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South Carolina 2010 legislative election results

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2010 Legislative Election Results
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State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2010 • State Senate elections • State House elections

South Carolina State House Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the South Carolina House of Representatives. For results in individual contests, see our South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2010. The following is a breakdown of the state house before and after the election:

South Carolina House of Representatives
Party As of November 1, 2010 After the 2010 Election
     Democratic Party 51 48
     Republican Party 73 75
     Vacancy - 1
Total 124 124

State House Overview:

  • No Republican incumbents lost in the general election, while 3 incumbent Democratic incumbent lost.
  • There will be 20 new representatives sworn-in. Of those 28, 3 are Democrats and 17 are Republicans
  • Of the 124 seats up for election, 48 were won by Democrats and 75 by Republicans.
  • 88 candidates were unopposed, 37 Democrats and 51 Republicans.
  • 16 candidates ran as an independent or third party candidate in the general election.

Incumbency Analysis

Alan Clemmons was first elected to the Rhode Island State Senate in 2002

Of the 4,958 state house seats up for election, incumbents ran in the general election for 4,091 (79.5%) of them. Of these 4,091 incumbents, 413 lost their re-election bids, 403 Democrats and 10 Republicans. In South Carolina, 104 (86.7%) incumbents ran for re-election. Of these 104, 12 incumbent representatives were defeated. All 12 incumbents were Democrats.

B.R. Skelton was first elected to the Rhode Island State Senate in 2002

Incumbents who ran on November 2

Bakari Sellers, first elected to the Rhode Island State Senate in 2008

The following is a list of all of the incumbents who ran on the November 2 general election ballot:

  1. Mark Willis
  2. Tommy Stringer
  3. Dwight Loftis
  4. Wendy Nanney
  5. Bruce Bannister
  6. Garry Smith (South Carolina Representative)
  7. Eric Bedingfield
  8. Derham Cole Jr.
  9. Mike Forrester
  10. Merita Ann Allison
  11. Steve Parker
  12. Marion Frye
  13. Francis Delleney Jr.
  14. Deborah Long
  15. Gary Simrill
  16. Ralph Norman
  17. Liston Barfield
  18. Phillip Lowe (South Carolina)
  19. Kristopher Crawford
  20. James Lucas
  21. G. Murrell Smith Jr.
  22. Thad Viers
  23. Nathan Ballentine
  24. James Harrison
  25. Joan Brady
  26. Tom Young (South Carolina)
  27. James Smith (South Carolina)
  28. Chip Huggins
  29. McLain Toole
  30. Kenneth Bingham
  31. Joseph Daning
  32. Jenny Horne
  33. Lawrence Kit Spires
  34. C. David Umphlett, Jr.
  35. Tracy Edge
  36. George Hearn
  37. Nelson Hardwick
  38. Alan Clemmons
  39. Harry Limehouse
  40. Mike Sottile
  41. Bobby Harrell Jr.
  42. Bill Herbkersman
  43. Shannon Erickson
  44. Bill Whitmire
  45. Bill Sandifer III
  46. B.R. Skelton
  47. Davey Hiott
  48. Phillip Owens
  49. Brian White (South Carolina)
  50. Michael Gambrell
  51. Daniel Cooper (South Carolina)
  52. Lewis Pinson
  53. Michael Pitts
  54. Paul Agnew
  55. Chandra Dillard
  56. Karl Allen
  57. Harold Mitchell Jr.
  58. Walton McLeod
  59. Boyd Brown
  60. Michael Anthony
  61. James Neal (South Carolina)
  62. John King (South Carolina)
  63. Grady Brown
  64. J. David Weeks
  65. Laurie Funderburk
  66. Ted Vick
  67. Jackie Hayes
  68. Denny Neilson
  69. James Battle, Jr.
  70. Terry Alexander
  71. Lester Branham, Jr.
  72. Robert Williams (South Carolina Representative)
  73. Cathy Harvin
  74. Gilda Cobb-Hunter
  75. Joseph Neal
  76. James Smith Jr.
  77. Christopher Hart
  78. James Rutherford
  79. Leon Howard
  80. Joseph McEachern
  81. Jimmy Bales
  82. William Clyburn Sr.
  83. Bakari Sellers
  84. Lonnie Hosey
  85. Harry Ott, Jr.
  86. Jerry Govan Jr.
  87. Patsy Knight
  88. Joseph Jefferson Jr.
  89. Carl Anderson (South Carolina)
  90. David Mack
  91. Wendell Gilliard
  92. Jackson Whipper
  93. Robert Brown (South Carolina)
  94. Leonidas Stavrinakis
  95. Kenneth Hodges
  96. Curtis Brantley
  97. Herbert Kirsh
  98. Vida Miller
  99. Anne Peterson Hutto
  100. Steve Moss (South Carolina)
  101. James Merrill
  102. J. Anne Parks
  103. Dennis Moss (South Carolina)
  104. Dan Hamilton
  105. William Bowers
  106. Don Bowen

Incumbents defeated

Herbert Kirsh, first elected to the state senate in 1978, was defeated in 2010.

The following is a list of incumbents defeated on November 2:

CandidatePartyDistrict
Herbert Kirsh
Vida Miller
Anne Peterson Hutto

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following is a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent on November 2:

CandidatePartyDistrict
Kevin Ryan (South Carolina House of Representatives)
Tommy Pope
Peter McCoy

New Representatives and General Election Winners

1,345 new representatives were elected across the country. This includes challengers who defeated incumbents as well as candidates who won open seats. Of these 1,345, 988 were Republicans and 357 were Democrats. In South Carolina, 20 new representatives will be sworn-in. Of those 20, 3 are Democrats and 17 are Republicans. In total, South Carolina elected 124 representatives, 51 Republicans and 37 Democrats.

Newly elected representatives

The following are the newly-elected members of the South Carolina House of Representatives:

Democratic

  1. Elizabeth Munnerlyn
  2. Ronnie Sabb

Republican

  1. Anne Thayer
  2. David Tribble Jr
  3. Tom Corbin (South Carolina)
  4. Eric Bikas
  5. Eddie Tallon
  6. Bill Chumley
  7. Doug Brannon
  8. Bill Hixon
  9. Todd Atwater
  10. Chris Murphy (South Carolina)
  11. Kevin Ryan (South Carolina House of Representatives)
  12. Bill Crosby
  13. Andy Patrick
  14. Tommy Pope
  15. Peter McCoy
  16. Bill Taylor (South Carolina)
  17. Rick Quinn

Candidates who won election

The following is a list of all candidates elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives:

Democratic

Boyd Brown was re-elected to the Rhode Island State Senate in 2008
  1. Paul Agnew
  2. Chandra Dillard
  3. Karl Allen
  4. Harold Mitchell Jr.
  5. Walton McLeod
  6. Boyd Brown
  7. Michael Anthony
  8. James Neal (South Carolina)
  9. John King (South Carolina)
  10. Grady Brown
  11. J. David Weeks
  12. Laurie Funderburk
  13. Ted Vick
  14. Jackie Hayes
  15. Denny Neilson
  16. James Battle, Jr.
  17. Terry Alexander
  18. Lester Branham, Jr.
  19. Robert Williams (South Carolina Representative)
  20. Cathy Harvin
  21. Gilda Cobb-Hunter
  22. Joseph Neal
  23. James Smith Jr.
  24. Christopher Hart
  25. James Rutherford
  26. Leon Howard
  27. Joseph McEachern
  28. Jimmy Bales
  29. William Clyburn Sr.
  30. Bakari Sellers
  31. Lonnie Hosey
  32. Harry Ott, Jr.
  33. Jerry Govan Jr.
  34. Patsy Knight
  35. Joseph Jefferson Jr.
  36. Carl Anderson (South Carolina)
  37. David Mack
  38. Wendell Gilliard
  39. Jackson Whipper
  40. Robert Brown (South Carolina)
  41. Leonidas Stavrinakis
  42. Kenneth Hodges
  43. Curtis Brantley
  44. Elizabeth Munnerlyn
  45. Ronnie Sabb
  46. J. Anne Parks
  47. William Bowers

Republican

Bill Herbkersman was re-elected to the Rhode Island State Senate in 2002
  1. Mark Willis
  2. Tommy Stringer
  3. Dwight Loftis
  4. Wendy Nanney
  5. Bruce Bannister
  6. Garry Smith (South Carolina Representative)
  7. Eric Bedingfield
  8. Derham Cole Jr.
  9. Mike Forrester
  10. Merita Ann Allison
  11. Steve Parker
  12. Marion Frye
  13. Francis Delleney Jr.
  14. Deborah Long
  15. Gary Simrill
  16. Ralph Norman
  17. Liston Barfield
  18. Phillip Lowe (South Carolina)
  19. Kristopher Crawford
  20. James Lucas
  21. G. Murrell Smith Jr.
  22. Thad Viers
  23. Nathan Ballentine
  24. James Harrison
  25. Joan Brady
  26. Tom Young (South Carolina)
  27. James Smith (South Carolina)
  28. Chip Huggins
  29. McLain Toole
  30. Kenneth Bingham
  31. Joseph Daning
  32. Jenny Horne
  33. Lawrence Kit Spires
  34. C. David Umphlett, Jr.
  35. Tracy Edge
  36. George Hearn
  37. Nelson Hardwick
  38. Alan Clemmons
  39. Harry Limehouse
  40. Mike Sottile
  41. Bobby Harrell Jr.
  42. Bill Herbkersman
  43. Shannon Erickson
  44. Bill Whitmire
  45. Bill Sandifer III
  46. B.R. Skelton
  47. Davey Hiott
  48. Phillip Owens
  49. Brian White (South Carolina)
  50. Michael Gambrell
  51. Daniel Cooper (South Carolina)
  52. Lewis Pinson
  53. Michael Pitts
  54. Denny Neilson
  55. Anne Thayer
  56. David Tribble Jr
  57. Tom Corbin (South Carolina)
  58. Eric Bikas
  59. Eddie Tallon
  60. Bill Chumley
  61. Doug Brannon
  62. Bill Hixon
  63. Todd Atwater
  64. Chris Murphy (South Carolina)
  65. Kevin Ryan (South Carolina House of Representatives)
  66. Bill Crosby
  67. Andy Patrick
  68. Tommy Pope
  69. Peter McCoy
  70. Steve Moss (South Carolina)
  71. James Merrill
  72. Bill Taylor (South Carolina)
  73. Dennis Moss (South Carolina)
  74. Dan Hamilton
  75. Don Bowen
  76. Rick Quinn

Competitiveness

Across the nation, 4,958 state house seats were up for election in 2010. In 1,680 (33.9%) of these state house contests, there was a major party candidate with no major party opposition. In South Carolina, 88 (71.0%) candidates were unopposed, 37 Democrats and 51 Republicans.

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates did not face major party competition:

Democratic

William Clyburn Sr. was unopposed in 2010
  1. Patsy Knight
  2. Bakari Sellers
  3. Denny Neilson
  4. Curtis Brantley
  5. Boyd Brown
  6. Carl Anderson (South Carolina)
  7. Cathy Harvin
  8. Christopher Hart
  9. David Mack
  10. Elizabeth Munnerlyn
  11. Ted Vick
  12. Gilda Cobb-Hunter
  13. Grady Brown
  14. Harold Mitchell Jr.
  15. J. David Weeks
  16. Jackson Whipper
  17. Jackie Hayes
  18. James Battle, Jr.
  19. James Smith Jr.
  20. James Rutherford
  21. Jerry Govan Jr.
  22. Jimmy Bales
  23. John King (South Carolina)
  24. Joseph Neal
  25. Joseph McEachern
  26. Karl Allen
  27. Kenneth Hodges
  28. Laurie Funderburk
  29. Lester Branham, Jr.
  30. Leon Howard
  31. Lonnie Hosey
  32. Paul Agnew
  33. Robert Williams (South Carolina Representative)
  34. Terry Alexander
  35. Walton McLeod
  36. Wendell Gilliard
  37. William Clyburn Sr.

Republican

Tommy Stringer was unopposed in 2010
  1. C. David Umphlett, Jr.
  2. Alan Clemmons
  3. Andy Patrick
  4. Anne Thayer
  5. B.R. Skelton
  6. Bill Crosby
  7. Bill Herbkersman
  8. Bill Hixon
  9. Bill Whitmire
  10. Bill Sandifer III
  11. Bobby Harrell Jr.
  12. Brian White (South Carolina)
  13. George Hearn
  14. Daniel Cooper (South Carolina)
  15. Davey Hiott
  16. David Tribble Jr
  17. Derham Cole Jr.
  18. Dwight Loftis
  19. Eddie Tallon
  20. Francis Delleney Jr.
  21. Garry Smith (South Carolina Representative)
  22. G. Murrell Smith Jr.
  23. Harry Limehouse
  24. James Lucas
  25. James Harrison
  26. James Smith (South Carolina)
  27. Jenny Horne
  28. Joseph Daning
  29. Kenneth Bingham
  30. Lawrence Kit Spires
  31. Marion Frye
  32. Mark Willis
  33. Merita Ann Allison
  34. Michael Pitts
  35. McLain Toole
  36. Michael Gambrell
  37. Mike Forrester
  38. Mike Sottile
  39. Nathan Ballentine
  40. Nelson Hardwick
  41. Phillip Owens
  42. Ralph Norman
  43. Shannon Erickson
  44. Thad Viers
  45. Denny Neilson
  46. Tom Young (South Carolina)
  47. Tommy Stringer
  48. Steve Moss (South Carolina)
  49. James Merrill
  50. Bill Taylor (South Carolina)
  51. Dennis Moss (South Carolina)
  52. Dan Hamilton

Ballot Access

In South Carolina, 16 (9.1%) of the 175 house candidates ran as independent or third party candidates. None won election in the November 2 general election.

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who ran in 2010:

National Partisan Trends

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2010 Legislative Election Results
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Incumbents who were defeated in the general election

Across the nation, only 15 Republican incumbents were defeated while 492 Democratic incumbents were defeated. In total, 507 (10.4%) of the 4,872 incumbents running in the general election were defeated. The following is a breakdown of incumbent defeats in the 2010 general election:

The following is the breakdown of incumbents who lost.

Incumbents defeated in 2010 legislative elections
Party Senate House Total
Democratic 89 403 492
Republican 5 10 15
TOTALS 94 413 507

Total new legislators elected

In total, 1,733 (28.3%) new legislators were elected in 2010. Of these 1,733, 1,266 (73.1%) are Republicans and 467 (26.9%) are Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of new legislators.

New Legislators after the 2010 legislative elections
Party Senate House Total
Democratic 110 357 467
Republican 278 988 1,266
TOTALS 388 1,345 1,733

Winners of Open Seats

Open seats contests made up 1,178 (19.2%) of the 6,125 seats on November 2. Of these 1,178 open seats, Republicans won 729 (61.9%) while Democrats won 449 (38.1%). Going into the election, the number of open seats formerly held by each party was quite similar. Estimates prior to the election suggest that approximately 52% of the open seats were previously held by Republicans and 48% were held by Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of open seat winners.

Open Seat Winners in 2010 legislative elections
Party Senate House Total
Democratic 108 341 449
Republican 191 538 729
TOTALS 299 879 1,178

Impact on legislative majorities

See also: Partisan balance of state legislatures

Heading into the November 2 elections, the Democratic Party held a commanding lead in state houses in the 88 legislative chambers that held elections in 2010. 52 of the 88 chambers, or nearly 60% of them, had a Democratic majority, while only 33 of them had a Republican majority. (Two chambers had an exactly equal number of Democrats and Republicans and one is officially nonpartisan.) The following is a partisan breakdown of state legislatures prior to the November 2 election:

Partisan breakdown before the November 2010 Election
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Purple.png Grey.png
State senates 23 18 1 1
State houses 29 15 1 -
Totals: 52 33 2 1

As a result of the election, Republicans picked up 20 legislative chambers while Democrats lost 20. Republicans won 53 total chambers on November 2, while Democrats won only 32. The following is a partisan breakdown of state legislatures after the November 2 election:

Partisan breakdown after the November 2010 Election
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Purple.png Grey.png
State senates 16 25 1 1
State houses 16 28 1 0
Totals: 32 53 2 1

Another way to examine the data is to gauge how many chambers had gains for the Democratic Party versus the Republican Party. Using this variable, the wide-sweeping Republican victory is further amplified. Democrats bolstered their majorities in only 7 of 88 (7.96%) state chambers. These legislatures are as follows:

State legislative chambers where Democrats gained seats on November 2
State Chamber Number of seats gained by Democrats
California Assembly + 2
Delaware House + 2
Hawaii Senate + 1
Maryland Senate + 2
Massachusetts Senate + 1
Missouri Senate + 1
West Virginia Senate + 1

In 7 chambers, the GOP kept their current number of seats. In one chamber, the California State Assembly, both major parties gained seats by filling 2 vacancies and defeating an incumbent independent. Overall, the Republican Party picked up legislative seats in 75 (85.2%) of the 88 legislative chambers that held elections on November 2.

Impact on State Politics

Along with the GOP capture of the U.S. House of Representatives, state Republicans gained trifectas (control of the governorship, house, and senate) in 12 states. The following is a breakdown of trifectas across the nation, before and after the 2010 election:

Trifectas before and after the 2010 Election
Party Before election U.S. House seats After election U.S. House seats Gain/loss states Gain/loss congressional seats
Democratic
16 131 11 115 -5 -16
Republican
8 66 20 198 +12 +132

Before the election, 131 U.S House seats were in states with Democratic trifectas, while 66 districts were in states with Republican trifectas. After the election, Republicans trifectas control redistricting for 198 U.S. House seats while Democrats control only 115. Additionally, California, the strongest Democratic trifecta with 53 U.S. House representatives, passed propositions that take redistricting power away from state government.

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