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South Carolina state legislative special elections, 2016
Two seats were vacated in the South Carolina State Legislature in 2016. Both seats were filled through special elections.
Vacancies filled
- State Senate District 4: The seat was vacant following William O'Dell's (R) death on January 7, 2016.
- State House District 100: The seat was vacant following Edward Southard's (R) resignation on April 27, 2016.
Breakdown of 2016 special elections
Across the country in 2016, special elections for state legislative positions were held for a variety of reasons:
- 23 were due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
- 11 were due to a retirement
- 11 were due to the incumbent accepting another job
- 12 were due to a death
- 4 were due to a conviction
- 3 were due to filling a remaining term
- 1 was due to an expulsion
The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:
- 37 Democratic seats
- 28 Republican seats
Partisan Change from Special Elections | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of Vacancy | After Special Election | |
Democratic Party | 37 | 39 | |
Republican Party | 28 | 24 | |
Independent | 0 | 2 | |
Total | 65 | 65 |
Note: The table above reflected information for elections that were held—not total vacant seats.
How vacancies are filled
If there is a vacancy in the South Carolina Legislature, the presiding officer of the chamber in which the vacancy happens must call for a special election. If candidates plan to seek the nomination through a political party primary or a political party convention, the filing period begins on the third Friday after the vacancy occurs. The qualifying deadline is eight days after the filing period opens.[1]
If a candidate plans to seek the nomination via petition, all signatures must be submitted to the appropriate filing officer no later than 60 days before the election. All signatures must be verified by the filing officer no later than 45 days before the election.[2]
A primary election must be held on the eleventh Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. If necessary, a primary runoff must be held on the thirteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. The special election is held on the twentieth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. If the twentieth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs is less than 60 days prior to the general election, the special election must be held on the same day as the general election.[2][3]
See sources: South Carolina Const. Art. III, § 25 and South Carolina Code Ann. § 7-13-190
Special elections
May 17, 2016
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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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6][7][8] Gambrell was unopposed in the special election.[9]
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August 30, 2016
☑ South Carolina House of Representatives District 100 | |
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A special election for the position of South Carolina House of Representatives District 100 was called for August 30. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 23.[10] The seat was vacant following Edward Southard's (R) resignation on April 27, 2016. He resigned amid a sexual harassment allegation.[11] Sylleste Davis (R) was the only candidate to file for the special election. Since Davis was the only candidate, the special election was canceled, and Davis was declared the winner of the special election on June 8, 2016.[10]
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See also
- State legislative special elections, 2016
- South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2014
- South Carolina State Senate elections, 2012
- South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2012
- South Carolina State Legislature
- South Carolina state legislative special elections: 2015, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ South Carolina State Legislature, "South Carolina Code," accessed February 17, 2021 (Statute 7-13-190 (A)-(B))
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 South Carolina State Legislature, "South Carolina Code," accessed February 17, 2021 (Statute 7-13-190 (B))
- ↑ South Carolina State Legislature, "South Carolina Constitution," accessed February 17, 2021 (Article 3, Section 25)
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "State Senate District 4 Special Election," accessed January 22, 2016
- ↑ ABC Columbia, "SC Senate remembers Senator O’Dell," accessed January 12, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "State Senate District 4 Republican Primary Runoff," accessed April 5, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "State Senate District 4 Republican Primary," accessed March 22, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "Candidate Listing for the 5/17/2016 State Senate District 4 Special Election," accessed February 2, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "State Senate District 4 Special Election," accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 South Carolina State Election Commission, "State House of Representatives District 100 Special Election," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ postandcourier.com, "Moncks Corner House lawmaker resigns amid sex harassment allegation," accessed April 27, 2016
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