . Spartanburg Herald Journal . en-US.
- Web site: 2016-01-07 . Upstate Sen. William O'Dell passes away at the age of 77 . 2024-04-26 . WISTV . en.
- Web site: Ablon . Matthew . 2022-06-28 . Who voted for, against South Carolina's Fetal Heartbeat Act? . 2024-04-26 . WCNC . en-US.
- Web site: 2006 . South Carolina Election Report (2005-2006) . 2024-07-04 . South Carolina Election Commission.
- Web site: 2009-06-01 . South Carolina 2008 General Election: State House of Representatives District 7 . 2024-07-04 . South Carolina Election Commission.
- Web site: 2010-11-18 . South Carolina 2010 General Election: State House of Representatives District 7 . 2024-07-04 . South Carolina Election Commission.
- Web site: 2013-04-09 . South Carolina 2012 General Election: State House of Representatives District 7 . 2024-07-04 . South Carolina Election Commission.
- Web site: 2014-12-15 . South Carolina 2014 General Election: State House of Representatives, District 7 . 2024-07-04 . South Carolina Election Commission.
- Web site: 2016-03-23 . Runoff needed to fill vacant SC Senate seat . 2024-07-04 . WYFF . en.
- Web site: 2016-04-06 . Gambrell wins SC Senate District 4 runoff election primary . 2024-04-26 . WYFF . en.
- Web site: May 24, 2016 . Gambrell takes SC Senate seat of the late Billy O'Dell . 2024-04-26 . Spartanburg Herald Journal . en-US.
- Web site: May 17, 2016 . State Senate District 4 Special Election . 2024-07-04 . South Carolina Election Commission.
- Web site: 2016-07-26 . South Carolina 2016 Republican and Democratic Primary: State Senate, District 4 - REP . 2024-07-04 . South Carolina Election Commission.
- News: 2017-08-01 . South Carolina 4th District State Senate Results: Michael Gambrell Wins . 2024-04-26 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
- Web site: 2023-02-01 . South Carolina 2016 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 4 . 2024-07-04 . South Carolina Election Commission.
- Web site: Dominguez . Damian . 2020-11-03 . Gambrell reelected to state Senate District 4. . 2024-04-26 . Index-Journal . en.
- Web site: Brown . Kirk . March 30, 2020 . South Carolina elections: Here's who is running for office in Anderson County . 2024-04-26 . Independent Mail . en-US.
- Web site: 2021-06-30 . South Carolina 2020 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 4 . 2024-07-04 . South Carolina Election Commission.
