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2024 South Carolina Senate election

← 2020 November 5, 2024 2028 →
All 46 seats in the South Carolina Senate 24 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Thomas Alexander Brad Hutto Party Republican Democratic Leader since December 6, 2021 November 17, 2020 Leader's seat 1st 40th Last election 30 16 Seats before 30 15 Seats after 34 12 Seat change 4 3
Results:      Republican gain      Democratic gain      Republican hold      Democratic hold
President before election Thomas C. Alexander Republican Elected President TBD

Elections in South Carolina
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v t e

The 2024 South Carolina Senate election was held on November 5, 2024, alongside the 2024 United States elections. Primary elections took 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:

• Alliance Party of South Carolina: Chaired by Jim Rex, the 16th South Carolina Superintendent of Education. A central tenant of their platform is term limits. They ran a candidate in District 15 against incumbent Wes Climer.
• South Carolina Constitution Party: Chaired by Ted Adams. They ran no candidates for state senate.
• South Carolina Forward Party: Formerly, the Independence Party of South Carolina. Chaired by Wayne Griffin.
• South Carolina Green Party: Co-chaired by Jessica Lazenby and Mike Stewart. They ran no candidates for state senate.
• Libertarian Party of South Carolina: Chaired by Kathryn Whitener. They ran a candidate in District 20.
• United Citizens Party: Chaired by Chris Nelums, who ran in the special election for District 19. He ran again for District 19 in the general election.
• South Carolina Workers Party: Co-chaired by Harold Geddings III and Leonard Lee Goff III. They ran candidates in Districts 16, 22, & 26.

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. A Republican primary was held on January 25, and a special election was held on March 29.

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. Democratic primary was held on September 5, a Democratic runoff was held on September 19, and the special election was held on November 7.

District 19 (January 2, 2024)

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

Results

Party		Votes		Seats
		No.	%	No.	+/−	%
	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		2,566,154	100.00	46	±0	100.00
Registered voters		3,343,423	100.00
Turnout		2,566,154	76.75
Source: South Carolina Election Commission

Summary

Retirements

Five incumbents did not seek re-election.

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.

Republicans

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

In general election

Four incumbent senators, all Democrats, were defeated in the general election. One more incumbent senator, a Republican, was defeated in the June 25 primary runoff election.

Democrats

1. District 36: Kevin L. Johnson lost renomination.
2. District 39: Vernon Stephens lost renomination.
3. District 17: Mike Fanning lost renomination.
4. District 29: Gerald Malloy lost renomination.

Predictions

Detailed results

District 1

District 1 covers parts of Oconee and Pickens Counties. Incumbent Thomas C. Alexander ran 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.

District 2

District 2 is contained within Pickens County. Incumbent Rex Rice ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election for a third term.

District 3

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

District 4

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

District 5

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

District 6

District 7

District 8

District 9

District 10

District 11

District 12

District 13

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

District 14

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

District 15

District 16

District 17

District 18

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

District 19

District 20

District 21

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

District 22

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. Her actions drew the ire of the state Republican party, leading to her primary challenge, which she lost in a runoff.

District 24

District 25

Incumbent A. Shane Massey ran 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. State Representative Russell Ott defeated Dick Harpootlian for the Democratic nomination while Jason Guerry defeated Chris Smith for the Republican nomination.

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 28

District 29

District 30

District 31

District 32

District 33

District 34

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

District 35

District 36

District 37

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

District 38

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

District 39

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.

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 42

District 43

District 44

District 45

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

District 46

See also

• 2024 United States elections
• 2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary
• 2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary
• 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina
• South Carolina Senate
• List of South Carolina state legislatures

References

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

1. ^ Running unopposed in the general election.
2. ^ Not seeking reelection, therefore this seat is open.

• 2024 South Carolina elections
• 2024 state legislature elections in the United States
• South Carolina Senate elections