The 2004 South Carolina Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. The primary elections were held on June 8, and the runoff elections were held on June 22. With each Senator's four-year term expired, all forty-six seats were up for election.

Republicans retained their majority gained in the 2002 South Carolina Senate elections, marking the first prolonged period of Republican rule of the chamber since the Reconstruction Era, and the "maturity" of South Carolina's "long-predicated [political realignment]" away from Democratic control.

Experts noted this election for its predictability, with "very few seats seriously contested." Republicans contested just eight seats, while Democrats contested nine. This aligned with a surge in uncontested state legislative races across the country.

Certified political parties The following parties were certified by the South Carolina Election Commission, thus eligible to participate in and put up candidates for the state's Senate elections:

Constitution Party: Chaired by Ted Adams. Democratic Party: Chaired by Joe Erwin. Green Party Independence Party (later merged with the Forward Party): Chaired by Wayne Griffin. Libertarian Party: Chaired by Chris Panos. Republican Party: Chaired by Katon Dawson United Citizens Party

Special elections

District 18 (April 15, 2003) On January 15, 2003, Rudolph Andreas Bauer resigned from the Senate to take up the office of Lieutenant Governor. A special election was called to replace him. Primary elections were held on February 25, 2003. The special election was held on April 15, 2003.

District 27 (February 3, 2004) A special election was called to replace Senator Donald Holland, who died on October 5, 2003. The Republican primary was held on December 16, 2003. The special election was held on February 3, 2004.

Results by party PartyVotesSeats%+/−%South Carolina Republican Party847,74659.7226 +156.52South Carolina Democratic Party548,89938.6720 -143.48Independent 6,5800.46000.00Write-in6,5750.46000.00Libertarian Party of South Carolina6,2190.44000.00United Citizens Party3,5730.25000.00Total1,419,592100.0046±0100.00Registered voters 2,315,462100.00Turnout1,419,59261.31Source: South Carolina Election Commission

Summary Source: DistrictIncumbentPartyElected SenatorPartyResult1stThomas C. AlexanderRepThomas C. AlexanderRepRepublican hold2ndLarry A. MartinRepLarry A. MartinRepRepublican hold3rdRobert L. Waldrep Jr.RepKevin L. BryantRepRepublican hold4thBilly O'DellRepBilly O'DellRepRepublican hold5thVerne J. SmithRepVern J. SmithRepRepublican hold6thMike FairRepMike FairRepRepublican hold7thRalph AndersonDemRalph AndersonDemDemocratic hold8thDavid L. ThomasRepDavid L. ThomasRepRepublican hold9thDanny VerdinRepDanny VerdinRepRepublican hold10thJohn DrummondDemJohn DrummondDemDemocratic hold11thGlenn G. ReeseRepGlenn G. ReeseRepRepublican hold12thJohn D. HawkinsRepJohn D. HawkinsRepRepublican hold13thJames "Jim" RitchieRepJames "Jim" RitchieRepRepublican hold14thHarvey S. Peeler Jr.RepHarvey S. Peeler Jr.RepRepublican hold15thRobert HayesRepRobert HayesRepRepublican hold16thChauncey "Greg" GregoryRepChauncey "Greg" GregoryRepRepublican hold17thLinda H. ShortDemLinda H. ShortDemDemocratic hold18thRonnie CromerRepRonnie CromerRepRepublican hold19thKay PattersonDemKay PattersonDemDemocratic hold20thJohn CoursonRepJohn CoursonRepRepublican hold21stDarrell JacksonDemDarrell JacksonDemDemocratic hold22ndWarren K. GieseIndJoel LourieDemDemocratic GAIN23rdJohn KnottsRepJohn KnottsRepRepublican hold24thGreg W. RybergRepGreg W. RybergRepRepublican hold25thThomas L. MooreDemThomas L. MooreDemDemocratic hold26thNikki G. SetzlerDemNikki G. SetzlerDemDemocratic hold27thVincent SheheenDemVincent SheheenDemRepublican hold28thDick ElliottDemDick ElliottDemDemocratic hold29thGerald MalloyDemGerald MalloyDemDemocratic hold 30thKent M. WilliamsDemKent M. WilliamsDemDemocratic hold31stHugh LeathermanRepHugh LeathermanRepRepublican hold32ndJohn Yancy McGillDemJohn Yancy McGillDemDemocratic hold33rdLuke A. RankinRepLuke A. RankinRepRepublican hold34thArthur Ravenel Jr.RepRaymond ClearyRepRepublican hold35thPhil P. LeventisDemPhil P. LeventisDemDemocratic hold36thJohn C. Land, IIIDemJohn C. Land, IIIRepDemocratic hold37thLarry GroomsRepLarry GroomsRepRepublican hold38thWilliam S. BrantonRepRussell ScottRepRepublican hold39thJohn Matthews Jr.DemJohn Matthews Jr.DemDemocratic hold40thBrad HuttoDemBrad HuttoDemDemocratic hold41stGlenn McConnellRepGlenn McConnellRepRepublican hold42ndRobert FordDemRobert FordDemDemocratic hold43rdJohn KuhnRepGeorge "Chip" CampsenRepRepublican hold44thBill MescherRepBill MescherRepRepublican hold45thClementa C. PinckneyDemClementa C. PinckneyDemDemocratic hold46thScott RichardsonRepScott RichardsonRepRepublican hold

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

District 1 District one comprised all of Oconee County and some of Pickens County.

District 2 District two contained a partial section of Pickens County.

District 3 District three contained some of Anderson County. Incumbent Republican Senator Robert L. Waldrep Jr. did not seek re-election, so primaries were held to nominate a replacement candidate. Kevin L. Bryant won the nomination and defeated Democratic challenger Mike Mullinax and won the seat.

District 4 District four contained portions of Abbeville County and Anderson County.

District 5 District five held a portion of Greenville County.

District 6 District six contained a portion of Greenville County.

District 7 District seven contained a portion of Greenville County.

District 8 District eight contained a portion of Greenville County.

District 9 District nine contained portions of Greenville County and Laurens County.

District 10 District ten contained all of Greenwood County and some of Abbeville County.

District 11 District eleven contained a portion of Spartanburg County.

District 12 District twelve contained a portion of Spartanburg County.

District 13 District thirteen contained a portion of Spartanburg County.

District 14 District fourteen contained portions of Cherokee, Union, and York counties.

District 15 District fifteen contained a portion of York county.

District 16 District sixteen contained portions of Fairfield, Lancaster, and York counties.

District 17 District seventeen contained portions of Chester, Fairfield, Union, and York counties.

District 18 District eighteen contained all of Newberry and Saluda counties, with portions of Lexington and Union counties.

District 19 District nineteen contained a portion of Richland County.

District 20 District twenty contained a portion of Richland County.

District 21 District twenty-one contained portions of Calhoun and Richland counties.

District 22 District twenty-two contained portions of Kershaw and Richland counties. Incumbent Senator Warren Giese, a former Independent, ran in the Republican primary, but lost to Ken Wingate. The seat was won by Democrat Joel Lourie, representing one of the few legislative gains made by Democrats in the election.

District 23 District twenty-three contained portions of Lexington County.

District 24 District twenty-four contained portions of Aiken and Lexington counties.

District 25 District twenty-five contained all of Edgefield and McCormick counties and some of Aiken County.

District 26 District twenty-six contained portions of Aiken and Lexington counties.

District 27 District twenty-seven contained all of Chesterfield County, with portions of Kershaw, Lancaster, and Marlborocounties.

District 28 District twenty-eight comprised portions of Dillon, Florence, Horry, Marion, Marlboro, and Williamsburg counties. Democratic incumbent Dick Elliott narrowly defeated Republican challenger Katherine Jenerette. While she conceded the election, Jenerette alleged the election had "numerous 'irregularities'" and filed a report with the United States Department of Justice to investigate.

District 29 District twenty-nine comprised portions of Darlington, Florence, and Lee counties.

District 30 District thirty comprised portions of Dillion, Florence, and Marion counties. Incumbent Democratic Senator Maggie Wallace Glover sought re-election, but was defeated by challenger Kent Williams in a run-off primary election. Facing no challenger, Williams won the seat.

District 31 District thirty-one comprised portions of Chesterfield, Darlington, Florence, and Marlboro counties.

District 32 District thirty-two comprised portions of Florence, Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg counties.

District 33 District thirty-three comprised portions of Horry county.

District 34 District thirty-four comprised portions of Charleston, Georgetown, and Horry counties. Incumbent Republican Senator Arthur Ravenel Jr. did not seek re-election, so a primary was held to nominate his replacement. Raymond Cleary won the primary and the seat in the general election.

District 35 District thirty-five comprised portions of Sumter and Lee counties.

District 36 District thirty-six comprised portions of Calhoun, Clarendon, Florence, Lee, and Sumter counties.

District 37 District thirty-seven comprised portions of Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, and Dorchester counties.

District 38 District thirty-eight comprised portions of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties.

District 39 District thirty-nine comprised portions of Bamberg, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton, and Orangeburg counties.

District 40 District forty comprised all of Barnwell County, with portions of Allendale, Hampton, and Orangeburg counties.

District 41 District forty-one comprised portions of Charleston and Dorchester counties.

District 42 District forty-two comprised a portion of Charleston county.

District 43 District forty-three comprised portions of Berkeley and Charleston counties. Incumbent Senator John Kuhn sought re-election, but was defeated in the primary by fellow Republican Chip Campsen. Campsen defeated his Democratic challenger and won the seat.

District 44 District forty-four comprised portions of Berkeley and Charleston counties.

District 45 District forty-five comprised all Jasper County, along with of portions of Allendale, Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, and Hampton counties.

District 46 District forty-six comprised a portion of Beaufort County.

See also

2004 South Carolina elections 2004 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary South Carolina Senate List of South Carolina state legislatures

References