SC Legislative Update
By Ben Homeyer
The Senate
State Senate (46 total seats; New Split: 34R/12D). Republicans gain a supermajority with 34 seats; +4 seats from last election assuming mandatory recounts do not change an election.
Democratic incumbents Sen. Mike Fanning, Sen. Gerald Malloy, Sen. Kevin Johnson, and Sen. Vernon Stephens were defeated by Republican challengers Everett Stubbs, JD Chaplin, Jeff Zell, and Tom Fernandez.
Thirteen (13) new Senators: (9R, 4D) Jason Elliott (R/District 5), Roger Nutt (R/District 12), Everett Stubbs (R/District 17), Ed Sutton (D/District 20), Overture Walker (D/District 22), Russell Ott (D/District 26),Carlisle Kennedy (R/District 23) Matt Leber (R/District 41) Allen Blackmon (R/District 27), JD Chaplin (R/District 29), Jeffrey Graham (D/District 35), Jeff Zell (R/District 36), Tom Fernandez (R/District 39).
Senate Finance Committee (budget committee) composition could become 17R/6D, a shift of 2 seats to the GOP.
Senate organizational session is December 4; past practice is a single organizing day.
Senate Republicans will meet Nov 17-19 to discuss their agenda and welcome their new members.
The House
State House (124 total seats; New Split 88R/36D). Republicans maintain a supermajority with 88 seats: no net change from last election. Democratic incumbent Rep. Joe Jefferson was defeated by GOP challenger Harriet Holman, but GOP lost an open seat due to redistricting.
Nineteen (19) new House members: Adam Duncan (R/District 2), Phillip Bowers (R/District 3), Lee Gilreath (R/District 7), Blake Sanders (R/District 9), Luke Rankin (R/District 14), Stephen Frank (R/District 20), Paul Wickensimer (R/District 22), David Martin (R/District 26), Chris Huff (R/District 28), Scott Montgomery (R/District 32), Sarita Edgerton (R/District 34), Jason Luck (D/District 54), Jackie Terribile (R/District 66), Robert Reese (D/District 70), Hamilton Grant(D/District 79), Charles Hartz (R/District 81), Jerry Govan (D/District 93), Harriet Holman (R/District 102), James Teeple(R/District 116).
There will also be a special election for Rep. Marvin Pendarvis (District 113 D) seat as he resigned his seat in September, but it was too close to the election to remove his name from the Ballot.
The biggest changes in the House will be with the House LCI Committee where eight of eighteen including the chairman and vice-chairman will be replaced, and it appears at least two more will be headed to other committees. For the business community which does most of the work before the committee, it will be a very different makeup from years past.
House organizational session is December 3. If past practice is followed the House will hold a second organizing session on December 4.
Federal
The Federal Delegation only saw one change. Sherri Biggs won House District 3 and will be replacing Jeff Duncan who did not seek reelection. The rest of the delegation remained unchanged and South Carolina did not have either Senator up for reelection in 2024.
House District 1 – Nancy Mace – Republican (Charleston)
House District 2. – Joe Wilson – Republican (Midlands)
House District 3 – Sherri Biggs – Republican (Anderson)
House District 4 – William Timmons – Republican (Greenville)
House District 5 – Ralph Norman – Republican (Rock Hill)
House District 6 – Jim Clyburn – Democrat (Midlands)
House District 7 – Russell Fry – Republican (Pee Dee)
Local Referendums
Penny sales tax for transportation or Education projects PASSED
Allendale, Barnwell, Chesterfield, Georgetown, Greenwood, Horry, Jasper, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, York
Penny sales tax for transportation or Education projects FAILED
Anderson, Beaufort, Charleston, Chester, Greenville, Lancaster
