| Election Name: | 2008 South Carolina Senate election |
| Country: | South Carolina |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 South Carolina Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Next Election: | 2012 South Carolina Senate election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Seats For Election: | All 46 seats in the South Carolina Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 24 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Leader1: | Glenn F. McConnell |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Leaders Seat1: | 41st |
| Last Election1: | 26 |
| Seats Before1: | 27 |
| Seats After1: | 27 |
| Leader2: | John C. Land III |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Leaders Seat2: | 36th |
| Last Election2: | 20 |
| Seats Before2: | 19 |
| Seats After2: | 19 |
| Map Size: | 350px |
| President pro tempore | |
| Before Election: | Glenn F. McConnell |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Glenn F. McConnell |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 2008 South Carolina Senate election were held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. The primary elections were held on June 10 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on June 24. The current composition of the state delegation is 27 Republicans and 19 Democrats. Senators are elected for four-year terms, all in the same year.
| align=center | 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 covers parts of Oconee and Pickens Counties. Republican incumbent Thomas C. Alexander faced Polly Nicolay, a Constitution Party challenger.[1] [2] He was reelected to a fourth full-term in a landslide victory, receiving more than 85% of the vote.[3]
The district includes parts of Pickens county. Republican incumbent Larry A. Martin works in textiles for Alice Manufacturing Company. In the Republican primary, Martin won over C J Mac Martin Jr 80.15% to 19.85%.[4]
The district includes parts of Anderson county. Freshman Republican incumbent Kevin L. Bryant is a pharmacist. The Democratic nominee is Marshall Meadors, a family practice physician. In the first major controversy, which gained national attention, Bryant posted a controversial cartoon about Barack Obama on his blog on July 18, 2008, and Meadors answered in a July 22 press release. Bryant later removed the cartoon, but screenshots and commentary remain elsewhere.[5] [6] [7]
The district includes parts of Abbeville, Anderson and Greenwood counties. Republican incumbent William H. O'Dell is CEO of O'Dell Corporation. Capt. Leonardo Ortiz is the Democratic nominee, winning against Roger Odachowski 60.59% to 39.41% in the primary..
The district includes parts of Greenville county. Republican incumbent Lewis R. Vaughn is a retired businessman.
The district includes parts of Greenville county. Republican incumbent Michael L. Fair works in insurance. In the Republican primary, Fair won over Patrick B Haddon 61.88% to 38.12%.
The district includes parts of Greenville county. Democratic incumbent Ralph Anderson is a retired postmaster. In the Democratic primary, Anderson won over Lillian Brock Flemming, Andrew M Jones and Seldon Peden 51.19% to 35.21%, 4.18% and 9.42% respectively. He is being challenged by Republican Roan Garcia-Quintana and Constitution Party candidate John Langville.
The district includes parts of Greenville county. Republican incumbent David L. Thomas is an attorney.
The district includes parts of Greenville and Laurens counties. Republican incumbent Daniel B. Verdin III is the owner of Verdin's Farm and Garden Center.
The district includes parts of Abbeville, Greenwood and Laurens counties. Democratic incumbent John W. Drummond is President of Drummond Oil Company, Inc. and President Pro Tempore Emeritus of the South Carolina Senate. In the Republican run-off, Dee Compton won over Chip Stockman, 68.89% to 31.11%.[8]
The district includes parts of Spartanburg county. Democratic incumbent Glenn G. Reese is a businessman.
The district includes parts of Spartanburg county. Republican incumbent John D. Hawkins is an attorney. In the Republican run-off, Lee Bright won over Scott Talley 51.30% to 48.70%.
The district includes parts of Greenville, Spartanburg and Union counties. Republican incumbent James H. Ritchie, Jr. is an attorney. In the Republican run-off, Shane Martin won over Ritchie 66.15% to 33.85%.
The district includes parts of Cherokee, Spartanburg, Union and York counties. Republican incumbent Harvey S. Peeler, Jr. is a dairyman/businessman.
The district includes parts of York county. Republican incumbent Robert W. Hayes, Jr. is an attorney.
The district includes parts of Lancaster and York counties. Republican incumbent Chauncey K. Gregory is President of Builders Supply Company.
The district includes parts of Chester, Fairfield, Union and York counties. Retiring Democratic incumbent Linda H. Short (Mrs. Paul) is a homemaker. In the Democratic run-off, Creighton B Coleman won over Leah Bess Moody 52.40% to 47.60%. In the primary, the results were Coleman (47.58%), Moody (37.09%) and Michael Squirewell (15.33%).
The district includes Newberry and parts of Saluda and Lexington counties. Republican incumbent Ronnie Cromer is a pharmacist. The Democratic nominee is Michael Ray Ellisor, winning over Pete Oliver 52.30% to 47.70% in the primary.
The district includes parts of Richland county. Democratic incumbent Kay Patterson is a retired educator. In the Democratic primary recount, John L Scott Jr. won over Vince Ford 50.47% to 49.53%.[9]
The district includes parts of Lexington and Richland counties. Republican incumbent John E. Courson is Senior V.P., Keenan & Suggs.
The district includes parts of Richland county. Republican incumbent Darrell Jackson is a businessman and minister; Pres., Sunrise Enterprise of Columbia
The district includes parts of Kershaw and Richland counties. Democratic incumbent Joel Lourie is a businessman
The district includes parts of Lexington county. Republican incumbent John M. Knotts, Jr. is retired from law enforcement. In the Republican run-off, Knotts won over Katrina Shealy 57.52% to 42.48%.
The district includes parts of Aiken county. Republican incumbent W. Greg Ryberg is CEO of REI, Inc.
The district includes parts of Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties. Freshman Republican incumbent A. Shane Massey is an attorney.
The district includes parts of Aiken, Lexington and Saluda counties. Democratic incumbent Nikki G. Setzler is an attorney.
The district includes parts of Chesterfield, Kershaw and Lancaster counties. Democratic incumbent Vincent A. Sheheen is an attorney.
The district includes parts of Dillon, Horry, Marion and Marlboro counties. Democratic incumbent Dick Elliott is a real estate developer, retail.
The district includes parts of Chesterfield, Darlington, Lee and Marlboro counties. Democratic incumbent Gerald Malloy is an attorney.
The district includes parts of Dillon, Florence, Marion and Marlboro counties. Freshman Democratic incumbent Kent M. Williams is a Deputy County Administrator.
The district includes parts of Darlington and Florence counties. Republican incumbent Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. is a businessman.
The district includes parts of Florence, Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg counties. Democratic incumbent J. Yancey McGill is a real estate broker and residential homebuilder.
The district includes parts of Horry county. Republican incumbent Luke A. Rankin is an attorney.
The district includes parts of Charleston, Georgetown and Horry counties. Freshman Republican incumbent Raymond E. Cleary III is a dentist.
The district includes parts of Lee and Sumter counties. Democratic incumbent Phil P. Leventis is an aviation and management services consultant.
The district includes parts of Calhoun, Clarendon, Florence and Sumter counties. Democratic incumbent John C. Land III is an attorney.
The district includes parts of Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester counties. Republican incumbent Lawrence K. Grooms is president and CEO of GTI.
The district includes parts of Charleston and Dorchester counties. Freshman Republican incumbent Randy Scott is a small businessman. Bill Collins qualified as a petition candidate and will have his name on the ballot in the general election.
The district includes parts of Bamberg, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton and Orangeburg counties. Democratic incumbent John W. Matthews, Jr. is a businessman and retired elementary school principal.
The district includes parts of Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell and Orangeburg counties. Democratic incumbent C. Bradley Hutto is a trial lawyer.
The district includes parts of Charleston county. Republican incumbent Glenn F. McConnell is an attorney/businessman, and President Pro Tempore.
The district includes parts of Charleston county. Democratic incumbent Robert Ford is a developer.
The district includes parts of Berkeley and Charleston counties. Republican incumbent George E. Campsen III is a businessman/attorney.Dist. No. 43 - Berkeley & Charleston Cos.
The district includes parts of Berkeley county. Freshman Republican incumbent Paul G. Campbell, Jr. is a retired Regional President for Alcoa, now a consultant.
The district includes parts of Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. Democratic incumbent Clementa C. Pinckney was a pastor and student.
The district includes parts of Beaufort county. Republican incumbent Catherine C. Ceips is a full-time legislator.