George Campsen

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George Campsen
Republican Party
South Carolina State Senate District 43
Tenure
2004 - Present
Term ends
2028
Years in position
22
Prior offices:
South Carolina House of Representatives
Years in office: 1996 - 2002
Compensation
Base salary
$10,400/year
Per diem
$240.07/day
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 5, 2024
Education
Bachelor's
Furman University, 1981
Law
University of South Carolina, 1988
Graduate
University of South Carolina, 1989
Personal
Religion
Christian: Baptist
Profession
Attorney
Contact
Official website
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
Personal Facebook

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

2025-2026

Campsen was assigned to the following committees:

2023-2024

Campsen was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Campsen was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Campsen was assigned to the following committees:

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:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Campsen served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Campsen served on the following committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Campsen served on the following committees:

Noteworthy events

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]

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
✔
Image of George Campsen
George Campsen (R)
 
61.1
 
41,996
Image of Julie Cofer Hussey
Julie Cofer Hussey (D) Candidate Connection
 
38.8
 
26,697
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
51

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 68,744
Candidate Connection = 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
✔
Image of George Campsen
George Campsen (R)
 
56.2
 
37,938
Image of Richard Hricik
Richard Hricik (D) Candidate Connection
 
43.7
 
29,550
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
59

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 67,547
Candidate Connection = 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

See also: South Carolina State Senate elections, 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 Green check mark transparent.png 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 Green check mark transparent.png George Campsen Incumbent (unopposed)

2012

See also: South Carolina State Senate elections, 2012

Campsen ran unopposed in the Republican primary on June 12 and in the general election on November 6, 2012.[6][7][8]

South Carolina State Senate, District 43, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngGeorge 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
Green check mark transparent.png 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.

George Campsen campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024South Carolina State Senate District 43Won general$194,783 $237,331
2020South Carolina State Senate District 43Won general$305,886 N/A**
2016South Carolina State Senate, District 43Won $52,469 N/A**
2012South Carolina State Senate, District 43Won $38,874 N/A**
2008South Carolina State Senate, District 43Won $145,621 N/A**
2004South Carolina State Senate, District 43Won $359,409 N/A**
2000South Carolina State House, District 112Won $5,522 N/A**
1998South Carolina State House, District 112Won $9,342 N/A**
1996South Carolina State House, District 112Won $29,528 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in South Carolina

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 scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2025.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2024.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2023.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2022.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2016.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2015.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2014.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2013.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2012.

  • Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
  • Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
  • Palmetto Liberty — Legislators are scored by Palmetto Liberty on bills related to "limited government, the free market, and individual liberty and responsibility."

Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2011.

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

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External links

Candidate

South Carolina State Senate District 43
  • Website
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    		•

    Officeholder

    South Carolina State Senate District 43
  • Website
    		•

    Personal

  • Facebook
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ The Nerve, "Bills Target Legislature's Lopsided Power," January 04, 2011 (dead link)
    2. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Candidate listing for the 11/8/2016 statewide general election," accessed August 26, 2016
    3. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2016 Statewide General Election," accessed November 28, 2016
    4. ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "Candidate Tracking," accessed March 31, 2016
    5. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Unofficial primary election results," accessed June 14, 2016
    6. ↑ AP.org, "South Carolina State Senate and State House Election Results," accessed November 7, 2012
    7. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Official election results for 2012," accessed May 15, 2014
    8. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2012 Candidates," accessed April 26, 2012
    9. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Official election results for 2008," accessed May 15, 2014
    10. ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 campaign contributions," 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
    -


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