| Election Date: | November 5, 2024 |
| Election Name: | 2024 South Carolina Senate election |
| Country: | South Carolina |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2020 South Carolina Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 2020 |
| Next Election: | 2028 South Carolina Senate election |
| Next Year: | 2028 |
| Seats For Election: | All 46 seats in the South Carolina Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 24 |
| Leader1: | Thomas Alexander |
| Party1: | South Carolina Republican Party |
| Leader Since1: | December 6, 2021 |
| Leaders Seat1: | 1st |
| Last Election1: | 30 |
| Seats Before1: | 30 |
| Seat Change1: | 4 |
| Seats After1: | 34 |
| Leader2: | Brad Hutto |
| Party2: | South Carolina Democratic Party |
| Leader Since2: | November 17, 2020 |
| Leaders Seat2: | 40th |
| Last Election2: | 16 |
| Seats Before2: | 15 |
| Seat Change2: | 3 |
| Seats After2: | 12 |
| Map Size: | 350px |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Thomas C. Alexander |
| Before Party: | South Carolina Republican Party |
The 2024 South Carolina Senate election was held on November 5, 2024, alongside the 2024 United States elections.[1] Primary elections took place on June 11, 2024.
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:[2] [3]
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.[7] A Republican primary was held on January 25, and a special election was held on March 29.[8]
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.[9] Democratic primary was held on September 5, a Democratic runoff was held on September 19, and the special election was held on November 7.[10]
Incumbent John L. Scott Jr. died August 13, 2023, from blood clot complications.[11] A special election was held on January 2, 2024.[12]
| Party | Votes | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | +/− | % | |||||
| 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[13] | |||||||
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Thomas C. Alexander | Rep | Thomas C. Alexander | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 2nd | Rex Rice | Rep | Rex Rice | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 3rd | Richard Cash | Rep | Richard Cash | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 4th | Michael Gambrell | Rep | Michael Gambrell | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 5th | Thomas D. Corbin | Rep | Thomas D. Corbin | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 6th | Dwight Loftis | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 7th | Karl B. Allen | Dem | Karl B. Allen | Dem | Democratic hold | |||
| 8th | Ross Turner | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 9th | Danny Verdin | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 10th | Billy Garrett | Rep | Billy Garrett | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 11th | Josh Kimbrell | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 12th | Scott Talley | Rep | Roger Allen Nutt | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 13th | Shane Martin | Rep | Shane Martin | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 14th | Harvey S. Peeler Jr. | Rep | Harvey S. Peeler Jr. | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 15th | Wes Climer | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 16th | Michael Johnson | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 17th | Mike Fanning | Dem | Everett Stubbs | Rep | Republican GAIN | |||
| 18th | Ronnie Cromer | Rep | Ronnie Cromer | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 19th | Tameika Isaac Devine | Dem | Dem | Democratic hold | ||||
| 20th | New Seat | Dem | Ed Sutton | Dem | Democratic hold | |||
| 21st | Darrell Jackson | Dem | Darrell Jackson | Dem | Democratic hold | |||
| 22nd | Mia McLeod | Ind | Overture Walker | Dem | Democratic GAIN | |||
| 23rd | Katrina Shealy | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 24th | Tom Young Jr. | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 25th | A. Shane Massey | Rep | A. Shane Massey | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 26th | Nikki G. Setzler | Dem | Russell Ott | Dem | Democratic hold | |||
| Dem | ||||||||
| 27th | Penry Gustafson | Rep | Allen Blackmon | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 28th | Greg Hembree | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 29th | Gerald Malloy | Dem | JD Chaplin | Rep | Republican GAIN | |||
| 30th | Kent M. Williams | Dem | Dem | Democratic hold | ||||
| 31st | Mike Reichenbach | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 32nd | Ronnie A. Sabb | Dem | Dem | Democratic hold | ||||
| 33rd | Luke A. Rankin | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 34th | Stephen Goldfinch | Rep | Stephen Goldfinch | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 35th | Thomas McElveen | Dem | Jeffrey R. Graham | Dem | Democratic hold | |||
| 36th | Kevin L. Johnson | Dem | Jeff Zell | Rep | Republican GAIN | |||
| 37th | Larry Grooms | Rep | Larry Grooms | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 38th | Sean Bennett | Rep | Sean Bennett | Rep | Republican hold | |||
| 39th | Vernon Stephens | Dem | Tom Fernandez | Rep | Republican GAIN | |||
| 40th | Brad Hutto | Dem | Dem | Democratic hold | ||||
| 41st | Sandy Senn | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 42nd | Deon Tedder | Dem | Deon Tedder | Dem | Democratic hold | |||
| 43rd | Chip Campsen | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 44th | Brian Adams | Rep | Rep | Republican hold | ||||
| 45th | Margie Bright Matthews | Dem | Margie Bright Matthews | Dem | Democratic hold | |||
| 46th | Tom Davis | Rep | Tom Davis | Rep | Republican hold | |||
Five incumbents did not seek re-election.[14]
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.
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.
| 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. Incumbent Thomas C. Alexander will run 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.[20]
District 2 is contained within Pickens County. Incumbent Rex Rice will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election. It will be his third term in office.
District 3 consists of Northern Anderson County. Republican incumbent Richard Cash will seek a second full term, while Democrat and mental health counselor, Jessicka Spearman,[21] [22] will seek to unseat him in the general election.[23]
Incumbent Michael Gambrell will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.
Incumbent Tom Corbin will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.
Incumbent Shane Martin will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.
Incumbent Harvey S. Peeler Jr. will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.
Incumbent Ronnie Cromer will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.
Incumbent Darrell Jackson (politician) will run unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.
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.[24] Her actions drew the ire of the state Republican party, leading to her primary challenge, which she lost in a runoff.[25]
Incumbent A. Shane Massey will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.
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.[26] State Representative Russell Ott defeated Dick Harpootlian for the Democratic nomination while Jason Guerry defeated Chris Smith for the Republican nomination.[27] [28]
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.
Incumbent Stephen Goldfinch will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.
Incumbent Larry Grooms will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.
Incumbent Sean Bennett will run unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.
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.[29]
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.
Incumbent Margie Bright Matthews will run unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.