2020 Statewide/Local Races

2020 Statewide/Local Races

SC Equality PAC announces 1st round of endorsements for 2020.

LGBT South Carolinians will make their voices heard loud and clear on November 3rd.

The stakes in this election could not be higher for LGBT South Carolinians and SC Equality PAC expects that the pro-equality vote in South Carolina will be larger, stronger, and more energized than at any time in the history of movement for LGBT equality.

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SC Equality PAC announces endorsements for 2020.

LGBT South Carolinians will make their voices heard loud and clear on November 3rd.

The stakes in this election could not be higher for LGBT South Carolinians and SC Equality PAC expects that the pro-equality vote in South Carolina will be larger, stronger, and more energized than at any time in the history of movement for LGBT equality.

Sign Up.  Receive Email Updates!

Get notified about important news, action alerts and upcoming events.

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YOUR VOTE MATTERS

Your Vote is Your Voice

SC Equality’s 2020 Voter’s Guide includes candidates for federal, state and local elections.  Our endorsements are made by SC Equality Coalition (501(c)4) for presidential and congressional races and by SC Equality PAC (Political Action Committee) for all state and local elections.  

The following endorsed state and local candidates are part our 1st round of endorsements by SC Equality PAC, the political action committee of SC Equality. We are currently in the process of interviewing candidates for our 2nd round of endorsements.  (If you don’t see a candidate listed below, rest assured that this is not our complete list for the upcoming November General Election.) To view all endorsed candidates (presidential, congressional, state and local) view SC Equality’s 2020 Voter Guide.

The following list was updated on September 2, 2020.  Our next round of endorsements will be added within the next two weeks.

SC Equality’s 2020 Voter’s Guide includes candidates for federal, state and local elections.  Our endorsements are made by SC Equality Coalition (501(c)4) for presidential and congressional races and by SC Equality PAC (Political Action Committee) for all state and local elections.  

The following endorsed state and local candidates are part our 1st round of endorsements by SC Equality PAC, the political action committee of SC Equality. We are currently in the process of interviewing candidates for our 2nd round of endorsements.  (If you don’t see a candidate listed below, rest assured that this is not our complete list for the upcoming November General Election.) To view all endorsed candidates (presidential, congressional, state and local) view SC Equality’s 2020 Voter Guide.

The following list was updated on September 2, 2020.  Our next round of endorsements will be added within the next two weeks.

South Carolina Senate

Candidates for S.C. Senate are endorsed by SC Equality PAC, a political action committee of SC Equality. Sign Up, Volunteer and Financially Support any of the following candidates by clicking on the “View My Website” for each candidate. 

S.C. Senate
District 03

Judith Polson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 07

Sen. Karl Allen
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 15

Vicki Holt
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 16

Ramin Mammadov
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 17

Sen. Mike Fanning
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 20

Sen. Dick Harpootlian
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 22

Sen. Mia McLeod
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 26

Sen. Nikki Setzler
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 27

Sen. Vincent Sheheen
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 29

Sen. Gerald Malloy
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 32

Sen. Ronnie Sabb
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 36

Sen. Kevin Johnson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 37

Kathryn Whitaker
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 41

Sam Skardon
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 43

Richard Hricik
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 44

Debbie Bryant
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 45

Sen. Margie Bright Matthews
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 46

Nathan Campbell
(D)

View My Website

The following Senators are running unopposed.  SC Equality PAC recognizes each of them for their commitment to the LGBTQ community in South Carolina and SC Equality looks forward to continuing our work with each of them in 2021.

S.C. Senate
District 21

Sen. Darrell Jackson
(D)

S.C. Senate
District 30

Sen. Kent Williams
(D)

S.C. Senate
District 35

Sen. Thomas McElveen
(D)

S.C. Senate
District 40

Sen. Brad Hutto
(D)

S.C. Senate
District 42

Sen. Marlon Kimpson
(D)

South Carolina Senate

Candidates for S.C. Senate are endorsed by SC Equality PAC, a political action committee of SC Equality. Sign Up, Volunteer and Financially Support any of the following candidates by clicking on the “View My Website” for each candidate. 

S.C. Senate
District 03

Judith Polson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 07

Sen. Karl Allen
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 15

Vicki Holt
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 16

Ramin Mammadov
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 17

Sen. Mike Fanning
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 20

Sen. Dick Harpootlian
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 22

Sen. Mia McLeod
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 26

Sen. Nikki Setzler
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 27

Sen. Vincent Sheheen
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 29

Sen. Gerald Malloy
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 32

Sen. Ronnie Sabb
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 36

Sen. Kevin Johnson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 37

Kathryn Whitaker
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 41

Sam Skardon
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 43

Richard Hricik
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 44

Debbie Bryant
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 45

Sen. Margie Bright Matthews
(D)

View My Website

S.C. Senate
District 46

Nathan Campbell
(D)

View My Website

The following Senators are running unopposed.  SC Equality PAC recognizes each of them for their commitment to the LGBTQ community in South Carolina and SC Equality looks forward to continuing our work with each of them in 2021.

S.C. Senate
District 21

Sen. Darrell Jackson
(D)

S.C. Senate
District 30

Sen. Kent Williams
(D)

S.C. Senate
District 35

Sen. Thomas McElveen
(D)

S.C. Senate
District 40

Sen. Brad Hutto
(D)

S.C. Senate
District 42

Sen. Marlon Kimpson
(D)

South Carolina House of Representatives

Candidates for S.C. House of Representatives are endorsed by SC Equality PAC, a political action committee of SC Equality. Sign Up, Volunteer and Financially Support any of the following candidates by clicking on the “View My Website” for each candidate. 

S.C. House
District 03

Eunice Lehmacher
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 07

Andrea Bejarano-Robinson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 12

Representative
Anne Parks
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 15

Representative
JA Moore
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 18

Benjamin Smith
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 19

Jevarus Howard
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 25

Representative
Leola Robinson-Simpson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 26

Monica Danneman
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 35

Helen Pendarvis
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 41

Representative
Annie E. McDaniel
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 44

Representative
Mandy Powers Norrell
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 49

Representative
John R. King
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 52

Representative
Laurie Funderburk
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 54

Representative
Pat Henegan
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 56

Bruce Fischer
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 63

Isaac Wilson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 64

Kimberly Johnson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 66

Representative
Gilda Cobb-Hunter
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 73

Representative
Chris Hart
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 74

Representative
Todd Rutherford
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 75

Rhodes Bailey
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 77

Representative
Kambrell Garvin
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 78

Representative
Beth Bernstein
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 79

Representative
Ivory Thigpen
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 80

Jermaine Johnson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 90

Representative
Justin Bamberg
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 94

Patricia Cannon
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 95

Representative
Jerry Govan
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 97

Ronee DeCanio
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 99

Jen Gibson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 111

Representative
Wendell Gilliard
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 112

Daniel Brownstein
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 114

Ed Sutton
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 115

Representative
Spencer Wetmore
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 117

Representative
Krystle Matthews
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 118

Mitchell Siegel
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 119

Representative
Leon Stavrinakis
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 123

Christine deVries
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 124

Barb Nash
(D)

View My Website

The following Representatives are running unopposed.  SC Equality PAC recognizes each of them for their commitment to the LGBTQ community in South Carolina and SC Equality looks forward to continuing our work with each of them in 2021.

S.C. House
District 23

Representative Chandra Dillard
(D)

S.C. House
District 31

Representative Rosalyn D. Henderson-Myers
(D)

S.C. House
District 59

Representative Terry Alexander
(D)

S.C. House
District 61

Representative Roger Kirby
(D)

S.C. House
District 62

Representative Robert Williams
(D)

S.C. House
District 70

Representative Wendy C. Brawley
(D)

S.C. House
District 72

Representative Seth Rose
(D)

S.C. House
District 82

Representative William “Bill” Clyburn
(D)

S.C. House
District 113

Representative Marvin Pendarvis
(D)

South Carolina House of Representatives

Candidates for S.C. House of Representatives are endorsed by SC Equality PAC, a political action committee of SC Equality. Sign Up, Volunteer and Financially Support any of the following candidates by clicking on the “View My Website” for each candidate. 

S.C. House
District 03

Eunice Lehmacher
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 07

Andrea Bejarano-Robinson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 12

Representative
Anne Parks
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 15

Representative
JA Moore
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 18

Benjamin Smith
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 19

Jevarus Howard
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 25

Representative
Leola Robinson-Simpson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 26

Monica Danneman
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 35

Helen Pendarvis
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 41

Representative
Annie E. McDaniel
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 44

Representative
Mandy Powers Norrell
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 49

Representative
John R. King
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 52

Representative
Laurie Funderburk
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 54

Representative
Pat Henegan
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 56

Bruce Fischer
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 63

Isaac Wilson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 64

Kimberly Johnson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 66

Representative
Gilda Cobb-Hunter
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 73

Representative
Chris Hart
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 74

Representative
Todd Rutherford
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 75

Rhodes Bailey
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 77

Representative
Kambrell Garvin
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 78

Representative
Beth Bernstein
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 79

Representative
Ivory Thigpen
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 80

Jermaine Johnson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 90

Representative
Justin Bamberg
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 94

Patricia Cannon
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 95

Representative
Jerry Govan
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 97

Ronee DeCanio
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 99

Jen Gibson
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 111

Representative
Wendell Gilliard
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 112

Daniel Brownstein
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 114

Ed Sutton
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 115

Representative
Spencer Wetmore
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 117

Representative
Krystle Matthews
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 118

Mitchell Siegel
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 119

Representative
Leon Stavrinakis
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 123

Christine deVries
(D)

View My Website

S.C. House
District 124

Barb Nash
(D)

View My Website

The following Representatives are running unopposed.  SC Equality PAC recognizes each of them for their commitment to the LGBTQ community in South Carolina and SC Equality looks forward to continuing our work with each of them in 2021.

S.C. House
District 23

Representative Chandra Dillard
(D)

S.C. House
District 31

Representative Rosalyn D. Henderson-Myers
(D)

S.C. House
District 59

Representative Terry Alexander
(D)

S.C. House
District 61

Representative Roger Kirby
(D)

S.C. House
District 62

Representative Robert Williams
(D)

S.C. House
District 70

Representative Wendy C. Brawley
(D)

S.C. House
District 72

Representative Seth Rose
(D)

S.C. House
District 82

Representative William “Bill” Clyburn
(D)

S.C. House
District 113

Representative Marvin Pendarvis
(D)

Municipal and Local Races

Candidates for municipal and local races are endorsed by SC Equality PAC, a political action committee of SC Equality.

Sheriff

View My Website

Kristin Graziano

Charleston County Sheriff

“It’s an honor to be endorsed by SC Equality PAC, which does amazing work to make sure LGBTQ issues are at the forefront in South Carolina politics. As someone who has witnessed, investigated, and prosecuted hate crimes of LGBTQ victims, I am aware of the impact it can have on the community at large. It is those experiences that I carried with me every day while I was on the job. As the next sheriff, I want to make sure that hate crime victims receive meaningful justice and are treated with kindness, compassion, and empathy. Also, when I am elected, I will ensure that my employees will be able to self-identify with their preferred gender and that LGBTQ inmates will be placed into appropriate populations.”

Municipal and Local Races

Candidates for municipal and local races are endorsed by SC Equality PAC, a political action committee of SC Equality.

Sheriff

View My Website

Kristin Graziano

Charleston County Sheriff

“It’s an honor to be endorsed by SC Equality PAC, which does amazing work to make sure LGBTQ issues are at the forefront in South Carolina politics. As someone who has witnessed, investigated, and prosecuted hate crimes of LGBTQ victims, I am aware of the impact it can have on the community at large. It is those experiences that I carried with me every day while I was on the job. As the next sheriff, I want to make sure that hate crime victims receive meaningful justice and are treated with kindness, compassion, and empathy. Also, when I am elected, I will ensure that my employees will be able to self-identify with their preferred gender and that LGBTQ inmates will be placed into appropriate populations.”

An LGBT Champion designation reveals that this candidate is an incumbent and has a record of LGBT equality.  Their record speaks for itself and the SC Equality PAC endorses this candidate without hesitation. This designation should reflect to our allies and supporters that this candidate should receive your vote.

SC Equality PAC invited this candidate to answer a candidate questionnaire in order to gauge this candidates standing not only on LGBT issues in South Carolina, but also on other issues directly related to other social justice issues. After careful review, the PAC has endorsed this candidate for the office they seek. This designation should reflect to our allies and supporters that this candidate should receive your vote.

An LGBT Champion designation reveals that this candidate is an incumbent and has a record of LGBT equality.  Their record speaks for itself and the SC Equality PAC endorses this candidate without hesitation. This designation should reflect to our allies and supporters that this candidate should receive your vote.

SC Equality PAC invited this candidate to answer a candidate questionnaire in order to gauge this candidates standing not only on LGBT issues in South Carolina, but also on other issues directly related to other social justice issues. After careful review, the PAC has endorsed this candidate for the office they seek. This designation should reflect to our allies and supporters that this candidate should receive your vote.

Be Informed. Know which candidates support full lived equality in S.C.

In addition to the state and local candidates above, SC Equality has compiled a comprehensive 2020 LGBTQ Voter Guide to help you make an informed decision on which candidates deserve your vote. We not only have interviewed the candidates we are endorsing this year, we have worked side by side with all incumbents seeking re-election and fully endorse all candidates (federal, state and local) listed in the 2020 LGBTQ Voter Guide.

First, commit to vote in November. Second, review the Voter Guide and help elect pro-equality candidates on November 3rd.

2020 LGBTQ VOTER GUIDE

Since 2012, we’ve compiled candidate research and endorsements to help you cast an informed vote. LGBTQ South Carolinians make up a substantial voting block and our voice matters in elections.

Endorsed Candidates

Latest News

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January 22nd, 2020|

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Your guide for bills to track this legislative session in S.C.

January 14th, 2020|

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SC Equality to bring a legal challenge to South Carolina’s “No Promo Homo” law

December 16th, 2019|

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5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK (December 12, 2019)

December 12th, 2019|

South Carolina wants to ban lifesaving medical treatments for trans kids. It’s part of a bigger push around the country. Trans children have been in the national spotlight in recent weeks, with the governor of Texas stepping in to try to stop a mother from allowing her child to transition. And last Wednesday, South Carolina legislators joined in with a bill that would ban a variety [...]

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