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, chaired by Drew McKissick 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 tenet 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 PartyVotesSeats%+/−%South Carolina Republican Party1,350,80763.11%34 +4 73.91South Carolina Democratic Party734,33834.31%12 -3 26.09Write-in14,6320.68%000.00Alliance Party12,6690.59%000.00South Carolina Workers Party12,0070.56%000.00Libertarian Party of South Carolina11,1650.52%000.00United Citizens Party4,7790.22%000.00Total2,140,397100.00%46±0 100.00
Summary DistrictIncumbent PartyElected Senator PartyResult1st1st Thomas C. Alexander Rep Thomas C. Alexander RepRepublican hold2nd2nd Rex Rice Rep Rex Rice RepRepublican hold3rd3rdRichard Cash Rep Richard Cash RepRepublican hold4th4th Michael Gambrell Rep Michael Gambrell RepRepublican hold5th5thThomas D. Corbin RepThomas D. Corbin RepRepublican hold6th6thDwight Loftis RepJason Elliott RepRepublican hold7th7thKarl B. Allen DemKarl B. Allen DemDemocratic hold8th8thRoss Turner RepRoss Turner RepRepublican hold9th9thDanny Verdin RepDanny Verdin RepRepublican hold10th10thBilly Garrett RepBilly Garrett RepRepublican hold11th11thJosh Kimbrell RepJosh Kimbrell RepRepublican hold12th12thScott Talley RepRoger Allen Nutt RepRepublican hold13th13thShane Martin RepShane Martin RepRepublican hold14th14thHarvey S. Peeler Jr. RepHarvey S. Peeler Jr. RepRepublican hold15th15thWes Climer RepWes Climer RepRepublican hold16th16thMichael Johnson RepMichael Johnson RepRepublican hold17th17thMike Fanning DemEverett StubbsRepRepublican GAIN18th18thRonnie Cromer RepRonnie Cromer RepRepublican hold19th19thTameika Isaac Devine DemTameika Isaac Devine DemDemocratic hold20th20th New Seat DemEd Sutton DemDemocratic hold21st21stDarrell Jackson DemDarrell Jackson DemDemocratic hold22nd22ndMia McLeod IndOverture Walker DemDemocratic GAIN23rd23rdKatrina Shealy RepCarlisle Kennedy RepRepublican hold24th24thTom Young Jr. RepTom Young Jr. RepRepublican hold25th25thA. Shane Massey RepA. Shane Massey RepRepublican hold26th26thNikki G. Setzler Dem Russell OttDemDemocratic holdDick Harpootlian Dem27th27thPenry Gustafson Rep Allen Blackmon RepRepublican hold28th28thGreg Hembree RepGreg Hembree RepRepublican hold29th29thGerald Malloy DemJD ChaplinRepRepublican GAIN30th30thKent M. Williams DemKent M. Williams DemDemocratic hold31st31stMike Reichenbach RepMike Reichenbach RepRepublican hold32nd32ndRonnie A. Sabb DemRonnie A. Sabb DemDemocratic hold33rd33rdLuke A. Rankin RepLuke A. Rankin RepRepublican hold34th34thStephen Goldfinch RepStephen Goldfinch RepRepublican hold35th35thThomas McElveen Dem Jeffrey R. Graham DemDemocratic hold36th36thKevin L. Johnson Dem Jeff Zell RepRepublican GAIN37th37thLarry Grooms RepLarry Grooms RepRepublican hold38th38thSean Bennett RepSean Bennett RepRepublican hold39th39thVernon Stephens Dem Tom Fernandez RepRepublican GAIN40th40thBrad Hutto DemBrad Hutto DemDemocratic hold41st41stSandy Senn Rep Matt Leber RepRepublican hold42nd42ndDeon Tedder DemDeon Tedder DemDemocratic hold43rd43rdChip Campsen RepChip Campsen RepRepublican hold44th44thBrian Adams RepBrian Adams RepRepublican hold45th45thMargie Bright Matthews DemMargie Bright Matthews DemDemocratic hold46th46thTom Davis RepTom Davis RepRepublican hold
Retirements Five incumbents did not seek re-election.
Democrats District 26: Nikki G. Setzler retired. District 35: Thomas McElveen retired.
Republicans District 6: Dwight Loftis retired. District 12: Scott Talley retired.
Independents 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 District 26: Dick Harpootlian lost renomination to Russell Ott.
Republicans District 23: Katrina Shealy lost renomination to Carlisle Kennedy. District 27: Penry Gustafson lost renomination to Allen Blackmon. 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
District 36: Kevin L. Johnson lost renomination. District 39: Vernon Stephens lost renomination. District 17: Mike Fanning lost renomination. District 29: Gerald Malloy lost renomination.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of CNalysis Solid RApril 11, 2024
Detailed results District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40 • District 41 • District 42 • District 43 • District 44 • District 45 • District 46__NOTOC__
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
Margins of victory
General Elections District Winning party Margin 17 Republican 0.05% 26 Democratic 9.81% 29 Republican 0.17% 30 Democratic 9.47% 35 Democratic 4.52% 36 Republican 1.32% 39 Republican 1.14% 40 Democratic 5.16%
See also
2024 United States elections