Michael Gambrell

Michael Gambrell

Republican Party

South Carolina State Senate District 4

Tenure

2016 - Present

Term ends

2028

Years in position

9

Prior offices:

South Carolina House of Representatives District 7

Years in office: 2006 - 2016

Compensation

Base salary

$10,400/year

Per diem

$240.07/day

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Clemson University, 1980

Personal

Profession

Business owner

Contact

Official website

Campaign website

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Michael Gambrell (Republican Party) is a member of the South Carolina State Senate, representing District 4. He assumed office on May 24, 2016. His current term ends on November 13, 2028.

Gambrell (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the South Carolina State Senate to represent District 4. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Gambrell earned his B.S. from Clemson University in 1980. He started work as the owner of M&R Enterprises in 1983. He also worked as a market reporter for the South Carolina Livestock Market News, starting in 1999.

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Gambrell was assigned to the following committees:

• Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
• Banking and Insurance Committee
• Finance Committee
• Family and Veterans' Services Committee
• Medical Affairs Committee

2023-2024

Gambrell was assigned to the following committees:

• Banking and Insurance Committee
• Family and Veterans' Services Committee
• Finance Committee
• Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
• Medical Affairs Committee

2021-2022

Gambrell was assigned to the following committees:

• Banking and Insurance Committee
• Family and Veterans' Services Committee
• Finance Committee
• Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee
• Medical Affairs Committee

2019-2020

Gambrell was assigned to the following committees:

• Banking and Insurance Committee
• Senate Judiciary Committee
• Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee
• Medical Affairs Committee
• Family and Veterans' Services Committee

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

2015 legislative session

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

South Carolina committee assignments, 2015
• Ethics
• Labor, Commerce and Industry

2013-2014

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

South Carolina committee assignments, 2013
• Labor, Commerce and Industry

2011-2012

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

South Carolina committee assignments, 2011
• Labor, Commerce and Industry

2009-2010

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

South Carolina committee assignments, 2009
• 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 4

Incumbent Michael Gambrell won election in the general election for South Carolina State Senate District 4 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael Gambrell (R)	99.2	37,010
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	280

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 37,290
= 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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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Michael Gambrell advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina State Senate District 4.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gambrell in this election.

2020

See also: South Carolina State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for South Carolina State Senate District 4

Incumbent Michael Gambrell defeated Jose Villa in the general election for South Carolina State Senate District 4 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael Gambrell (R)	72.7	31,129
	Submit photo	Jose Villa (D)	27.2	11,651
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	33

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,813
= 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. Jose Villa advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina State Senate District 4.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Michael Gambrell advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina State Senate District 4.

2016

General election

See also: South Carolina State Senate elections, 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 Michael Gambrell ran unopposed in the South Carolina State Senate District 4 general election.

South Carolina State Senate, District 4 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Michael Gambrell Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	28,064
Total Votes				28,064
Source: South Carolina State Election Commission

Incumbent Michael Gambrell defeated Rockey Burgess in the South Carolina State Senate District 4 Republican primary.

South Carolina State Senate, District 4 Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Michael Gambrell Incumbent	64.95%	6,075
	Republican	Rockey Burgess	35.05%	3,279
Total Votes				9,354
Source: South Carolina State Election Commission

Special election

See also: South Carolina state legislative special elections, 2016

A special election for the position of South Carolina State Senate District 4 was called for May 17. A primary took place on March 22. A primary runoff took place on April 5. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 1.

The seat was vacant following William O'Dell's (R) death on January 7, 2016. He died at his home from an apparent heart condition.

Rockey Burgess, Willie Day, Michael Gambrell, Tripp Padgett and Mark Powell faced off in the Republican primary. Since no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters, Burgess and Gambrell, faced off in the primary runoff, which Gambrell won. Gambrell was unopposed in the special election.

South Carolina State Senate, District 4, Special Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Michael Gambrell	91.8%	1,246
	Write-in	Write-in	8.2%	112
Total Votes				1,358

South Carolina State Senate, District 4, Runoff Republican Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Michael Gambrell	57.6%	2,594
Rockey Burgess	42.4%	1,913
Total Votes		4,507

South Carolina State Senate, District 4 Republican Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Michael Gambrell (advanced to the runoff)	45.5%	2,150
Rockey Burgess (advanced to the runoff)	31.9%	1,505
Tripp Padgett	14.1%	667
Willie Day	6.2%	294
Mark Powell	2.3%	109
Total Votes		4,725

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 Michael Gambrell ran unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2012

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2012

Gambrell was unopposed in the Republican primary on June 12 and in the general election on November 6, 2012.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 7, General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Michael Gambrell Incumbent	99.3%	9,457
	Other	Write-Ins	0.7%	66
Total Votes				9,523

2010

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2010

Gambrell ran unopposed in the June 8 Republican primary for District 7 of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Gambrell won, after running unopposed, in the general election on November 2.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 7 (2010)
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Michael Gambrell (R)		6,216	99.58%
Write-In		26	0.42%

2008

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2008

On November 4, 2008, Gambrell won re-election to the 7th District seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives, defeating Richard Kelly (D).

Gambrell raised $40,090 for his campaign, while Kelly raised $0.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 7 (2008)
Candidates		Votes
Michael Gambrell (R)		8,232
Richard Kelly (D)		3,478

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Michael Gambrell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Michael Gambrell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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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.

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Michael Gambrell campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024	South Carolina State Senate District 4	Won general	$66,449	$113,347
2020	South Carolina State Senate District 4	Won general	$84,195	N/A**
2016	South Carolina State Senate, District 4	Won	$136,428	N/A**
2014	South Carolina State House, District 7	Won	$19,749	N/A**
2012	South Carolina State House, District 7	Won	$33,949	N/A**
2010	South Carolina State House, District 7	Won	$37,190	N/A**
2008	South Carolina State House, District 7	Won	$39,840	N/A**
2006	South Carolina State House, District 7	Won	$39,595	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.

• 2025
• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011

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."

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

Gambrell has a wife, Reene.

See also

2024 Elections

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External links

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Candidate

South Carolina State Senate District 4

Website

Officeholder

South Carolina State Senate District 4

Website

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	South Carolina State Senate District 4 2016-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	South Carolina House of Representatives District 7 2006-2016	Succeeded by -

[show]

Current members of the South Carolina State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Thomas Alexander

Majority Leader:Shane Massey

Minority Leader:Brad Hutto

Senators

District 1

Thomas Alexander (R)

District 2

Rex Rice (R)

District 3

Richard Cash (R)

District 4

Michael Gambrell (R)

District 5

Tom Corbin (R)

District 6

Jason Elliott (R)

District 7

Karl Allen (D)

District 8

Ross Turner (R)

District 9

Daniel Verdin (R)

District 10

Billy Garrett (R)

District 11

Josh Kimbrell (R)

District 12

Lee Bright (R)

District 13

Shane Martin (R)

District 14

Harvey Peeler (R)

District 15

Wes Climer (R)

District 16

Michael Johnson (R)

District 17

Everett Stubbs (R)

District 18

Ronnie Cromer (R)

District 19

Tameika Isaac Devine (D)

District 20

Ed Sutton (D)

District 21

Darrell Jackson (D)

District 22

Overture Walker (D)

District 23

Carlisle Kennedy (R)

District 24

Tom Young (R)

District 25

Shane Massey (R)

District 26

Russell Ott (D)

District 27

Allen Blackmon (R)

District 28

Greg Hembree (R)

District 29

J.D. Chaplin (R)

District 30

Kent Williams (D)

District 31

Mike Reichenbach (R)

District 32

Ronnie Sabb (D)

District 33

Luke Rankin (R)

District 34

Stephen Goldfinch (R)

District 35

Jeffrey Graham (D)

District 36

Jeffrey Zell (R)

District 37

Lawrence Grooms (R)

District 38

Sean Bennett (R)

District 39

Tom Fernandez (R)

District 40

Brad Hutto (D)

District 41

Matthew Leber (R)

District 42

Deon Tedder (D)

District 43

George Campsen (R)

District 44

Brian Adams (R)

District 45

Margie Matthews (D)

District 46

Tom Davis (R)

Republican Party (34)

Democratic Party (12)