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Leonidas Stavrinakis

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Leonidas Stavrinakis
Democratic Party
South Carolina House of Representatives District 119
Tenure
2006 - Present
Term ends
2026
Years in position
20
Compensation
Base salary
$10,400/year
Per diem
$240.07/day
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 5, 2024
Education
Bachelor's
College of Charleston, 1988
Law
University of South Carolina School of Law, 1992
Personal
Profession
Attorney
Contact
Official website
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
Campaign X
Personal Facebook
Personal Instagram
Personal YouTube
Personal LinkedIn

Leonidas Stavrinakis (Democratic Party) (also known as Leon) is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 119. He assumed office in 2006. His current term ends on November 9, 2026.

Stavrinakis (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the South Carolina House of Representatives to represent District 119. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Stavrinakis earned his B.A. from the College of Charleston in 1988. He went on to receive his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1992. Stavrinakis served as 9th Circuit Assistant Solicitor from 1993 to 1996. He then worked as a Prosecutor from 1993 to 2000. He has worked as an attorney for Stavrinakis Law Firm since 1996. Stavrinakis served on the Charleston County Council from 1999 to 2006. From 2005 to 2006, he served as Council Chairman.

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Stavrinakis was assigned to the following committees:

2023-2024

Stavrinakis was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Stavrinakis was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Stavrinakis 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
• Ethics
• Ways and Means

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Stavrinakis served on the following committees:

2013-2014

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

2011-2012

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

2009-2010

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

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 119

Incumbent Leonidas Stavrinakis defeated Brendan Magee in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Leonidas Stavrinakis
Leonidas Stavrinakis (D)
 
55.1
 
13,280
Image of Brendan Magee
Brendan Magee (R) Candidate Connection
 
44.7
 
10,775
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
28

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

Total votes: 24,083
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. Incumbent Leonidas Stavrinakis advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Brendan Magee advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Stavrinakis in this election.

2022

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119

Incumbent Leonidas Stavrinakis defeated Ken Fipps in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Leonidas Stavrinakis
Leonidas Stavrinakis (D)
 
57.5
 
10,299
Image of Ken Fipps
Ken Fipps (R) Candidate Connection
 
42.5
 
7,609
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
13

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

Total votes: 17,921
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. Incumbent Leonidas Stavrinakis advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Ken Fipps advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119.

2020

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119

Incumbent Leonidas Stavrinakis defeated Alex Thornton in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Leonidas Stavrinakis
Leonidas Stavrinakis (D)
 
69.5
 
16,842
Image of Alex Thornton
Alex Thornton (L)
 
29.8
 
7,225
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.6
 
156

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

Total votes: 24,223
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. Incumbent Leonidas Stavrinakis advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119.

2018

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119

Incumbent Leonidas Stavrinakis defeated Paul Sizemore in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Leonidas Stavrinakis
Leonidas Stavrinakis (D)
 
65.0
 
11,172
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Paul Sizemore (R)
 
35.0
 
6,011
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
11

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

Total votes: 17,194
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 House of Representatives District 119

Incumbent Leonidas Stavrinakis advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Image of Leonidas Stavrinakis
Leonidas Stavrinakis

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

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 House of Representatives District 119

Paul Sizemore advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 119 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Paul Sizemore

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

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.

2016

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 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 Leonidas Stavrinakis defeated Lee Edwards in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 119 general election.[1][2]

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 119 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Leonidas Stavrinakis Incumbent 61.20% 12,146
     Republican Lee Edwards 38.80% 7,699
Total Votes 19,845
Source: South Carolina State Election Commission


Incumbent Leonidas Stavrinakis ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 119 Democratic primary.[3][4]

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 119 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Leonidas Stavrinakis Incumbent (unopposed)


Lee Edwards ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 119 Republican primary.[5][6]

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 119 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Lee Edwards  (unopposed)

2015

Stavrinakis ran for election for mayor of Charleston. He and John Tecklenburg advanced to a runoff after the election on November 3. Tecklenburg defeated Stavrinakis in the runoff.[7] The outgoing mayor, Joseph P. Riley Jr., was retiring after serving 10 terms since 1975.[8]

2014

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 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 Leon Stavrinakis was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Chris Cannon defeated Ken Fipps in the Republican primary. Colin Ross ran as a Libertarian candidate. Sean Thornton (L) was defeated at convention. Stavrinakis defeated Cannon and Ross in the general election.[9][10][11]

South Carolina State House, District 119, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngLeon Stavrinakis Incumbent 60.5% 6,676
     Republican Chris Cannon 35.9% 3,961
     Libertarian Colin Ross 3.5% 389
Total Votes 11,026
South Carolina House of Representatives, District 119 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngChris Cannon 58.2% 1,119
Ken Fipps 41.8% 803
Total Votes 1,922

2012

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2012

Stavrinakis ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 12 and in the general election on November 6, 2012.[12][13]

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 119, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngLeonidas Stavrinakis Incumbent 98% 12,251
     Other Write-Ins 2% 251
Total Votes 12,502

2010

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2010

Stavrinakis ran unopposed in the June 8 Democratic primary for District 119 of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Stavrinakis defeated Lee Edwards (R) in the general election on November 2.[14]

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 119 (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Leonidas Stavrinakis (D) 6,693 54.81%
Lee Edwards (R) 5,510 45.12%
Write-In 8 0.07%

2008

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2008

On November 4, 2008, Stavrinakis won re-election to the 119th District seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives, defeating Chris Cannon (R).

Stavrinakis raised $137,686 for his campaign, while Cannon raised $6,139.[15]

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 119 (2008)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Leonidas Stavrinakis (D) 10,432
Chris Cannon (R) 7,251

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Leonidas Stavrinakis did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Leonidas Stavrinakis did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Leonidas Stavrinakis 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.

Leonidas Stavrinakis campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024South Carolina House of Representatives District 119Won general$63,018 $61,692
2022South Carolina House of Representatives District 119Won general$131,177 $133,522
2020South Carolina House of Representatives District 119Won general$20,299 N/A**
2018South Carolina House of Representatives District 119Won general$60,679 N/A**
2016South Carolina House of Representatives, District 119Won $104,169 N/A**
2014South Carolina State House, District 119Won $116,182 N/A**
2012South Carolina State House, District 119Won $41,149 N/A**
2010South Carolina State House, District 119Won $147,022 N/A**
2008South Carolina State House, District 119Won $133,703 N/A**
2006South Carolina State House, District 119Won $196,424 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.
Stavrinakis and his wife, Anne, have three children.

See also

2024 Elections

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External links

Candidate

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Candidate listing for the 11/8/2016 statewide general election," accessed August 26, 2016
    2. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2016 Statewide General Election," accessed November 28, 2016
    3. ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "Candidate Tracking," accessed March 31, 2016
    4. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Unofficial primary election results," accessed June 14, 2016
    5. ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "Candidate Tracking," accessed March 31, 2016
    6. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Unofficial primary election results," accessed June 14, 2016
    7. ↑ postandcourier.com, "John Tecklenburg defeats Leon Stavrinakis to become Charleston’s next mayor," November 17, 2015
    8. ↑ wltx.com, "Charleston voters electing their first new mayor in 40 years," November 2, 2015
    9. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Primary Election Results," accessed June 11, 2014
    10. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
    11. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2014 Election Information," accessed March 31, 2014
    12. ↑ AP.org, "South Carolina State Senate and State House Election Results," accessed November 7, 2012
    13. ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2012 Candidates," accessed April 25, 2012
    14. ↑ www.enr-scvotes.org, "2010 General Election Results," accessed May 1, 2014
    15. ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 campaign contributions," accessed May 15, 2014

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		South Carolina House of Representatives District 119
    2006-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -


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