Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.

Jeffrey Zell

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Jeffrey Zell
Image of Jeffrey Zell

Republican Party

South Carolina State Senate District 36
Tenure

2024 - Present

Term ends

2028

Years in position

0

Predecessor
Prior offices
Sumter School District school board, District 8
Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Associate

Community College of the Air Force, 2013

Bachelor's

American Military University, 2024

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Air Force

Years of service

2002 - 2022

Personal
Birthplace
Bellefontaine, Ohio
Religion
Christian: Protestant
Profession
Full-time legislator
Contact

Official website

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Jeffrey Zell (Republican Party) is a member of the South Carolina State Senate, representing District 36. He assumed office on November 11, 2024. His current term ends on November 13, 2028.

Zell (Republican Party) ran for election to the South Carolina State Senate to represent District 36. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Zell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Jeffrey Zell was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 2002 to 2022. Zell earned an associate degree from the Community College of the Air Force in 2013 and a bachelor's degree from American Military University in 2024. His career experience includes working as a full-time legislator. Zell has been affiliated with Sumter School District.[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 36

Jeffrey Zell defeated incumbent Kevin Johnson in the general election for South Carolina State Senate District 36 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jeffrey Zell
Jeffrey Zell (R) Candidate Connection
 
50.6
 
25,609
Image of Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson (D)
 
49.3
 
24,943
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
61

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

Total votes: 50,613
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

Democratic primary for South Carolina State Senate District 36

Incumbent Kevin Johnson defeated Eleazer Carter in the Democratic primary for South Carolina State Senate District 36 on June 11, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson
 
77.5
 
5,824
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Eleazer Carter
 
22.5
 
1,689

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

Total votes: 7,513
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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Carolina State Senate District 36

Jeffrey Zell defeated Leon Winn in the Republican primary for South Carolina State Senate District 36 on June 11, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jeffrey Zell
Jeffrey Zell Candidate Connection
 
78.3
 
3,068
Image of Leon Winn
Leon Winn
 
21.7
 
850

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 3,918
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.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Zell in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Jeffrey Zell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Zell's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Mr. Jeffrey Zell was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, and despite growing up in poverty and in foster care, he pursued the American Dream. After graduating high school, he joined the Air Force and was trained as a Munitions Systems Technician. Throughout his 20-year career, he earned numerous awards and distinctions. Following his retirement, he immediately jumped into public service, running for and winning a seat on the School Board in Sumter County, SC. Jeff has deployed to multiple locations for Operations Inherent Resolve & Freedom’s Sentinel, and he holds an associate degree in Munitions Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from American Military University, graduating magna cum laude. Jeff has held various leadership positions in different organizations. He served as the Chairman of the Transportation Committee on the Sumter School Board, as well as a Big Brother in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters mentorship program. Additionally, he was the President of the Aviano Parents Advisory Group and served as the DoD School Liaison to Military Parents. He also mentored Shaw Air Force Base’s Company Grade Officers as the Shaw Air Force Base Top III committeeman; he was the Dolomite Chapter Air Force Association President at Aviano Air Base, Italy, & received numerous awards for his contributions. Finally, he recently served as Sumter American Legion Post 15 Committeeman and as the Americanism Chairman.
  • The Midlands are struggling with low-performing school districts. However, we can work together to address the underlying issues and bring positive change. I am committed to crafting laws that will empower our school boards to improve the quality of education and create a brighter future for our students.
  • Crime rates are rising in the Midlands, affecting all communities, particularly economically suppressed areas. We should provide funding to law enforcement agencies and crisis mental health interventionists/programs. Working together, we can reduce crime and improve the quality of life for everyone.
  • Some parts of South Carolina have been left behind. We need to ensure we have responsible economic growth that benefits all communities. South Carolina has the potential for growth and development, but we must ensure that every community benefits. It's time to focus on responsible economic growth that can uplift all regions and address the disparities that exist. Let's work towards a brighter future for everyone in South Carolina.
Education, National Defense, government accountability, economy, responsible and honest government, immigration, and healthy families.
Plato's Allegory of the Cave, O.G Mandino's The Greatest Salesman in the World, Glen Tate's 299 days, Thomas Sowell's Black Rednecks and White Liberals, Federalist Papers, the Second Treatise of Government by John Locke, and J.D Vance's Hillbilly Elegy
Good governance requires honesty and integrity. These values build trust, set a positive example, and prevent corruption. Leaders must prioritize them in all actions and decisions.
I'm driven, honest, tough, professional, principled, and disciplined. I served in the US Air Force with distinction and was known for my strong sense of discipline and integrity.
One of the core responsibilities of someone who holds an elected office is to work for the well-being of their constituents, rather than their own. This requires a strong work ethic, maturity, and determination. Elected officials have several important duties that they must fulfill to effectively represent the people they serve. These responsibilities include creating and passing laws that promote the common good, managing public funds and resources responsibly, ensuring that public services are delivered efficiently and effectively, and addressing the needs and concerns of their constituents. Additionally, elected officials must maintain high ethical standards and act in the best interests of the people they represent.
I hope people say something similar to 'he made a difference' at my funeral, that even in failure we tried mightily, because it's the only right thing to do.
I used to work as a "Carnie" on the fair circuit in central Ohio during the summer season. I started when I was just 12 years old and worked for 7 summers. I started by making fresh-squeezed lemonade, and by the end of my tenure, I was managing a multi-trailer fair food concession company.
299 Days" is a series of 10 books written by Glen Tate. The series depicts the life of Grant Matson, a middle-aged American father, and his family as they navigate through a partial national collapse. The books are great because readers can relate to each character and their successes and failures during difficult times. It taps into the more basic instincts of man.
Over the years, I've learned to extend grace to those who may not have the same knowledge or experience as I do on a matter. Not everyone is as far along in their quest for knowledge others are.
Respectful and professional, the governor, as well as the other two branches of the state legislature, should be a check on each other. As James Madison stated in Federalist #51, when speaking about the separation of powers distributed among government, each separately “ambition must be made to counteract ambition,” that one branch should “check and balance” the other.

The legislature makes the law; the governor executes the law.
Public education in certain areas of South Carolina is facing significant challenges. Many school districts are producing young graduates who lack the necessary skills to succeed in the world, leading to potential unemployment. This is a critical issue that requires immediate attention because it can negatively impact our children's future and the overall economy of the state.

Another problem we're facing is urban sprawl, which is having negative effects on some areas of the state. To ensure a sustainable future, it is crucial to prepare and protect our farmland and natural resources from decline.

Crime is a significant issue in both our cities and rural communities. There are small and medium-sized cities and towns in SC that have murder and violent crime rates that rival major US cities. We need to ensure that we have accessible education programs that provide pathways to success. Additionally, we need to equip our law enforcement agencies with the best tools, training, and equipment we can afford. Finally, we need to strengthen violent crime sentencing to help disincentivize recidivism.
Yes, it can be beneficial for understanding processes, but it's not as important as listening to and working on behalf of their constituents.
J. Calvin Coolidge
My only wish is to serve; the nature of the office matters not.
I would like to propose a new legislation that aims to enhance the rights and responsibilities of parents in the foster care and adoption systems. One crucial aspect of this legislation would be to ensure that the Department of Social Services provides all relevant information related to the mental health status, behavior, personality issues, and dangerous tendencies of a child to potential foster care and adoptive parents. This is to prevent violent and dangerous youths from causing harm to potential parents and their families.
Retired USAF Veteran, Robby Robinson

Hope Berry
Retired Public Ed Teacher, John Sellar
School Board Trustee, Victor Ney
School Board Trustee, Christina Rucker
School Board Trustee, Joe Trapp
State Representative Stewart Jones
School Board Trustee, Daniel Palumbo
Local Business Owner, Richard Harrington
30 Year public Educator, Ashley B. McDuffie
Retired USAF Veteran, Frank Morreale
School Board Trustee, Shery White
Rebecca Blackburn Hinee
Local Business Owner, Tracy A. Way, Jr.
Engaged citizen, Amy Hill
Retired USAF Veteran, Evan Ray
Retired USAF Veteran, Chris Patten

Local Business owners, Chris & Brittany Rooks
Policy, Agriculture, Military and Veterans Affairs, Judicial
In order to ensure that our government and its agents are working in the best interests of the people they represent, we must be able to examine their actions and decision-making processes. This requires transparency, which is essential for holding them accountable. If we discover instances of fraud, waste, or abuse, we must take immediate action to bring justice and prevent corruption from further taking place. Where public trust and dollars exist, so should processes of extreme scrutiny.
Ballot initiatives should be used sparingly and subjected to a high standard. Our constitution was designed to protect individual liberties from the will of the masses. Ballot initiatives bypass the checks and balances of competing branches of government, which were put in place to prevent the public sentiment from infringing on individual liberties. Therefore, the standard for a ballot initiative should be high and based on its potential for harm.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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.

Jeffrey Zell campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* South Carolina State Senate District 36Won general$52,269 $51,830
Grand total$52,269 $51,830
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and 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 South Carolina scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.













See also

2024 Elections

Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
What's on the ballot?
U.S. President
U.S. Congress
U.S. Congress special elections
State executives
State legislatures
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards
Election analysis hub

Government

Seal of South Carolina.png
Who represents me?
U.S. Congress
State executives
State legislators
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards

Newsletters

Ballotpedia RSS.jpg
The Daily Brew
The Weekly Brew
The Ballot Bulletin
Checks and Balances
Economy and Society
Hall Pass
Number of the Day
Robe & Gavel


External links

Candidate

South Carolina State Senate District 36
  • Website
  • Facebook
    		•

    Officeholder

    South Carolina State Senate District 36
  • Website
    		•

    Personal

  • LinkedIn
    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 6, 2024

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Kevin Johnson (D)     		South Carolina State Senate District 36
    2024-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Sumter School District school board, District 8
    -2024    		 Succeeded by
    -


    Current members of the South Carolina State Senate
    Leadership
    Senate President:Thomas Alexander
    Majority Leader:Shane Massey
    Minority Leader:Brad Hutto
    Senators
    District 1
    District 2
    Rex Rice (R)
    District 3
    District 4
    District 5
    District 6
    District 7
    District 8
    District 9
    District 10
    District 11
    District 12
    Vacant
    District 13
    District 14
    District 15
    District 16
    District 17
    District 18
    District 19
    District 20
    Ed Sutton (D)
    District 21
    District 22
    District 23
    District 24
    Tom Young (R)
    District 25
    District 26
    District 27
    District 28
    District 29
    District 30
    District 31
    District 32
    District 33
    District 34
    District 35
    District 36
    District 37
    District 38
    District 39
    District 40
    District 41
    District 42
    District 43
    District 44
    District 45
    District 46
    Tom Davis (R)
    Republican Party (33)
    Democratic Party (12)
    Vacancies (1)


    Flag of South Carolina
    v • e
    State of South Carolina
    Columbia (capital)
    Elections

    What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

    Government

    Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy


    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Jeffrey_Zell&oldid=10505845"