What's New
Pursuant to the sine die resolution, legislators will return to Columbia June 15 through 22 to take up various items including vetoes and conference reports. House and Senate conferees likely meet next week on ethics reform bills H. 3184 and H. 3186 that are currently pending in their respective conference committees.
The House of Representatives will reconvene Wednesday, June 15, at noon.
The Senate will reconvene Wednesday, June 15, at 3 p.m.
Elections
2016 marks an election year where all 170 seats in the South Carolina State House are up for election. Members of the Senate who will not be seeking re-election include: Sen. Ray Cleary (R-Georgetown), Sen. Joel Lourie (D-Richland), Sen. Paul Thurmond (R-Charleston). Members of the House of Representatives who will not be seeking reelection include: Rep. Kenneth Hodges (D-Colleton), Rep. Jenny Horne (R-Dorchester), Rep. Don Wells (R-Aiken), Rep. Shannon Riley (R-Greenwood), Rep. Chip Limehouse (R-Charleston), Rep. Mary Tinkler (D-Charleston), Rep. Deborah Long (D-Lancaster), Rep. Eddie Southard (R-Berkeley), Rep. Wayne George (D-Marion), Rep. Kenny Bingham (R-Lexington), and Rep. Walt McLeod (D-Newberry). Additionally, Rep. Stephen Goldfinch (R-Georgetown) and Rep. Mia McLeod (D-Richland) both plan to run for the open Senate seats in their respective districts.
Primaries for the State Senate and the State House of Representatives will be held June 14, 2016. The following is an overview of the legislative races across South Carolina:
SENATE RACES
District 2: Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, has three challengers in the June GOP primary – Donald Joslyn, Allan Quinn, and Rex Rice.
District 3: Sen. Kevin Bryant, R-Anderson, has one GOP challenger – Carol Burdette.
District 4: Sen. Mike Gambrell, R-Anderson, has one GOP challenger – Rockey Burgess.
District 5: Sen. Tom Corbin, R-Greenville, has a primary challenger – John White.
District 6: Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, has two primary challengers – former S.C. Transportation Department Commissioner, Johnny Edwards, and William Timmons. The winner of the GOP primary will face Constitutional candidate Roy Magnuson in the November general election.
District 7: Sen. Karl Allen, D-Greenville, has a primary challenger – Lillian Brock Flemming. The primary winner will face Republican candidate Glen Robinson in the general election.
District 10: Sen. Floyd Nicholson, D-Greenwood, will face GOP challenger Bryan Hope in the general election.
District 11: Sen. Glenn Reese, D Spartanburg, will face GOP candidate Cornelius Huff in the general election.
District 12: Sen. Lee Bright has three primary challengers: David McCraw, Duncan Mayor, Lisa Scott, and Scott Talley.
District 14: Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, has one GOP challenger – Kenny Price.
District 15: Sen. Wes Hayes, R-York, will face York County Republican Party Chairman Wes Climer in the primary race.
District 17: Sen. Creighton Coleman, D-Fairfield, has two primary challengers – Michael Fanning and Morgan Reeves. The winner will face GOP challenger Mark Palmer in the general election.
District 19: Sen. John Scott, D-Richland, has one primary challenger – Torrey Rush.
District 20: Sen. John Courson, R-Richland, will face Green Party candidate, Scott West, in the general election.
District 21: Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, has one primary challenger – Wendy C. Brawley.
District 22: The seat being vacated by State Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, has two general election competitors: Mia McLeod (Current SC House Member) and Susan Brill who is running as a Republican.
District 23: Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, has two GOP primary challengers – Michael Sturkie and Patricia Wheat.
District 25: Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, has one primary challenger – John Pettigrew.
District 26: Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington, will face Republican Brad Lindsey in the November general election.
District 30: Sen. Kent Williams, D-Marion, has one Democratic primary challenger – Patrick Richardson.
District 31: Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, will be challenged by Florence County GOP Chairman, Richard Skipper, and Florence County Treasurer Dean Fowler.
District 33: Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Horry, has a primary challenger – Scott Pyle.
District 34: The seat being vacated by Sen. Ray Cleary, R-Georgetown, will have four candidates running - Republican State Rep. Stephen Goldfinch, Joe Ford, Dick Withington, and Reese Boyd.
District 36: Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Clarendon, will face Republican challenger Leon Winn in the general election.
District 37: Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, has a primary challenger – Mark Heath of Hanahan.
District 38: Sen. Sean Bennett, R-Dorchester, has a primary challenger – Evan Guthrie.
District 41: The seat being vacated by Sen. Paul Thurmond, R-Charleston, has five GOP contenders: Culver Kidd, Tim Mallard, Roy Maybank, Joe Qualey, and Sandy Senn.
District 42: Sen. Marlon Kimpson, D- Charleston, has one primary challenger, former Senator Robert Ford.
HOUSE RACES
District 3: Rep. Gary Clary, R-Pickens, will face Libertarian candidate Travis McCurry in the November general election.
District 4: Rep. Davey Hiott, R-Pickens, will face Libertarian candidate Joey Lum in the general election.
District 5: Rep. Neal Collins, R-Pickens, has a Republican primary challenger – Rick Tate.
District 7: The seat vacated by Sen. Mike Gambrell, R-Anderson, has three GOP contenders: Dennis Ted Grindstaff, Blake Parker, and Jay West.
District 8: Rep. Jonathan Hill, R-Anderson, has two Republican challengers – Albert Howard and Don Bowen. The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat Barbra Jo Mullis in the November general election.
District 9: Rep. Ann Thayer, R-Anderson, will face Mary Geren in the November general election.
District 10: Rep. Joshua Putnam, R-Anderson, will face Democratic candidate Anna Brown in the general election.
District 12: Rep. Anne Parks, D-Greenwood, will face Republican candidate Jennings McAbee in the November general election.
District 13: Rep. Shannon Riley, R-Greenwood, will not seek another term in office. GOP candidate John McCravy will face off against Democratic challenger Michael Gaskin in November.
District 15: Rep. Samuel Rivers, R-Charleston, has one primary challenger – Steven Smith. The winner will face Democrat KJ Kearney in November.
District 16: Rep. Mark Willis, R-Greenville, will face Democrat Bandon Greene in the November general election.
District 22: Rep. Wendy Nanney, R-Greenville, has one primary challenger – Jason Elliott.
District 25: Rep. Leola Robinson-Simpson, D-Greenville, will face Independent candidate Tony Boyce in the general election.
District 26: Rep. Raye Felder, R-York, will face Democrat Jim Thompson in the general election.
District 31: Two GOP candidates, Michael Fowler and Richard Gosnell, will face off in the GOP primary and will challenge Rep. Harold Mitchell, D-Spartanburg, in the general election.
District 34: Rep. Mike Forrester, R-Spartanburg, will face Democrat Luke Quillen in the November general election.
District 37: Rep. Donna Hicks, R-Spartanburg, has one primary challenger – Steven Long.
District 38: Rep. Doug Brannon, R-Spartanburg, has one primary challenger – Josiah Magnuson.
District 39: Rep. Ralph Kennedy, R-Lexington, has one primary challenger – Cal Forrest.
District 40: Rep. Walt McLeod, D-Newberry, is retiring after 20 years in the House. Four candidates have filed for his seat: Democrats Craig Kesler and Carlton Kinard as well as Republicans Rick Martin and David Koon.
District 42: Rep. Mike Anthony, D-Union, will face the winner of the GOP primary between Mark Cathcart and Tommy Mann, in the general election.
District 45: Rep. Deborah Long, R-Lancaster, is retiring after four terms. Brandon Newton (R) and Tyler Mitchell (D) will face off in the general election for the seat.
District 47: Rep. Tommy Pope, R-York, will face Constitutional candidate Diane Simmons in November.
District 50: Rep. Grady Brown, D-Lee, is retiring after the session. Five Democrats have filed for the seat and will face off in the primary election: Will Wheeler, Demoine Kinney, Keith Johnson, Brian Alston, and Tom Drayton.
District 53: Rep. Richie Yow, R-Chesterfield, will face Democrat Victor Li in the general election.
District 54: Rep. Pat Henegan, D-Marlboro, will face Republican JD Chaplin in the November general election.
District 57: Rep. Wayne George, D-Marion, announced that he is not seeking a third term. Three candidates have filed and will face off in the Democratic primary: Lucas Atkinson, Lee Jenkins Jr., and Ryan Waller.
District 58: Rep. Jeff Johnson, R-Horry, will face Democrat John Ward in the November general election.
District 64: Rep. Robert Ridgeway, D-Clarendon, has two primary challengers – Alexander Conyers and Mitch Ellerby.
District 69: Rep. Rick Quinn, R-Lexington, has one primary challenger – Ryan Holt.
District 71: Rep. Nathan Ballentine, R-Lexington, has one primary challenger – Bill Malinowski.
District 75: Rep. Kirkman Finlay, R-Richland, will face Democrat Tyler Gregg in the general election.
District 77: Rep. Joe McEachern, D-Richland, has one primary challenger – Raymond Mars.
District 79: Rep. Mia McLeod, D-Richland, will vacate her House seat to run for the State Senate. Three Democrats plan to run for her seat – Ivory Thigpen, Monica Miles, and Vannie Williams have all filed. Libertarian Victor Kocher and Republican Donald Miles have also filed for the seat.
District 80: Rep. Jimmy Bales, D-Richland, has two primary challengers – Brian Burke and Lawrence Moore.
District 81: Rep. Don Wells, R-Aiken, is retiring from the House. K.T. Ruthven, Chris Austin, Bart Blackwell, and Jeremy O’Donnell will face off in the GOP primary for the seat.
District 85: Rep. Chip Huggins, R-Lexington, has one primary challenger – Bryan Clifton of Irmo.
District 88: Rep. Mac Toole, R-Lexington, has one primary challenger – David Busby.
District 89: Rep. Kenny Bingham, R-Lexington, recently announced he will not seek re-election. Four GOP candidates have filed for the seat: Bill Banning, Micah Caskey, Tem Miles, and Billy Oswald as well as Constitutional candidate Robert Lampley.
District 90: Rep. Justin Bamberg, D-Bamberg, will have one primary challenger – Evert Comer. The winner will face GOP candidate Dan Lawrence in the November general election.
District 94: Rep. Jenny Horne, R-Dorchester, is not seeking re-election as she runs for Congress. Republican Carroll Duncan and Katie Arrington are both seeking the GOP nomination for Horne’s seat. The winner of the primary will face Democrat Damian Daly in the general election.
District 95: Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg, will have one primary challenger – Kevin Ray.
District 96: Rep. Kit Spires, R-Lexington, will have one primary challenger – Perry Finch. The GOP primary winner will face Democrat Robert Vanlue in the general election.
District 100: Rep. Eddie Southard resigned from the House. Filing will reopen for his seat.
District 103: Rep. Carl Anderson, D-Georgetown, will have one primary challenger – Dewon Huggins.
District 108: Rep. Stephen Goldfinch, R-Georgetown, plans to run for Senate. Lee Hewitt, of Murrells Inlet plans to run as a Republican for the vacant seat.
District 110: Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, is retiring. Five Republicans are running to succeed him: Will Freeman, Russell Guerard, William Cogswell, Trey Harrell, and Edward Phipps, an attorney.
District 112: Rep. Mike Sottile, R-Charleston, has one primary challenger – Patrick Cloud.
District 114: Rep. Mary Tinkler, D-Charleston, will not seek reelection. Republican Lin Bennett and Democrat Rob Aubin will face off in the general election in November.
District 116: Rep. Robert Brown, D-Charleston, has one primary challenger – Eric Mack. The winner of the democratic primary will face the winner of the GOP primary between Charles Glover and Carroll O’Neal in the November general election.
District 118: Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Beaufort, has one challenger in the general election – Alfred North.
District 119: Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, D-Charleston, will face GOP challenger Lee Edwards in the general election in November.
District 121: Rep. Kenneth Hodges, D-Colleton, will not seek reelection. Grahame Holmes will face off against Michael Rivers in the Democratic primary. The winner will face GOP candidate James Broderick in the general election.
District 122: Rep. Bill Bowers, D-Hampton, will face three primary challengers: Curtis Brantley, John Polk, and Shedron Williams.
District 124: Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, will face Bobby Green in the November general election.
Top News Articles
Gov. Haley approves billions for roads
Gov. Nikki Haley approved billions of dollars for road and bridge projects across the state Wednesday even though she said reform measures in the bill that took lawmakers years to pass don’t go far enough. Read more.
Gov. Haley vetoes study of moving military museum, Confederate flag
Republican Gov. Nikki Haley vetoed a study of moving the Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum to Charleston from Columbia. Read more.
‘Tucker Hipps’ bill becomes law
Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law Thursday the “Tucker Hipps Transparency Act,” which requires public universities to compile and publish reports of misconduct by fraternities and sororities every semester. Read more.
Gov. Haley signs bill giving military retirees tax breaks
Military retirees living in South Carolina will see a drop in their taxes next year after Gov. Nikki Haley signed a relief bill into law Tuesday. Read more.
Lawmakers say small steps taken this session show goodwill to improve education in rural areas
Legislators believe they did enough this year to prove they’re on track to provide quality education for children in the state’s impoverished school districts. Read more.
Pro-Haley, GOP group spending on SC Senate races tops $600,000
At least three political groups – including one backing Gov. Nikki Haley’s political agenda – are waging a six-figure campaign to topple state Senate Republican leaders in Tuesday’s primary. Read more.
Haley signs bill banning law enforcement ticket quotas
A new law bars South Carolina’s law enforcement agencies from setting ticket quotas for officers. Read more.
How Haley and McMaster have political rivals
A chief opponent of Gov. Nikki Haley’s push to oust three long-serving state senators is one of her top Republican allies who happens to have the office across from hers in the Statehouse. Read more.
Why gun reform failed this year in SC
Two of Charleston’s lawmakers started the legislative session optimistic that 2016 would be the year South Carolina tackled gun reform. Read more.
Leatherman spends big ahead of Tuesday primary
S.C. Senate leader Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, has spent on average $50,000 a week on his re-election campaign since April. Read more.
