While everyone’s focused on the presidential election this year, as they should be, down ballot races are also very important, especially in South Carolina. We’re not a swing state, so the presidential election doesn’t matter too much here. We have no Senators up for election this cycle, and due to gerrymandering, our federal House of Representatives elections are also unlikely to change anything.
Like the Federal Government, South Carolina also has a House and Senate. The members of the SC House, like those of the Federal House of Representatives, are also voted for every 2 years, but the Senate works differently, with its members being elected all at the same time every 4 years, coinciding with presidential elections. Thus, every member of the SC Assembly is up for election this year.
Most Americans are shockingly unaware of their State governments. Many do not even know who their state senator or representative is. Or even what district they’re in. Under the presumption that you are like these many Americans, I have written rough geographic descriptions of each district, and added a map. Even if your district does not have an opposition candidate, as many do, go ahead and make sure you remember who your incumbent is for the next election.
This list includes all SC House and Senate districts that have any territory in Charleston County, where presumably all our students live. It includes maps of the section of the district in Charleston County, alongside a description of the area it covers. It also includes the current incumbent, even if they aren’t running, the major candidates for the seat, and polling by CNalysis for Ballotpedia, the only website that seems to have done polling for the SC State House.
For precise district maps, see the following:
House maps – House Map 2024 | South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office
Senate maps – Senate Maps | South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office
House Districts
15 – The Charleston County half of this district is all in North Charleston, including the area north of the Northwoods Mall, stretching down on the west side of I-26 stretching down to Ashley Heights; the other half is in Goose Creek.
Incumbent: JA Moore, Democrat, running for reelection
Challenger: Carlton Walker, Republican
CNalysis rates this seat as “Solid D”
80 – Most of Mount Pleasant around and east of I-526 and north of US 17, includes park west and Belle Hall.
Incumbent: Kathy Landing, Republican, running for reelection
Challenger: Donna Newton, Democrat
Rating: “Solid R”
94 – Almost entirely in Dorchester county, minus two neighborhoods in Summerville.
Incumbent: Gil Gatch, Republican, running unopposed
108 – The rest of the county east of Mount Pleasant and north of US 17, as well as McClellanville, shared with Georgetown County.
Incumbent: Lee Hewitt, Republican, running unopposed
109 – Between the north bank of the Ashley River and I-26, stretches up to Archdale in Dorchester County.
Incumbent: Tiffany Spann-Wilder, Democrat, running unopposed
110 – All of Ion, and other areas of west Mount Pleasant, and north of Chuck Dawley and Coleman Boulevards, Downtown Charleston south of Calhoun Street, the eastern tip of West Ashley, and northeast James Island.
Incumbent: Tom Hartnett, Republican, running for reelection
Challenger: John Moffett, Democrat
Rating: “Toss-Up”
111 – Central West Ashley, Downtown north of Calhoun Street, and some of southern North Charleston.
Incumbent: Wendell Gilliard, Democrat, running for reelection
Challenger: Joe Jernigan, Libertarian
Rating: “Solid D”
112 – All of Mount Pleasant south of US 17, as well as Carolina Park and Tupelo, Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island.
Incumbent: Joe Bustos, Republican, running for reelection
Challenger: Peter Brennan, Democrat
Rating: “Very Likely R”
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113 – The district Magnet is in, as well as the rest of the Park Circle area, the airport and Joint Base Charleston, everything along US 78 up to Northwoods Mall, most of Ladson and Lincolnville.
Incumbent: It’s complicated. Marvin Pendarvis was the Democrat incumbent, and was running unopposed. But on September 16, 2024, he resigned amid a scandal about alleged previous legal malpractice, and attempted to withdraw from the race. However, his name will still be on the ballot. A spokesperson for the State Election Commision told the SC Daily Gazette “this is unprecedented.” It seems the most likely scenario is that a special election will be held later to fill his seat.
114 – All of north West Ashley, extends into Dorchester County.
Incumbent: Gary Brewer, Republican, running for reelection
Challenger: Adrienne Lett, Democrat
Rating: “Very Likely R”
115 – All of Folly, Kiawah, and Seabrook island, all of south Johns Island, and central James Island.
Incumbent: Spencer Wetmore, Democrat, running for reelection (also a Magnet Alum)
Challenger: Jerome Sloane, Republican
Rating: “Solid D”
116 – A small part of southwest West Ashley, the northwest half of Johns Island, and everything in the county west of that, and all of Edisto, including parts in Colleton County.
Incumbent: Matthew Leber, Republican, running for State Senate in District 41
Challengers: Charlie Murray, Democrat; James Teeple, Republican
Rating: “Toss-Up”
119 – Sol Legare Island, a small section of southwestern James Island, the banks on both sides of the Stono River most of the north half of central Johns Island, most of West Ashley south of 17, some of West Ashley west of and around I-526, and northeast West Ashley.
Incumbent: Leonidas Stavrinakis, Democrat, running for reelection
Challenger: Brendan Magee, Republican
Rating: “Solid D”
Senate district
20 – Nearly all of West Ashley, minus the westernmost part, northern and central James Island, and most of central Downtown Charleston.
Incumbent: Dick Harpootlian, Democrat, district was redrawn
Challengers: Ed Sutton, Democrat; Kendal Ludden, Libertarian
Rating: “Solid D”
32 – All of the county east of Mount Pleasant, shared with multiple other counties.
Incumbent: Ronnie Sabb, Democrat, running unopposed
37 – Almost entirely in Berkeley County, minus some parts of Mount Pleasant, such as parts of Belle Hall and Boone Hall, also Brickyard, and Park West.
Incumbent: Lawrence Grooms, Republican, running unopposed
38 – Almost entirely in Dorchester County around Summerville, but includes Ladson and Lincolnville.
Incumbent: Sean Bennett, Republican, running unopposed
41 – Northern and central Johns Island, stretches west to Meggett, and to Ravenel, Includes northwest of West Ashley, shared with Dorchester and Colleton Counties.
Incumbent: Sandy Senn, Republican, defeated in primary
Challengers: Rita Adkins, Democrat; Matthew Leber, Republican
Rating: “Lean R”
42 – Includes the north part of Charleston, and nearly all of North Charleston.
Incumbent: Deon Tedder, Democrat, running unopposed
43 – Includes practically all the coast starting in Beaufort and Colleton Counties, includes all of Edisto, and Seabrook, Kiawah, Folly, and Sullivan’s Islands, and Isle of Palms, includes most of eastern James Island, only a few blocks on the tip of Downtown, the western part of Mount Pleasant, and everything south of Rifle Range Road, everything in Mount Pleasant east of Porchers Bluff Road and south of US 17, and some north of US 17, such as Carolina Park and Tupelo.
Incumbent: George Campsen, Republican, running for reelection
Challenger: Julie Cofer Hussey, Democrat
Rating: “Very Likely R”
44 – Mostly in Berkeley County, but cuts into Charleston County to contain North Charleston Port and some of northeast Park Circle, and most of central Mount Pleasant.
Incumbent: Brian Adams, Republican, running for reelection
Challenger: Vicky Wynn, Democrat
Rating: “Very Likely R”
Sources:
All House and Senate race candidates and polling provided by Ballotpedia.org
Former SC legislator still technically running 3 weeks after resigning
SC Rep. Marvin Pendarvis resigns from House amid legal troubles. Here’s what we know
Ed Sutton announces run for Charleston-area’s new South Carolina state Senate seat
