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Gilda Cobb-Hunter
2022 - Present
2026
2
Gilda Cobb-Hunter (Democratic Party) is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 95. She assumed office on November 14, 2022. Her current term ends on November 9, 2026.
Cobb-Hunter (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the South Carolina House of Representatives to represent District 95. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Gilda Cobb-Hunter was born in Gifford, Florida, and lives in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Cobb-Hunter earned a B.S. from Florida A&M University in 1973 and an M.A. from Florida State University in 1978. Her career experience includes working as a social work administrator. Cobb-Hunter has served as the president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.[1]
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
Cobb-Hunter was assigned to the following committees:
- Ways and Means Committee, 1st Vice Chair
2021-2022
Cobb-Hunter was assigned to the following committees:
- Ways and Means Committee, 1st vice chairman
2019-2020
Cobb-Hunter was assigned to the following committees:
- Ways and Means Committee, 1st vice chairman
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Cobb-Hunter served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Cobb-Hunter served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Hunter served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Hunter served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means |
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 House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 95
Incumbent Gilda Cobb-Hunter won election in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 95 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D) | 98.3 | 12,568 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.7 | 221 | ||
| Total votes: 12,789 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Gilda Cobb-Hunter advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 95.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cobb-Hunter in this election.
2022
See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 95
Incumbent Gilda Cobb-Hunter defeated Jeffrey Cila in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 95 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D) | 59.1 | 8,033 |
 | Jeffrey Cila (R) | 40.8 | 5,545 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 11 | ||
| Total votes: 13,589 | |||
| = 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. Incumbent Gilda Cobb-Hunter advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 95.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Jeffrey Cila advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 95.
2020
See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 66
Incumbent Gilda Cobb-Hunter defeated Jeffrey Cila in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 66 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D) | 70.0 | 11,795 |
| Jeffrey Cila (R) | 30.0 | 5,057 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 6 | ||
| Total votes: 16,858 | |||
| = 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. Incumbent Gilda Cobb-Hunter advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 66.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Jeffrey Cila advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 66.
2018
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 66
Incumbent Gilda Cobb-Hunter defeated Tom Connor in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 66 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D) | 71.5 | 8,800 |
 | Tom Connor (R) | 28.4 | 3,497 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 6 | ||
| Total votes: 12,303 | |||
| = 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
Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 66
Incumbent Gilda Cobb-Hunter advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 66 on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Gilda Cobb-Hunter |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 66
Tom Connor advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 66 on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Tom Connor |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
2016
Elections for the South Carolina House of Representatives 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 Gilda Cobb-Hunter ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 66 general election.[2][3]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 66 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Gilda Cobb-Hunter Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 12,626 | |
| Total Votes | 12,626 | |||
| Source: South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
Incumbent Gilda Cobb-Hunter ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 66 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 66 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Gilda Cobb-Hunter Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for all 124 seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2014. Incumbent Gilda Cobb-Hunter ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[6][7][8]
2012
Cobb-Hunter ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 12, as well as the general election on November 6.[9][10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gilda Cobb-Hunter Incumbent |
99.4% | 14,236 | |
| Other | Write-Ins | 0.6% | 81 | |
| Total Votes | 14,317 | |||
2010
Cobb-Hunter ran unopposed in the June 8 Democratic primary for District 66 of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Cobb-Hunter won, after running unopposed, in the general election on November 2.[11]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 66 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D)
|
8,823 | 99.05% | ||
| Write-In | 85 | 0.95% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Cobb-Hunter won re-election to the 66th District seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives, defeating Tim Hawkins (R).
Cobb-Hunter raised $85,163 for her campaign, while Hawkins raised $0.[12]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 66 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D)
|
10,986 | |||
| Tim Hawkins (R) | 3,363 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gilda Cobb-Hunter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Gilda Cobb-Hunter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Gilda Cobb-Hunter 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.
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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.[13] 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.[14] The legislature re-convened July 26.[15]
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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."[16]
2012
Gilda Cobb-Hunter received a score of 13% in the 2012 scorecard, ranking 87th out of all 124 South Carolina House of Representatives members.[17] Her score was followed by representatives Kristopher Crawford (13%), Laurie Funderburk (13%), and Jerry Govan Jr. (13%).[18]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
2016 Democratic National Convention
- Delegate to the 2016 DNC (click to expand)
- See also: Democratic National Convention, 2016
Gilda Cobb-Hunter Democratic National Convention, 2016 Status: Superdelegate State: South Carolina Supporting: Unknown Delegates to the DNC 2016 Calendar and delegate rules overview • Types of delegates • State election law and delegates • Superdelegates by state Cobb-Hunter was a superdelegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention from South Carolina.[19] Cobb-Hunter was one of six superdelegates from South Carolina. Superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention were not bound by the results of their state’s primary or caucus results to support a specific presidential candidate. Ballotpedia was not able to identify whether Cobb-Hunter supported Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders for the 2016 Democratic nomination.[20]
What is a superdelegate?
Superdelegates in 2016 were automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention, meaning that, unlike regular delegates, they were not elected to this position. Also unlike regular delegates, they were not required to pledge their support to any presidential candidate, and they were not bound by the results of their state's presidential primary election or caucus. In 2016, superdelegates included members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic members of Congress, Democratic governors, and distinguished party leaders, including former presidents and vice presidents. All superdelegates were free to support any presidential candidate of their choosing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.[21]
South Carolina primary results
Hillary Clinton won the South Carolina Democratic primary with more than 70 percent of the vote.[22] Clinton’s victory marked her second consecutive primary win. She won the Nevada Democratic caucuses on February 20. Bernie Sanders received roughly 25 percent of the vote. According to exit polls conducted by CNN, Clinton outperformed Sanders with several major demographics in South Carolina, including women, men, black voters, non-college graduates and college graduates, voters aged 45 and older, voters who identified as liberal, moderate and conservative and voters with incomes ranging from less than $30,000 per year to more than $100,000 per year.[23]South Carolina Democratic Primary, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Delegates Hillary Clinton 73.4% 272,379 39 Bernie Sanders 26% 96,498 14 Martin O'Malley 0.2% 713 0 Willie Wilson 0.4% 1,314 0 Totals 370,904 53 Source: South Carolina State Election Commission Delegate allocation
South Carolina had 59 delegates at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Of this total, 53 were pledged delegates. National party rules stipulated how Democratic delegates in all states were allocated. Pledged delegates were allocated to a candidate in proportion to the votes he or she received in a state's primary or caucus. A candidate was eligible to receive a share of the state's pledged delegates if he or she won at least 15 percent of the votes cast in the primary or caucus. There were three types of pledged Democratic delegates: congressional district delegates, at-large delegates, and party leaders and elected officials (PLEOs). Congressional district delegates were allocated proportionally based on the primary or caucus results in a given district. At-large and PLEO delegates were allocated proportionally based on statewide primary results.[24][25]
Six party leaders and elected officials served as unpledged delegates. These delegates were not required to adhere to the results of a state's primary or caucus.[24][26]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Hunter has a husband, Terry. She served on the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee in 2004.
Noteworthy events
Nonprofit earmark
In June 2013, Cobb-Hunter was involved in sponsoring a $200,000 earmark for a nonprofit organization called CASA Family Systems, of which Cobb-Hunter is an executive director, in South Carolina’s 2013-14 proposed state budget.[27] The earmark would constitute more than 25% of the organization’s average annual revenues over the past two fiscal years, if passed. Cobb-Hunter responded by email to The Nerve, which broke the story, and affirmed her sponsorship of the earmark but added, "I don’t see it as a conflict of interest and believe full disclosure of the funding puts it out there for all to see." Cobb-Hunter voted in favor of a budget amendment that contained the earmark, but she said that her June 5th vote for that measure "was in error" and that she "should’ve abstained."[27]
As reported by The Nerve, a project of the South Carolina Policy Council, Cobb-Hunter said that her abstaining from a March 2013 vote on the original version of the House budget was consistent with the rules, even though South Carolina state law permits legislators a vote on the whole budget even after prior recusals on individual budget sections, “which means that they, in effect, are approving appropriations for those agencies where conflicts of interest exist or potentially exist.”
No accusations of wrong-doing were leveled against Cobb-Hunter. Laws covering state ethics provide that no state lawmaker or public official is permitted to use their “official office, membership, or employment to obtain an economic interest for himself, a family member, an individual with whom he is associated, or a business with which he is associated."[27]
Governor Nikki Haley (R) vetoed this provision of the state budget, and at Cobb-Hunter's request, the legislature sustained the veto. Cobb-Hunter cited concerns about confusion surrounding the provision. Cobb-Hunter abstained from the vote.[27]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate South Carolina House of Representatives District 95 |
Officeholder South Carolina House of Representatives District 95 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ South Carolina Legislature, "Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter," accessed January 16, 2023
- ↑ 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
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Election Results," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2014 Election Information," accessed March 31, 2014
- ↑ AP.org, "South Carolina State Senate and State House Election Results," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2012 Candidates," accessed April 23, 2012
- ↑ www.enr-scvotes.org, "2010 General Election Results," accessed May 1, 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 April 11, 2014
- ↑ Palmetto Liberty Political Action Committee, "South Carolina Senate Score Card 2012," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Ballotpedia's list of superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention is based on our own research and lists provided by the Democratic National Committee to Vox.com in February 2016 and May 2016. If you think we made an error in identifying superdelegates, please send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.
- ↑ To find out which candidate a superdelegate supported, Ballotpedia sought out public statements from the superdelegate in other media outlets and on social media. If we were unable to find a public statement that clearly articulated which candidate the superdelegate supported at the national convention, we listed that superdelegate as "unknown." If you believe we made an error in identifying which candidate a superdelegate supported, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
- ↑ Congressional Research Service, "The Presidential Nominating Process and the National Party Conventions, 2016: Frequently Asked Questions," December 30, 2015
- ↑ [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/south-carolina-2016-democratic-primary-ledeall-219867 Politico, "Clinton rolls in South Carolina," February 27, 2016.
- ↑ CNN, "South Carolina Exit Polls," February 27, 2016
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Democratic National Committee, "2016 Democratic National Convention Delegate/Alternate Allocation," updated February 19, 2016
- ↑ The Green Papers, "2016 Democratic Convention," accessed May 7, 2021
- ↑ Democratic National Committee's Office of Party Affairs and Delegate Selection, "Unpledged Delegates -- By State," May 27, 2016
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 The Nerve, "Rep. Cobb-Hunter Sponsors $200,000 Earmark for Her Nonprofit," June 25, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jerry Govan Jr. (D) |
South Carolina House of Representatives District 95 2022-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
South Carolina House of Representatives District 66 1992-2022 |
Succeeded by David O'Neal (R) |
