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John Matthews (South Carolina)
John Matthews (Democratic Party) was a member of the South Carolina State Senate, representing District 39. Matthews assumed office in 1984. Matthews left office on November 8, 2020.
Matthews (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the South Carolina State Senate to represent District 39. Matthews won in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Matthews served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1975 to 1984.
Biography
Matthews attended South Carolina State College. He went on to attend Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical from 1970 to 1971. In 1972, he attended Lincoln Electrical Institute.
Matthews used to be a farmer. Matthews is a retired Elementary School Principal. He worked as a businessman.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Matthews was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Banking and Insurance Committee
- Education Committee
- Finance Committee
- Senate Ethics Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Education |
| • Ethics |
| • Finance |
| • Fish, Game, and Forestry |
| • Interstate Cooperation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Matthews served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Education |
| • Ethics |
| • Finance |
| • Interstate Cooperation |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Matthews served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Fish, Game and Forestry |
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Judiciary |
| • Labor, Commerce and Industry |
| • Transportation |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Matthews served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Education |
| • Finance |
| • Rules |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Matthews served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Education |
| • Finance |
| • Rules |
Issues
I-95 Corridor Authority
Matthews sponsored a bill, S. 211, which aimed to create the "I-95 Corridor Authority." The authority would have been an effort to bring new businesses to poor counties along Interstate 95 and improve coordination between counties in the corridor, which often compete for resources.
The bill overwhelmingly passed the House in May, 2011, and was returned to the Senate.[1] The Senate also passed the House version, but Governor Nikki Haley (R) vetoed the bill, saying that it would only grow bureaucracy and duplicate efforts already undertaken by existing organizations. Matthews expressed his disappointment at the governor's veto, saying that it was "a serious mistake" and that "comes as a surprise to me because she indicated she favored it. ...There was no indication from her staff that she was going to do this. I would have appreciated if she had a problem, she would have told me." The Senate overrode the governor's veto, but the House did not override the governor's veto.[2][3] Discussions over the authority continued throughout the year, and conservative groups generally opposed the legislation.[4]
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
2020
John Matthews did not file to run for re-election.
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 John Matthews ran unopposed in the South Carolina State Senate District 39 general election.[5][6]
| South Carolina State Senate, District 39 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  John Matthews Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 30,716 | |
| Total Votes | 30,716 | |||
| Source: South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
Incumbent John Matthews ran unopposed in the South Carolina State Senate District 39 Democratic primary.[7][8]
| South Carolina State Senate, District 39 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | John Matthews Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
Matthews ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 12 and in the general election on November 6, 2012.[9][10][11]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Matthews Incumbent |
99.1% | 35,945 | |
| Other | Write-Ins | 0.9% | 315 | |
| Total Votes | 36,260 | |||
2008
Matthews won re-election for District 39 of the South Carolina State Senate with 30,511 votes, ahead of write-ins (142).[12]
He raised $46,229 for his campaign.[13]
| South Carolina State Senate, District 39 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| John Matthews (D)
|
30,511 | |||
| Write-ins | 142 | |||
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.
2020
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.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- Legislators are scored on business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
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.[14] 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.[15] The legislature re-convened July 26.[16]
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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."[17]
2012
John Matthews received a score of 6% in the 2012 score card, ranking 36th out of all 46 South Carolina Senate members.[18] His score was followed by Senators Glenn McConnell (*), Floyd Nicholson (6%), and John L. Scott, Jr. (6%).[19]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Matthews and his wife, Geraldine, have five children.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "John + Matthews + South + Carolina + Senate"
See also
- South Carolina State Legislature
- South Carolina State Senate
- South Carolina State Senate Committees
- South Carolina Joint Committees
- South Carolina state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1996
Footnotes
- ↑ The Nerve, "Lawmakers Mulling Rural Development Proposals," by Rick Brundrett, May 25, 2011
- ↑ The Times and Democrat, "Governor vetoes I-95 Corridor Authority Act," June 8, 2011
- ↑ South Carolina General Assembly, "R57, S211," January 10, 2012
- ↑ Summerville Patch, "I-95 Corridor Authority Stirs Controversy," December 14, 2011
- ↑ 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 39 1984–2020 |
Succeeded by Vernon Stephens (D) |
