The 2020 South Carolina State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 2020 United States elections. South Carolina voters elected state senators in all of the state's 46 senate districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the South Carolina Senate, with all of the seats up for election each cycle. The primary elections on June 9, 2020, determined which candidates appeared on the November 3, 2020, general election ballot.
Following the previous election in 2016, Republicans had control of the South Carolina Senate with 27 seats to Democrats' 19 seats.
^ abcdefghijklmnRunning unopposed in the general election.
^ abcNot seeking reelection, therefore this seat is open.
Outgoing incumbents[]
Retiring[]
Three incumbent senators are not seeking re-election in 2020, leaving three open seats.
Greg Gregory (R–Lancaster), representing District 16 from 1992–2008 and then since 2011. He announced that he would not be seeking re-election on October 23, 2019.[2]
John W. Matthews Jr. (D–Orangeburg), representing District 39 since 1984. He had previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1975–1984. He announced that he would not be seeking re-election on March 10, 2020.[3]
Paul G. Campbell Jr. (R–Berkeley), representing District 44 since 2007. He announced that he would not be seeking re-election on March 23, 2020.[4]
Defeated[]
No incumbents were defeated in their primaries. Luke A. Rankin (R–Horry), who has represented District 33 since 1992, was the only incumbent whose primary was forced to go to a runoff, after he failed to obtain 50% of the vote in his primary. The runoff took place on June 23, 2020,[5] between Rankin and challenger John Gallman, and was won by Rankin.[6]
Incumbent Dwight Loftis ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Hao Wu ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[12]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Dwight Loftis (incumbent)
33,300
65.1
Democratic
Hao Wu
17,768
34.8
Write-in
61
0.1
Total votes
51,129
100.0
Republicanhold
District 7[]
Incumbent Karl B. Allen faced opposition in the Democratic primary. Jack Logan ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[15]
Democratic Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Karl B. Allen (incumbent)
6,208
70.1
Democratic
Fletcher Smith
2,645
29.9
Total votes
8,853
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Karl B. Allen (incumbent)
26,672
62.5
Republican
Jack Logan
15,886
37.2
Write-in
107
0.3
Total votes
42,665
100.0
Democratichold
District 8[]
Incumbent Ross Turner faced opposition in the Republican primary, but ran unopposed in the general election.[16]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Ross Turner (incumbent)
9,435
68.2
Republican
Janice Curtis
4,399
31.8
Total votes
13,834
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Ross Turner (incumbent)
49,180
96.4
Write-in
1,859
3.6
Total votes
51,039
100.0
Republicanhold
District 9[]
Incumbent Danny Verdin ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.[17]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Danny Verdin (incumbent)
39,049
96.9
Write-in
1,230
3.1
Total votes
40,279
100.0
Republicanhold
District 10[]
Incumbent Floyd Nicholson ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[18]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Billy Garrett
5,406
53.5
Republican
Bryan Hope
4,698
46.5
Total votes
10,104
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Billy Garrett
23,989
56.0
Democratic
Floyd Nicholson (incumbent)
18,841
43.9
Write-in
40
0.1
Total votes
42,870
100.0
Republicangain from Democratic
District 11[]
Incumbent Glenn Reese ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Josh Kimbrell ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[19]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Josh Kimbrell
26,117
55.3
Democratic
Glenn Reese (incumbent)
21,005
44.5
Write-in
75
0.2
Total votes
47,197
100.0
Republicangain from Democratic
District 12[]
Incumbent Scott Talley faced opposition in the Republican primary. Dawn Bingham ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[20]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Scott Talley (incumbent)
8,011
52.8
Republican
Mark Lynch
7,157
47.2
Total votes
15,168
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Scott Talley (incumbent)
42,201
64.9
Democratic
Dawn Bingham
22,759
35.0
Write-in
104
0.1
Total votes
65,064
100.0
Republicanhold
District 13[]
Incumbent Shane Martin ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Shane Martin (incumbent)
43,138
97.2
Write-in
1,260
2.8
Total votes
44,398
100.0
Republicanhold
District 14[]
Incumbent Harvey S. Peeler Jr. ran unopposed in the Republican primary, but faced opposition from a third-party candidate in the general election.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Harvey S. Peeler Jr. (incumbent)
42,377
83.9
Alliance
Sarah Work
7,928
15.7
Write-in
229
0.4
Total votes
50,534
100.0
Republicanhold
District 15[]
Incumbent Wes Climer ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Vickie Holt ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Wes Climer (incumbent)
39,121
60.2
Democratic
Vickie Holt
25,848
39.8
Write-in
48
0.1
Total votes
65,017
100.0
Republicanhold
District 16[]
This seat was one of three open seats in this election cycle. Four candidates ran in the Republican primary, with two advancing to a runoff.[22] Ramin Mammadov ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Tom Nichols
4,203
31.9
Republican
3,583
27.2
Republican
Kristen Blanchard
3,483
26.4
Republican
Mike Neese
1,922
14.6
Total votes
13,191
100.0
Republican Primary Runoff
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
4,686
54.8
Republican
Tom Nichols
3,864
45.2
Total votes
8,550
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
48,801
63.2
Democratic
Ramin Mammadov
28,287
36.7
Write-in
64
0.1
Total votes
77,152
100.0
Republicanhold
District 17[]
Incumbent Mike Fanning faced opposition in the Democratic primary.[23] Erin Mosley ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[21]
Democratic Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mike Fanning (incumbent)
7,823
67.9
Democratic
MaryGail Douglas
3,694
32.1
Total votes
11,517
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mike Fanning (incumbent)
26,724
51.5
Republican
Erin Mosley
25,114
48.4
Write-in
47
0.1
Total votes
51,885
100.0
Democratichold
District 18[]
Incumbent Ronnie Cromer faced opposition in the Republican primary.[24] Christopher Thibault ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Ronnie Cromer (incumbent)
10,331
62.1
Republican
Charles Bumgardner
6,294
37.9
Total votes
16,625
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Ronnie Cromer (incumbent)
46,032
72.2
Democratic
Christopher Thibault
17,639
27.7
Write-in
64
0.1
Total votes
63,735
100.0
Republicanhold
District 19[]
Incumbent John L. Scott Jr. ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
John L. Scott Jr. (incumbent)
42,097
98.8
Write-in
528
1.2
Total votes
42,625
100.0
Democratichold
District 20[]
Incumbent Dick Harpootlian ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21] Two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[25]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Benjamin Dunn
5,942
71.5
Republican
Randy Dickey
2,365
28.5
Total votes
8,307
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Dick Harpootlian (incumbent)
29,227
53.2
Republican
Benjamin Dunn
25,562
46.6
Write-in
108
0.2
Total votes
54,897
100.0
Democratichold
District 21[]
Incumbent Darrell Jackson ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Darrell Jackson (incumbent)
33,279
97.9
Write-in
711
2.1
Total votes
33,990
100.0
Democratichold
District 22[]
Incumbent Mia McLeod ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21] Two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[26]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Lee Blatt
3,393
75.8
Republican
David Larsen
1,081
24.2
Total votes
4,474
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mia McLeod (incumbent)
35,438
62.2
Republican
Lee Blatt
21,525
37.8
Write-in
43
0.1
Total votes
57,006
100.0
Democratichold
District 23[]
Incumbent Katrina Shealy ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Bill Brown ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Katrina Shealy (incumbent)
34,050
72.5
Democratic
Bill Brown
12,849
27.4
Write-in
60
0.1
Total votes
46,959
100.0
Republicanhold
District 24[]
Incumbent Tom Young Jr. ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Lisa Williams was set to run unopposed in the Democratic primary, but withdrew before it took place.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Tom Young Jr. (incumbent)
43,148
97.0
Write-in
1,353
3.0
Total votes
44,501
100.0
Republicanhold
District 25[]
Incumbent A. Shane Massey faced opposition in the Republican primary.[27] Shirley Green Fayson ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
A. Shane Massey (incumbent)
10,339
78.8
Republican
Susan Swanson
2,775
21.2
Total votes
13,114
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
A. Shane Massey (incumbent)
37,009
69.5
Democratic
Shirley Green Fayson
16,153
30.4
Write-in
49
0.1
Total votes
53,211
100.0
Republicanhold
District 26[]
Incumbent Nikki G. Setzler ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21] Two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[28]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Chris Smith
6,655
68.8
Republican
Perry Finch
3,020
31.2
Total votes
9,675
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Nikki G. Setzler (incumbent)
23,378
54.4
Republican
Chris Smith
19,538
45.5
Write-in
38
0.1
Total votes
42,954
100.0
Democratichold
District 27[]
Incumbent Vincent Sheheen ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Penry Gustafson ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
22,294
51.0
Democratic
Vincent Sheheen (incumbent)
21,406
48.9
Write-in
41
0.1
Total votes
43,741
100.0
Republicangain from Democratic
District 28[]
Incumbent Greg Hembree ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Greg Hembree (incumbent)
48,996
98.4
Write-in
817
1.6
Total votes
49,813
100.0
Republicanhold
District 29[]
Incumbent Gerald Malloy ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21] Two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[29]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
J.D. Chaplin
4,153
82.4
Republican
Ronald Page
887
17.6
Total votes
5,040
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Gerald Malloy (incumbent)
22,877
53.7
Republican
J.D. Chaplin
19,693
46.2
Write-in
60
0.1
Total votes
42,630
Democratichold
District 30[]
Incumbent Kent M. Williams faced opposition in the Democratic primary,[30] but ran unopposed in the general election.[21]
Democratic Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Kent M. Williams (incumbent)
13,118
76.7
Democratic
Patrick Richardson
3,978
23.3
Total votes
17,096
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Kent M. Williams (incumbent)
32,882
97.9
Write-in
703
2.1
Total votes
33,585
100.0
Democratichold
District 31[]
Incumbent Hugh Leatherman ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Hugh Leatherman (incumbent)
37,168
97.3
Write-in
1,035
2.7
Total votes
38,203
100.0
Republicanhold
District 32[]
Incumbent Ronnie A. Sabb faced opposition in the Democratic primary.[31] David Ellison ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[21]
Democratic Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Ronnie A. Sabb (incumbent)
9,492
71.2
Democratic
Ted Brown
2,128
16.0
Democratic
Kelly Spann Jr.
1,471
11.0
Democratic
Manley Collins
237
1.8
Total votes
13,328
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Ronnie A. Sabb (incumbent)
27,284
60.6
Republican
David Ellison
17,714
39.3
Write-in
54
0.1
Total votes
45,052
100.0
Democratichold
District 33[]
Incumbent Luke A. Rankin faced opposition in the Republican primary, but ran unopposed in the general election.[6]
Republican Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Luke A. Rankin (incumbent)
4,915
40.2
Republican
John Gallman
4,210
34.4
Republican
Carter Smith
3,105
25.4
Total votes
12,320
100.0
Republican Primary Runoff
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Luke A. Rankin (incumbent)
6,222
58.4
Republican
John Gallman
4,430
41.6
Total votes
10,652
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Luke A. Rankin (incumbent)
49,492
97.0
Write-in
1,538
3.0
Total votes
51,030
100.0
Republicanhold
District 34[]
Incumbent Stephen Goldfinch ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Emily Cegledy ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Stephen Goldfinch (incumbent)
54,384
66.7
Democratic
Emily Cegledy
27,081
33.2
Write-in
66
0.1
Total votes
81,531
100.0
Republicanhold
District 35[]
Incumbent Thomas McElveen ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Thomas McElveen (incumbent)
36,210
96.2
Write-in
1,433
3.8
Total votes
37,643
100.0
Democratichold
District 36[]
Incumbent Kevin L. Johnson faced opposition in the Democratic primary.[32] Leon Winn ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[21]
Democratic Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Kevin L. Johnson (incumbent)
7,106
74.9
Democratic
Eleazer Carter
2,376
25.1
Total votes
9,482
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Kevin L. Johnson (incumbent)
25,183
57.4
Republican
Leon Winn
18,611
42.5
Write-in
44
0.1
Total votes
43,838
100.0
Democratichold
District 37[]
Incumbent Larry Grooms ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Kathryn Whitaker ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. A third-party candidate also contested the general election.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Larry Grooms (incumbent)
42,915
58.7
Democratic
Kathryn Whitaker
28,266
38.6
Libertarian
Steve French
1,909
2.6
Write-in
58
0.1
Total votes
73,148
100.0
Republicanhold
District 38[]
Incumbent Sean Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican primary. John Lowe ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Sean Bennett (incumbent)
35,068
58.8
Democratic
John Lowe
24,462
41.1
Write-in
66
0.1
Total votes
59,596
100.0
Republicanhold
District 39[]
This seat was one of three open seats in this election cycle. Four candidates ran in the Democratic primary, with two advancing to a runoff.[33] Tom Connor ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[21]
Democratic Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Vernon Stephens
4,901
41.4
Democratic
Cindy Evans
4,624
38.8
Democratic
William Johnson
1,864
15.6
Democratic
Jerry Montgomery
532
4.5
Total votes
11,921
100.0
Democratic Primary Runoff
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Vernon Stephens
3,968
65.2
Democratic
Cindy Evans
2,120
34.8
Total votes
6,088
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Vernon Stephens
25,351
56.5
Republican
Tom Connor
19,500
43.4
Write-in
38
0.1
Total votes
44,889
100.0
Democratichold
District 40[]
Incumbent Brad Hutto faced opposition in the Democratic primary,[34] but ran unopposed in the general election.[21]
Democratic Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Hutto (incumbent)
10,750
71.0
Democratic
Michael Addison
4,400
29.0
Total votes
15,150
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Hutto (incumbent)
28,958
97.6
Write-in
726
2.4
Total votes
29,684
100.0
Democratichold
District 41[]
Incumbent Sandy Senn faced no opposition in the Republican primary.[21] Two candidates ran in the Democratic primary.[35]
Democratic Primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Sam Skardon
6,672
63.0
Democratic
Jason Mills
3,911
37.0
Total votes
10,583
100.0
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Sandy Senn (incumbent)
37,234
50.9
Democratic
Sam Skardon
35,926
49.0
Write-in
60
0.1
Total votes
73,220
100.0
Republicanhold
District 42[]
Incumbent Marlon Kimpson ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Marlon Kimpson (incumbent)
35,299
98.0
Write-in
705
2.0
Total votes
36,004
100.0
Democratichold
District 43[]
Incumbent Chip Campsen ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Richard Hricik ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21]
General Election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Chip Campsen (incumbent)
37,938
56.2
Democratic
Richard Hricik
29,550
43.7
Write-in
59
0.1
Total votes
67,547
100.0
Republicanhold
District 44[]
This seat was one of three open seats in this election cycle. Two candidates ran in the Democratic primary, and two candidates ran in the Republican primary.[36]