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

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)
Peter McCoy
Tommy Pope

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. Mia McLeod
  3. Ronnie Sabb

Republican

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

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

Republican

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

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
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2010 Election information
State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2010 • State Senate elections • State House elections

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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