The red wave may not have materialized nationally, but it certainly washed over South Carolina.
South Carolina’s Republican candidates for U.S. Congress and Senate won handily on Nov. 8. Republican leadership remains in place for six of South Carolina’s seven Congressional districts. Congressman James Clyburn (D-S.C. 6th District) easily won reelection, but has announced he is stepping down as Democratic Whip. He will become the Assistant Democratic Leader in the next session.
Receiving nearly 60% of votes, Governor McMaster scored the largest margin of victory for a Republican gubernatorial candidate since 1990.
In the S.C. House, five incumbent Democrats were defeated, as was only one Republican. Democrats hold 36 seats, while the Republican majority expanded by seven seats, to 88, giving them a supermajority, which enables Republicans to push through legislation. There’s also a lot of fresh blood coming to the State House, with 26 new House members out of a total 124.
No state senators were up for election this year. All 46 seats will be up for election in 2024.