By Jack O’Toole, Capitol bureau | Palmetto State Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on much, but they’re of one mind on this: Ruby-red South Carolina, where the GOP holds every statewide office and enjoys supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature, isn’t destined to turn blue in 2024.
But with Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the Democratic ticket and no statewide offices to contend with, Democrats believe they have a clear shot at retaking four historically blue seats in Greenwood, Clarendon, Charleston and Hampton counties that flipped unexpectedly in 2022 – the first step, they say, in a long road back to competitiveness.
“We’re running a very targeted effort where we know we can win,” S.C. Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain told the City Paper. “And the top priorities for us are to get back those state House seats – those Democratic seats – that we lost in 2022.”
Republicans, on the other hand, see several possible pick-ups in the S.C. Senate due to changing demographics and former President Donald Trump’s strength in rural areas. But they also say they aren’t taking anything for granted, even in South Carolina.
“There’s only two ways to run a race – unopposed or scared,” S.C. Republican Party Chair Drew McKissick said. “We have to do the things that we need to do. That’s how you keep winning.”
That’s the playing field in this year’s Statehouse races. And according to Democratic and Republican insiders, these are the races to watch.
House District 12 (Greenwood)
Republican Rep. Daniel Gibson, the first of the four incumbents Democrats have targeted in 2024, defeated long-time Democratic Rep. Anne Parks to flip the seat in 2022. In his first term, Gibson co-sponsored legislation to ban abortion and voted to allow permitless carry of handguns.
This year, he’s facing Dr. Jumelle Brooks, a health care administrator and member of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. Brooks describes equitable resources, protecting public education and gender equality as the top issues in the race.
House District 64 (Clarendon)
The second of the four Democratic targets, Republican Rep. Fawn Pedalino, sent first-term Rep. Kimberly Johnson packing in 2022. Like Gibson, Pedalino supported the state’s six-week abortion ban and was a primary sponsor of an election bill to limit the number of ballots that a single voter could witness.
She’s being challenged this cycle by former Clarendon 2 School Board member Quadri Bell. He says he’s running to improve public education, expand Medicaid and create jobs in the district.
House District 75 (Richland)
Two years ago, Democratic Rep. Heather Bauer unseated 10-year Republican Rep. Kirkman Finlay in a tight 51%-49% contest. Now, Finlay is fighting to take the seat back in a race Democratic and Republican observers think will be close again.
With two popular and previously successful candidates, the wildcard, both sides agree, is Harris’s potential to turn out additional Democratic votes at the top of the ticket.
House District 116 (Charleston)
The third of the four targeted seats by Democrats, this district is currently represented by GOP Rep. Matt Leber, who narrowly defeated then-Democratic incumbent Chardale Murray in 2022 and is now the GOP nominee for Senate District 41.
This year’s House race pits Republican businessman and Navy veteran James Teeple against Democratic nominee Charlie Murray, who serves as pastor to the First Baptist Church of James Island.
House District 122 (Hampton)
Freshman incumbent GOP Rep. Bill Hager is the last of the four targeted Republicans. He beat Democratic Rep. Shedron Williams two years ago. A retired engineer, Hager supported permitless carry and the six-week abortion ban.
Opposing Hager this cycle is businesswoman and Town of Gifford official Audrey Williams. Her Democratic campaign stresses Williams’s strong business background and dedication to community development.
Senate District 41 (Charleston)
In what may be the most high-profile Statehouse race of the cycle, Democratic Charleston businesswoman Rita Adkins is squaring off with Holy City Republican Rep. Matt Leber, following Leber’s bitter primary fight with incumbent GOP Sen. Sandy Senn of Charleston.
First elected in 2016, Senn was one of three Republican “sister Senators” who voted in 2023 against the state’s six-week abortion ban, all of whom were defeated in this year’s primaries. In a primary race decided by just 31 votes, Leber defeated Senn largely on the abortion issue, despite charges of domestic violence and alleged ties to a radical right-wing militia.
Political observers describe Adkins and Leber as hard workers, and partisans on both sides tell the City Paper they expect their candidate to win.
Senate District 17 (Fairfield)
Two-term Democratic incumbent Sen. Mike Fanning is seen as highly vulnerable after Republican voters were added to his district in the most recent redistricting process. This cycle, he’s running against GOP attorney Everett Stubbs, who says he supports small, efficient government and school choice.
Last year, Fanning told the Associated Press, “I’m a Democrat. It’s what I believe in. I think it matches what other people believe, too, if they’ll listen and give me a chance.”
Senate District 26 (Richland)
Pitting Democratic Rep. Russell Ott against Republican Jason Guerry, this seat opened up with the retirement of 47-year Democratic Sen. Nikki Setzler.
Ott, who manages his family’s farm in Calhoun County, became the Democratic nominee after a hard-fought primary contest with Sen. Dick Harpootlian, whose Richland seat was moved to Charleston in redistricting. Guerry says he’s running to improve vocational education, roads and mental health treatment options.
Senate District 35 (Sumter)
Opened up by the retirement of three-term Democratic incumbent Sen. Thomas McElveen, this race features former Camden Mayor Jeffrey Graham for the Democrats and businessman Mike Jones for the GOP.
Graham says his experience in government, business and community service help him understand the district and its needs. Jones stresses his 36-years of Army service, successful business career and family values.
Senate District 36 (Clarendon)
Sen. Kevin Johnson, a four-term Democrat and former mayor of Manning, is thought to be facing a stiff challenge from Sumter School Board trustee Jeffrey Zell due to growing Republican strength in the district.
Johnson says the three top issues in the race are public schools, Medicaid expansion and higher wages. Zell says he’s focused on economic development, government corruption and crime.
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We Can Do Better, South Carolina!
Wouldn’t it be interesting, if politicians spent their time figuring out how to make our country thrive, instead of blasting everyone else why it’s not?
Republicans do not hold a supermajority in the Senate. They’re close, but no cigar.