Who in the Midlands is running for the SC House in 2024? June primaries are set.

Javon L. Harris
·4 min read

The candidate filing period for candidates seeking a seat in the South Carolina House is now closed.

Although all 124 House seats are up for grabs, it’s clear that Republicans will maintain a comfortable majority.

Primary elections for Democratic and Republican nominations are scheduled for June 11, with any necessary runoffs scheduled for June 25. The general election is slated for Nov. 5.

In the Midlands, eight races will involve a Republican primary, while Democrats will have two.

11 Republican and seven Democratic incumbents will sail through this election cycle uncontested.

Here’s a snapshot of contested and uncontested primary races, and contests that are already set up for the general election from the Midlands:

Contested primaries

▪ In District 70, Eve Carlin, Mama Miller and Robert Reese, all Democrats, will contend for a seat currently held by state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, D-Richland, who’s running uncontested in District 52.

▪ In District 72, Democrat Tate Few has raised a challenge against state Rep. Seth Rose, D-Richland.

▪ In District 75, Tracy Robins and former state Rep. Kirkman Finlay, both Republicans, will battle in the primary in a bid to unseat freshman state Rep. Heather Bauer, D-Richland, this fall.

▪ In District 85, incumbent Jay Kilmartin, R-Lexington, will face Republican Dean Widener.

▪ In District 96, state Rep. Ryan McCabe, R-Lexington, is facing a challenge by Republican Mike Sturkie.

▪ In District 26, two newcomers, David Martin and Elizabeth Enns will face off in the Republican primary to replace state Rep. Raye Felder, R-York, who has not filed for reelection.

▪ In District 39, state Rep. Cal Forrest, R-Saluda, is facing a challenge by Katie Hall, a Republican.

▪ District 40 features a battle between state Rep. Joe White, R-Newberry, and Vince Northcutt, a Republican.

▪ Jackie Terribile and Michele Branning, both Republicans, will fight to replace state Rep. David O’Neal, R-York, of District 66.

▪ Betsy Lamb, Charles Hartz and John Lewis, all Republicans, will battle in the primary to replace state Rep. Bart Blackwell, R-Aiken, who has not filed for reelection in District 81.

Challenges set for the general election

▪ In District 75, state Rep. Heather Bauer, D-Richland, will either go up against former state Rep. Kirkman Finlay or Tracy Robins, both Republicans, depending on primary results.

▪ State Rep. Leon Howard, D-Richland, is seeking another term as District 76’s representative. He’s facing a challenge by Gary Votour, of the Workers’ party.

▪ In District 79, Hamilton Grant, a Democrat, and Rebecca Madsen, a Republican, will duel to replace state Rep. Ivory Thigpen, D-Richland, who has filed to run in the Senate’s District 22 race.

▪ State Rep. Paula Calhoon, R-Lexingon, will run against Libertarian Robin Machajewski to retain her seat in District 87.

▪ In District 26, Matt Vilarderbo, a Democrat and Kiral Mace, of the Workers’ Party, will contend with either David Martin or Elizabeth Enns, both Republicans, depending on who emerges victorious in the Republican primary.

▪ In District 44, state Rep. Mike Neese, R-Lancaster, will face off with Democrat Katie Crosby.

▪ Democrat Jensen Jennings, will face off in the general election with either Republican Betsy Lamb, Charles Hartz or John Lewis, all Republicans, in District 81. Incumbent state Rep. Bart Blackwell, R-Aiken, is not seeking reelection.

▪ Matt Vilarderbo, a Democrat and Kiral Mace, of the Workers’ Party, will sail through the primary as both are uncontested within their respective parties in the District 26 race. Both candidates are seeking to replace state Rep. Raye Felder, R-York, who has not filed for reelection.

Incumbents facing no challengers this year

▪ In District 71, Nathan Ballentine, R-Richland.

▪ State Rep. Chris Hart, D-Richland, in District 73.

▪ In District 78, state Rep. Beth Bernstein, D-Richland.

▪ State Rep. Kambrell Garvin, D-Richland, representing District 77.

▪ In District 78, state Rep. Beth Bernstein, D-Richland.

▪ State Rep. Chris Wooten, R-Lexington, in District 69.

▪ In District 89, chairman of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, state Rep. Micah Caskey, R-Lexington.

▪ In District 43, state Rep. Randy Ligon, R-Chester.

▪ In District 45, state Rep. Brandon Newton, R-Lancaster.

▪ State Rep. Heath Sessions, R-York, in District 46.

▪ House Speaker Pro Tempore Tommy Pope, R-York, District 47.

▪ In District 48, freshman state Rep. Brandon Guffey, R-York.

▪ State Rep. John King, D-York, of District 49.

▪ In District 50, state Rep. State Rep. Will Wheeler, D-Lee.

▪ In District 83, chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee, Bill Hixon, R-Edgefield.

▪ In District 84, state Rep. Melissa Oremus, R-Aiken.

▪ State Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, District 86.

▪ State Rep. Lonnie Hosley, D-Barnwell, District 91.