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George Campsen
2004 - Present
2028
21
George Campsen (Republican Party) (also known as Chip) is a member of the South Carolina State Senate, representing District 43. He assumed office in 2004. His current term ends on November 13, 2028.
Campsen (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the South Carolina State Senate to represent District 43. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Campsen earned his B.S. from Furman University in 1981 and his J.D. and M.S. from the University of South Carolina in 1988 and 1989, respectively.
Campsen was a passenger vessel captain for Fort Sumter Tours, Inc. from 1978 to 1982. He then worked as a real estate broker for Batten Hudson & Tarrant from 1983 to 1986. He was a senior policy advisor for Governor Mark Sanford from 2002 to 2003. Campsen has been executive vice president of Fort Sumter Tours, Inc. since 1985. He has also worked as an attorney for Campsen & Campsen since 1989.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Campsen was assigned to the following committees:
- Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Senate Legislative Oversight Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
- Transportation Committee
2021-2022
Campsen was assigned to the following committees:
- Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee, Chairman
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Senate Legislative Oversight Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
- Transportation Committee
2019-2020
Campsen was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee, Chairman
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
- Transportation Committee
- Senate Legislative Oversight Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Fish, Game, and Forestry, Chair |
| • Invitations |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
| • Transportation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Campsen served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Fish, Game and Forestry, Chair |
| • Invitations |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Campsen served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Rules |
| • Transportation |
| • Fish, Game and Forestry, Chair |
| • Invitations |
| • Judiciary |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Campsen served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Corrections and Penology |
| • Fish, Game and Forestry |
| • Invitations |
| • Judiciary |
| • Transportation |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Campsen served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Corrections and Penology |
| • Fish, Game and Forestry |
| • Invitations |
| • Judiciary |
| • Transportation |
Issues
Balance of powers
Before the 2011 session began, three bills were filed in the South Carolina State Legislature that would have restructured the amount of power the legislature has compared to the state executive and judicial branches. The lawmakers who submitted the bills held that the scales of authority and oversight have been weighted against the executive and judicial branches in favor of the Legislature for decades, both constitutionally and statutorily.
For example, the state Budget and Control Board is both an agency and a board and it is a discordant hybrid of the executive and legislative branches that is unique to South Carolina. The board consists of three constitutional officers elected statewide, including the governor as chairman, and two of the most powerful legislators – the chairmen of the budget-writing Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees. In another example, the power to appoint hundreds of members to executive boards and commissions rests with the General Assembly.
"We need to give the governor the power to be governor," said Sen. Campsen.
Campsen was the chief sponsor of one of the three restructuring bills, S. 134.
"The small little cabal of senior legislators and those they influence, they don’t want to give up any power," said Sen. Mike Rose (R), who co-sponsored Campsen’s bill.
Bringing bipartisanship to the reform table, Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D) sponsored one of the other two bills, S. 261. Campsen and Rose both signed onto the Sheheen measure.[1]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: South Carolina State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for South Carolina State Senate District 43
Incumbent George Campsen defeated Julie Cofer Hussey in the general election for South Carolina State Senate District 43 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | George Campsen (R) | 61.1 | 41,996 |
 | Julie Cofer Hussey (D)  | 38.8 | 26,697 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 51 | ||
| Total votes: 68,744 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Julie Cofer Hussey advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina State Senate District 43.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent George Campsen advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina State Senate District 43.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Campsen in this election.
2020
See also: South Carolina State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for South Carolina State Senate District 43
Incumbent George Campsen defeated Richard Hricik in the general election for South Carolina State Senate District 43 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | George Campsen (R) | 56.2 | 37,938 |
 | Richard Hricik (D) | 43.7 | 29,550 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 59 | ||
| Total votes: 67,547 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Richard Hricik advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina State Senate District 43.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent George Campsen advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina State Senate District 43.
2016
Elections for the South Carolina State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The primary runoff election was held on June 28, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 30, 2016.
Incumbent George Campsen ran unopposed in the South Carolina State Senate District 43 general election.[2][3]
| South Carolina State Senate, District 43 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  George Campsen Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 39,056 | |
| Total Votes | 39,056 | |||
| Source: South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
Incumbent George Campsen ran unopposed in the South Carolina State Senate District 43 Republican primary.[4][5]
| South Carolina State Senate, District 43 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | George Campsen Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
Campsen ran unopposed in the Republican primary on June 12 and in the general election on November 6, 2012.[6][7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George Campsen Incumbent |
98.3% | 35,618 | |
| Other | Write-Ins | 1.7% | 609 | |
| Total Votes | 36,227 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Campsen won re-election for District 43 of the South Carolina State Senate with 25,725 votes, ahead of write-ins (332).[9]
He raised $145,621 for his campaign.[10]
| South Carolina State Senate, District 43 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| George Campsen (R)
|
25,725 | |||
| Write-ins | 332 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
George Campsen did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
George Campsen did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of South Carolina scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 9 to May 9.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 10 to May 11.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 11 to May 12.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 13.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 14 to June 25. The state Senate reconvened September to September 3. Both chambers reconvened September 15 to September 24.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 21.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 10.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 10 through May 11.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 12 through June 2.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 13 through June 4.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 14 through June 6.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 8 to June 20.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 11 through June 7.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 11 through June 2. On June 2, 2011, Governor Nikki Haley (R) attempted to call the legislature into an "emergency" special session to begin on June 7 to create the new South Carolina Department of Administration. A lawsuit was filed by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell (R), in which he contended that Haley's call for a special session was unconstitutional, and that it violated the state Constitution's requirement of separation of powers among the governor, legislature and courts.[11] On June 6, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled 3-2 against Governor Haley, stating that her order violated the Legislature's ability to set its calendar and agenda. The legislature met in a special redistricting session from June 14 - July 1.[12] The legislature re-convened July 26.[13]
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The Palmetto Liberty PAC Scorecard
The Palmetto Liberty Political Action Committee, a conservative, pro-limited government think tank in South Carolina, releases its scorecard for South Carolina representatives and senators once a year. The scorecard gives each legislator a score based on how he or she voted in the two-year legislative term prior to the election on specific issues that the Palametto Liberty PAC thinks are anti-limited government. "Most of the votes shown on the score card are votes that we lost. Now we can identify the Legislators that caused us to lose these votes. These Legislators are the ones who need to be replaced if we are to achieve the vision of having the most free state in the nation."[14]
2012
George Campsen received a score of 35% in the 2012 score card, ranking 12th out of all 46 South Carolina Senate members.[15] His score was followed by Senators Daniel Verdin (35%), John E. Courson (29%), and Chauncey K. Gregory (29%).[16]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Campsen and his wife, Lalla Lee, have two children.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate South Carolina State Senate District 43 |
Officeholder South Carolina State Senate District 43 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Nerve, "Bills Target Legislature's Lopsided Power," January 04, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Candidate listing for the 11/8/2016 statewide general election," accessed August 26, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2016 Statewide General Election," accessed November 28, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "Candidate Tracking," accessed March 31, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Unofficial primary election results," accessed June 14, 2016
- ↑ AP.org, "South Carolina State Senate and State House Election Results," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Official election results for 2012," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2012 Candidates," accessed April 26, 2012
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Official election results for 2008," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 campaign contributions," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ The State, "High court rules against Haley," June 6, 2011
- ↑ The Sun News, "S.C. House to have special session in June," May 6, 2011
- ↑ The Island Packet, "S.C. Senate OKs new congressional districted anchored in Beaufort County," June 29, 2011
- ↑ The Palmetto Liberty Political Action Committee, "Voting Records," accessed April 11, 2014
- ↑ Palmetto Liberty Political Action Committee, "South Carolina Senate Score Card 2012," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Palmetto Liberty Political Action Committee, "South Carolina Senate Score Card 2012," accessed May 15, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
South Carolina State Senate District 43 2004-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
South Carolina House of Representatives 1996-2002 |
Succeeded by - |
