Kent Williams (South Carolina Senator)
Kent Williams (Democratic Party) is a member of the South Carolina State Senate, representing District 30. He assumed office in 2004. His current term ends on November 13, 2028.
Williams (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the South Carolina State Senate to represent District 30. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Williams earned his A.S. from Florence Darlington Technical College in 1981. He went on to earn his B.S. from South Carolina State University in 1987. Williams worked at an independent federal savings and loan bank from 1985 to 1986. He is currently a deputy county administrator.
Williams served as chairman for the Marion County Board of Education from 1998 to 2004.
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Williams was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Banking and Insurance Committee
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee
- Finance Committee
- Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee
2023-2024
Williams was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Banking and Insurance Committee
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Finance Committee
- Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee
- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
- Senate Legislative Oversight Committee
2021-2022
Williams was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Banking and Insurance Committee
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Finance Committee
- Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee
- Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee
- Senate Legislative Oversight Committee
2019-2020
Williams was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Banking and Insurance Committee
- Finance Committee
- Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee
- Labor, Commerce, and Industry 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 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Finance |
| • Fish, Game, and Forestry |
| • Labor, Commerce, and Industry |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Williams served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Corrections and Penology |
| • Finance |
| • Fish, Game and Forestry |
| • Labor, Commerce and Industry |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Williams served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Corrections and Penology |
| • Fish, Game and Forestry |
| • Finance |
| • Labor, Commerce and Industry |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Williams served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Corrections and Penology |
| • Fish, Game and Forestry |
| • Judiciary |
| • Labor, Commerce and Industry |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Williams served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Corrections and Penology |
| • Fish, Game and Forestry |
| • Judiciary |
| • Labor, Commerce and Industry |
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 30
Incumbent Kent Williams defeated Rodney Berry in the general election for South Carolina State Senate District 30 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kent Williams (D) | 54.7 | 25,430 |
| Rodney Berry (R) | 45.2 | 21,024 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 54 | ||
| Total votes: 46,508 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kent Williams advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina State Senate District 30.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Rodney Berry advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina State Senate District 30.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Williams in this election.
2020
See also: South Carolina State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for South Carolina State Senate District 30
Incumbent Kent Williams won election in the general election for South Carolina State Senate District 30 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kent Williams (D) | 97.9 | 32,882 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.1 | 703 | ||
| Total votes: 33,585 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for South Carolina State Senate District 30
Incumbent Kent Williams defeated Patrick Richardson in the Democratic primary for South Carolina State Senate District 30 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kent Williams | 76.7 | 13,135 |
| Patrick Richardson | 23.3 | 3,986 | ||
| Total votes: 17,121 | |||
| = 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 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 Kent Williams ran unopposed in the South Carolina State Senate District 30 general election.[1][2]
| South Carolina State Senate, District 30 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Kent Williams Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 31,560 | |
| Total Votes | 31,560 | |||
| Source: South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
Incumbent Kent Williams defeated Patrick T. Richardson in the South Carolina State Senate District 30 Democratic primary.[3][4]
| South Carolina State Senate, District 30 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Kent Williams Incumbent |
79.52% | 13,041 | |
| Democratic | Patrick T. Richardson | 20.48% | 3,359 | |
| Total Votes | 16,400 | |||
| Source: South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
2012
Williams defeated Patrick T. Richardson in the Democratic primary on June 12, 2012. Williams was unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012.[5][6][7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kent Williams Incumbent |
99.3% | 33,156 | |
| Other | Write-Ins | 0.7% | 225 | |
| Total Votes | 33,381 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Kent Williams Incumbent |
80.8% | 8,694 |
| Patrick T Richardson | 19.2% | 2,068 |
| Total Votes | 10,762 | |
2008
Williams won re-election for District 30 of the South Carolina State Senate with 32,888 votes, defeating write-in candidates (158).[9]
He raised $156,643 for his campaign.[10]
| South Carolina State Senate, District 30 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Kent Williams (D)
|
32,888 | |||
| Write-ins | 158 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kent Williams did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Kent Williams 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 scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2025.
- Americans for Prosperity - South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2024.
- Americans for Prosperity - South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2023.
- Americans for Prosperity - South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Institute for Legislative Analysis — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2022.
- Americans for Prosperity - South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2021.
- Americans for Prosperity - South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2020.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2019.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2018.
- 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.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2017.
- 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.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2016.
- 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.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2015.
- 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.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2014.
- 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.
- Greenville Tea Party — Legislators are scored by the Greenville Tea Party on their votes on bills "related to jobs, spending, and freedom."
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2013.
- 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.
- Greenville Tea Party — Legislators are scored by the Greenville Tea Party on their votes on bills "related to jobs, spending, and freedom."
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
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.
- 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."
- South Carolina Business & Industry Political Education Committee — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business and industry issues.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce on their votes on bills "that directly impact the business climate and competitiveness of the state."
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate South Carolina State Senate District 30 |
Officeholder South Carolina State Senate District 30 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 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, "2012 Candidates," accessed April 26, 2012
- ↑ SC Votes, "Primary Results," June 12, 2012
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Official Primary Results," June 29, 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
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
South Carolina State Senate District 30 2004-Present |
Succeeded by - |
