Statewide 2022 South Carolina Midterm Election Results with Analysis

November 8, 2022

Palmetto Promise Team

South Carolina voters went to the polls on Tuesday, November 8 to select hundreds of candidates for local and statewide seats. We’ve compiled a complete list of election results for statewide and Statehouse offices.

To view results in the various races with analysis, you can click these links to be taken directly to that section.

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I = Incumbent
X = Winner

D = Democratic Party (36% of Straight Party Voters in 2022)

R = Republican Party (61%of Straight Party Voters in 2022)

L = Libertarian Party

A = Alliance Party

G = Green Party

UC = United Citizens Party

Last updated: 4:57 PM EDT 11/10/2022


U.S. Senate Results

 U.S. Senate Tim Scott R 62.88% I X
Krystle Matthews D 37.01%
Historical Significance: Since 1980 when Ronald Reagan garnered 63.55%, Republican candidates for President of the United States and the United States Senate have tended to do better than Republican candidates for Governor and other State Constitutional Officers. National issues drive Republican percentage up in South Carolina. Strom Thurmond and Fritz Hollings exceeded the Reagan ceiling late in their careers, but the modern era (since 2000) belongs to Jim DeMint and Tim Scott. DeMint received 61.48% versus Alvin Greene in 2010, and Tim Scott won the remaining years of DeMint’s term with 61.12% (2014) and a full term (2016) with 60.57%. Tim Scott breaks his own record at a commanding 62.88%!

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U.S. House of Representatives Results

First Congressional District
Annie Andrews D 42.46%
Nancy Mace R   56.39% I X
Joseph Oddo A  0.97%
Second Congressional District
Judd Larkins D 39.87%
Joe Wilson R  59.98% I X
Third Congressional District
Jeff Duncan R 97.64%% I X
Others D  2.36%
Fourth Congressional District
William Timmons R 90.81% I X
Others D  9.19%
Fifth Congressional District
Larry Gaither G 1.47%
Evengeline Hundley D  34.44%
Ralph Norman R  64.03% I X
Sixth Congressional District
Duke Buckner R 37.85%
James E. Clyburn D 62.04%% I X
Seventh Congressional District
Russell Fry R 64.80%   X
Daryl Scott D 35.05%

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Statewide Constitutional Offices Results

Governor/Lieutenant Governor Henry McMaster/Pamela Evette R 58.04% I X
Bruce Reeves/Jessica Ethridge L  1.22%
Joe Cunningham/Tally Parham Casey D  40.67%
Historical Significance: After the State Constitution was amended to allow governors to succeed themselves, the first two-term governors, Democrat Richard Riley (1979-1987) and Republican Carroll Campbell (1987-1995) received nearly 70% in their re-election bids. A Democrat and a Republican receiving 69% within eight years of one another? It happened.

In these more partisan times, Mark Sanford’s 55.12% and Nikki Haley’s 55.90% have been the ceiling. Henry McMaster received 58.75% of the vote for Lieutenant Governor in 2014, and the most votes ever for a candidate for Governor in 2018. The percentage for McMaster is looking like 58%, a significant achievement in the wake of the political challenges of COVID. When he completes his term, Henry D. McMaster will have the historical achievement of being the Palmetto State’s longest-serving Governor. It’s a fitting tribute to the man who may very well love South Carolina more than any other of its citizens.

State Superintendent of Education Patricia Mickel G 1.62%
Ellen Weaver R 55.52%  X
Lisa Ellis D  39.62%
Lisa Ellis A  3.14%
Historical Significance: There hasn’t really been a “typical” State Superintendent election in the modern era. Barbara Nielsen (R) took the state by storm in 1990 to be the first Republican Superintendent with popular incumbent Governor Carroll Campbell and Senator Strom Thurmond on the top of the ticket. Since Nielsen, the most strongly conservative Republicans have been David Eckstrom (1998), Karen Kanes Floyd (2006), Mick Zais (2010) and Ellen Weaver (2022). Eckstrom was beaten badly in annus horribilis for Republicans that saw incumbent Governor David Beasley lose to video poker. Floyd faced an oddly crowded General Election field in the Sanford re-elect year and lost by only a few hundred votes. Zais won with 51.26%, the year in which Nikki Haley also won narrowly to succeed Sanford. At 55.52%, Weaver represents a high water mark. Outside of the superlative efforts of Ellen Weaver herself, popular incumbent Molly Spearman’s (R) endorsement was a key to the win.
Secretary of State Mark Hammond R 63.33% I X
Rosemounda Peggy Butler D 36.61%
State Treasurer Curtis Loftis R 79.68% I X
Sarah E. Work D  19.85%
Attorney General Alan Wilson R 97.32% I X
Other D 2.68%
Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom R 98.21% I X
Other D  1.79%
Commissioner of Agriculture Chris Nelums UC 6.83%
David Edmond G  15.24%
Hugh Weathers R  77.61% I X

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South Carolina House Results

The incumbent 2021-22 General Assembly was 81-43 Republican (65% GOP). The Senate, which will be on the ballot in 2024, is 30-16 (also 65% GOP). But district lines shifted due to the Census. York, Horry, and Charleston Counties picked up newly-carved districts that couldn’t be drawn in any other manner than to favor Republicans. Entering Election 2022, after reapportionment, we rated the 124 seats of the South Carolina House of Representatives at 84-40 in favor of Republicans in likely outcome on November 8.

We projected the best-case scenario for Democrats at 43 seats and the best-case scenario for Republicans at 88 seats. Looking at neighboring state legislatures (North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida), only the Tennessee Senate and Tennessee House were more Republican (82% and 74% respectively) than the South Carolina General Assembly.

Republicans had their eyes on defeating Jackie Hayes (District 55) and Krystle Matthews (District 117). (Matthews was the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate as well.) Democrats were eying Kirkman Finlay’s Richland County seat (District 75). The wider net for Democrats was the Charleston seat being vacated by William Cogswell (District 110). A more ambitious Republican effort reach included defeating “Hook” Williams (District 122) and Kimberly Johnson (District 64).

How did the parties fare? As of this writing, we are estimating a Republican advantage for the 125th General Assembly (2023-24) of approximately 88-36 or +7 over the 124th (2021-22). This estimate will be adjusted if necessary as more results arrive. Details for each contested seat may be found below. 

District 7
Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville Chris Salley D 77.35%
District Rating: Lean to Stong R Jay West R 22.49% I X
Rep. West (first elected 2016) wins re-election.
District 8
Anderson Don Chapman R 73.14% X
Ernest E. Mackins D 24.56%
District Rating: Lean to Strong R Jackie Todd A 2.05%
Don Chapman replaces Jonathan Hill (elected 2014) who retired from the House.
District 9
Anderson Judith Polson D 25.85%
District Rating: Lean to Strong R Anne Thayer R 74.09% I X
Rep. Thayer re-elected to the seat she first won in 2010.
District 12
Greenwood, McCormick Daniel Gibson R 52.91%
District Rating: Lean D Anne Parks D 47.02% I X
Rep. Parks defeated for the seat she first won in 1997.
District 13
Greenwood, Laurens Bill Kimler D 25.35%
District Rating: Lean to Strong R John McCravy R  74.59% I X
Family Caucus Founder re-elected to seat he first won in 2016.
District 14
Laurens Daniel A. Duncan D 29.30%
District Rating: Lean to Strong R Stewart O. Jones R 70.37% I X
Rep. Jones (first elected 2018) wins re-election.
District 15
Berkeley, Charleston J.A. Moore D 56.82% I X
District Rating: Lean to Strong D Latrecia Pond R 43.05%
Rep. Moore re-elected to the seat he first won in 2018.
District 18
Greenville Alan Morgan R 76.52% I X
District Rating: Lean to Strong R Michael Reitz D 23.19%
Rep. ALAN Morgan, winner of May 2022 Special Election, elected to full term.
District 25
Greenville Tony Boyce I 4.34%
Wendell Jones D 61.73% X
District Rating: Lean to Strong D Yvonne Julian R 33.76%
Jones is elected to succeed retiring Rep. Leola Robinson (first elected 2012).
District 26
York Raye Felder R 63.36% I X
District Rating: Strong R Matt Vilardebo D 36.57%
Rep. Felder re-elected to seat she first won in 2012.
District 28
Greenville John Fritz Weile D 32.05%
District Rating: Lean R Ashley Trantham R 67.81% I X
Rep. Trantham re-elected to seat she won in a Special Election in 2018.
District 41
Chester, Fairfield, Richland Jennifer Brecheisen R 42.61%
District Rating: Lean to Strong D Annie E. McDaniel D 57.27% I X
Rep. McDaniel (elected 2018) appears to have won the rematch of 2020 also.
District 44
Lancaster Katie Crosby D 35.56%
Aaron McKinney I 1.64%
District Rating: Lean R Mike Neese R 62.70% X
Neese elected to succeed Rep. Sandy McGarry in a modified district numbered 44.
District 45
Kershaw, Lancaster Keith T. Grey Sr. D 32.61%
District Rating: Lean R Brandon Newton R 67.26% I X
Rep. Brandon Newton (elected 2016) wins the rematch of 2020 also.
District 48
York Brandon Guffey R 67.39% X
District Rating: Lean R Andrew Russell D 32.46%
Brandon Guffey is elected to replace Rep. Bruce Bryant (first elected 2016) who retired from the House.
District 49
York Thomas Hardin R 35.27%
District Rating: lean to Strong D John R. King D 64.68%  I  X
Rep. King re-elected to seat he first won in 2008.
District 50
Kershaw, Lee, Sumter Marvin Jones R 39.86%
District Rating: Lean D Will Wheeler D 60.04% I X
Rep. Wheeler re-elected to seat he first won in 2016.
District 52
Kershaw Eve Carlin D 34.87%
District Rating: Lean R Ben Connell R 64.80% X
Connell elected to replace Rep. Vic Dabney (elected 2020, defeated in primary).
District 54
Chesterfield, Darlington, Marlboro Pat Henegan D 52.30% I X
District Rating: Lean D Sterling McDiarmid R 47.64%
Rep. Pat Henegan (first elected 2014) wins the rematch of 2020 also.
District 55
Dillon, Horry, Marlboro Michael Copland I 3.42%
Jackie Hayes D 49.80% I X
District Rating: Lean R Robert Norton R 46.60%
Coach appears to have won by about 350 votes. Rep. Jackie “Coach” Hayes was first elected 1998.
District 61
Horry Ashlyn Preaux D 30.63%
District Rating: Lean to Strong R Carla Schuessler R 69.24% X
Schuessler wins newly drawn district in growing Horry County.
District 63
Florence Vincent Coe D 31.13%
District Rating: Lean R Jay Jordan R 68.76% I X
Rep. Jordan wins re-election to seat he first won in a Special Election in 2015.
District 64
Clarendon, Sumter Kimberly O. Johnson D 44.78% I
District Rating: Swing Fawn Pedalino R 55.12% X
Rep. Johnson headed to defeat for the seat she first won in 2020.
District 66
York Carla Litrenta D 42.20%
District Rating: Lean R David L. O’Neal R 57.72% X
Rep. O’Neal is the first person to represent the new District 66 in York County which picked up a seat due to population growth.

District 68
 Horry Heather Ammons Crawford I R  71.95%  I X
Ernest Carson D  27.97%
District 70
Richland Charla Henson-Simons G 3.47%
Jermaine Johnson D 76.44% I X
District Rating: Strong D Vincent E. Wilson R 19.96%
Johnson (first elected 2020) wins election in redrawn district that pitted two incumbents in Democratic Primary.
District 75
Richland Heather Bauer D 50.73%  X
District Rating: Lean D Kirkman Finlay III R 49.15% I
Finlay (first elected 2012) won by 257 votes in 2020. He appears at this writing to have lost by 217 in 2022.
District 77
Richland Kambrell Garvin D 70.92% I X
District Rating: Lean to Strong D Kizzie Smalls R 29.05%
Rep. Garvin re-elected to seat he first won in 2018.
District 79
Richland Melissa McFadden R 25.37%
District Rating: Strong D Ivory Thigpen D 74.53% I X
Rep. Thigpen re-elected to seat he first won in 2016.
District 80
Charleston Kathy Landing R 62.87% X
District Rating: Lean R Donna Brown Newton D 37.02%
Landing wins newly created district in growing Charleston County.
District 83
Aiken, Edgefield Bill Hixon R 75.96% I X
District Rating: Lean to Strong R Jerico McCoy D 23.92%
Rep. Hixon wins re-election to seat he first won in 2010.
District 85
Lexington John Davis L 23.82%
District Rating: Lean R Jay Kilmartin R 75.53% X
Kilmartin bested a crowded field in Republican Primary and wins this one easily as well. Rep. Chip Huggins retired from the seat he first won in a Special Election in 1999.
District 88
Lexington R.J. May R 70.08% I X
District Rating: Lean to Strong R Daniel J. Shrief D 29.81%
R.J. May, a leader in The Freedom Caucus, re-elected to seat he first won in 2020.
District 90
Bamberg, Orangeburg Justin Bamberg D 58.72% I X
District Rating: Lean D Sharon Carter R 41.21%
This was formerly a Swing district that had a 90-vote Bamberg margin in 2020. 
District 93
Calhoun, Lexington, Orangeburg Russell L. Ott D 60.76% I X
District Rating: Lean to Strong D Jim Ulmer R 39.12%
Rep. Ott re-elected to seat he first won in 2013 Special Election to succeed his father.
District 94
Charleston, Dorchester Ilene Davis D 36.59%
District Rating: Lean R Gil Gatch R 63.26% I X
Rep. Gatch re-elected to seat he first won in 2020.
District 95
Dorchester, Orangeburg Jeffrey Cila R 40.80%
District Rating: Lean to Strong D Gilda Cobb-Hunter D 59.12%  I X
The House’s most senior member is re-elected with a new district number. She first won in a 1992 Special Election.
District 97
Colleton, Dorchester ReZsaun Lewis D 31.84%
District Rating: Lean R Robby Robbins R 68.07% I X
Rep. Robbins won the Special Election in May for the seat formerly held by Rep. Mandy Kimmons (R) and is elected to a full term.
District 98
Dorchester Sydney Clinton D 42.07%
District Rating: Swing Christopher J. Murphy R 57.81% I X
House Judiciary Committee Chair is re-elected to the seat he first won in 2010.
District 102
Berkeley, Dorchester Ralph Elsey R 48.81%
District Rating: Lean D Joe H. Jefferson D 51.11% I X
Rep. Jefferson re-elected to the seat he first won in 2010.
District 106
Horry Val Guest R 72.72% X
District Rating: Lean to Strong R Ryan Thompson D 25.76%
Ryan Thompson A  1.50%
Guest wins the seat vacated by Congressman-Elect Russell Fry (who was first elected in 2015 Special Election).
District 109
Charleston, Dorchester Deon Tedder D 76.45% I X
District Rating: Lean to Strong D Rodney Travis L 22.80%
Rep. Tedder wins the rematch of 2020 also, the year he first won District 109.
District 110
Charleston Tom Hartnett R 54.10% X
District Rating: Swing Ellis Roberts D 45.87%
Hartnett, son of the former Congressman, takes over for Rep. Cogswell who retires from the seat he first won in 2016.
District 112
Charleston David Stanley Artushin D 40.67%
District Rating: Lean R Joe Bustos R 59.13% I X
Rep. Bustos re-elected to the seat he first won in 2020.
District 114
Charleston, Dorchester Michelle Brandt D 41.10%
District Rating: Lean R Gary Brewer R 58.87% X
Brewer is elected to the seat formerly held by Lin Bennett.
District 115
Charleston Carroll O’Neal R 46.15%
District Rating: Lean D Spencer Whetmore D 53.78% I X
Rep. Wetmore re-elected to the seat she first won in a 2020 Special Election.
District 116
Charleston, Colleton Matt Leber R 51.69%  X
District Rating: Lean D Chardale Murray D 48.24% I
This one got close at the end. Rep. Murray appears to have been defeated for the seat she first won in 2020.
District 117
Berkeley Krystle Matthews D 36.37% I
District Rating: Lean R Jordan Pace R 63.56%  X
Jordan Pace wins the rematch of 2020. Rep. Matthews was elected in 2018 and 2020.
District 119
Charleston Ken Fipps R 42.47%
District Rating: Lean D Leon Stavrinakis D 57.46% I X
Rep. Stavrinakis re-elected to the seat he first won in 2006.
District 121
Beaufort, Colleton Eric J. Erickson R 42.60%
District Rating: Lean to Strong D Michael F. Rivers Sr. D 57.35% I X
Rep. Rivers wins the rematch of 2020 also for the seat he first won in 2016.
District 122
Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper Bill Hager R 53.98% X
District Rating: Swing Shedron “Hook” Williams D 45.97% I
Rep. Williams appears to have lost the seat he first won in 2018.
District 124
Beaufort Shannon Erickson R 62.70% I X
District Rating: Lean R Barb Nash D 37.21%
Rep. Erickson wins the rematch of 2020 also for the seat she won in a Special Election (2007).

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Statewide Constitutional Amendment Results

Amendment 1: Increase General Reserve Fund from 5% to 7% of General Fund Revenues
Yes R 61.89% X
No D  38.11%
Amendment 2: Increase Capital Reserve Fund from 2% to 3% of General Fund Revenues
Yes R 62.46% X
No D  37.54%

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Source: SCvotes.org