# Dwight Loftis

Dwight A. Loftis (born February 4, 1943) is an American politician and retired insurance agent from South Carolina. A member of the South Carolina Senate from 2019 to 2024, he previously represented district 19 in the South Carolina House of Representatives for 23 years from 1996 to 2019. He is a member of the Republican party.

## S.C. House of Representatives (1996–2019)

From 1996 to 2019, Loftis represented district 19 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. His entry to the office was upon winning a January 1996 special election.

## S.C. Senate

From 2019 to 2024, Loftis represented South Carolina's 6th Senate District (a portion of Greenville County). He was first elected during a special election when incumbent William Timmons succeeded Trey Gowdy in representing South Carolina's 4th Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2023, Loftis announced he would retire and not seek reelection.

## Political views

Loftis opposes gay marriage and strongly supports marriage as defined between a man and woman. He voted to keep the Confederate Flag flying above the South Carolina Statehouse. He is a strong supporter of "law and order," the second amendment, and South Carolina's "heartbeat bill," restricting abortion after six-weeks.

## Personal life

Loftis resides in Greenville, South Carolina with his wife Sandra. They have three children. Loftis first obtained an Associate degree from North Greenville University (then, North Greenville College) in 1966. He was an insurance agent, but has since retired.
Loftis has been an active member of the Greenville community, particularly on issues of crime and education. He is a board member and past president of the Crime Stoppers of Greenville, and has held positions such as:
* Past chairman of the North West Business Education Partnership School District of Greenville
* Past member of the Leadership Council School District in Greenville County
* Former Greenville County School Trustee

## Electoral history

| Year | Office | Type | Party | Party | Main opponent | Party | Party | Votes for Loftis | Votes for Loftis | Votes for Loftis | Votes for Loftis | Result | Swing | Swing | Ref. | Ref. |
| Year | Office | Type | Party | Party | Main opponent | Party | Party | Total | % | P. | ±% | Result | Swing | Swing | Ref. | Ref. |
| 1996 | S.C. Representative | Special | | Republican | Johnnie S. Fulton | | Democratic | 1,423 | 51.35% | 1st | N/A | Won | | Hold | |
| 1996 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Johnnie S. Fulton | | Democratic | 4,992 | 56.48% | 1st | N/A | Won | | Hold | |
| 1998 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | N/A | 6,224 | 97.69% | 1st | +41.21% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2000 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Debbie Hill | | Democratic | 6,126 | 66.02% | 1st | -31.67% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2002 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | N/A | 6,441 | 97.80% | 1st | +31.78% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2004 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Luanne M. Taylor | | Democratic | 7,746 | 72.14% | 1st | -25.66% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2006 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | N/A | 5,991 | 98.89% | 1st | +26.75% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2008 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | N/A | 9,205 | 98.58% | 1st | -0.31% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2010 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | N/A | 6,467 | 98.60% | 1st | +0.02% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2012 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | N/A | 9,213 | 97.90% | 1st | -0.70% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2014 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | N/A | 6,492 | 98.62% | 1st | +0.72% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2016 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Write-in | N/A | N/A | 10,379 | 98.56% | 1st | -0.06% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2018 | S.C. Representative | General | | Republican | Carrie Counton | | Democratic | 6,744 | 61.16% | 1st | -37.40% | Won | | Hold | |
| 2019 | S.C. Senate | Rep. primary | | Republican | Amy Ryberg Doyle | | Republican | 3,528 | 55.41% | 1st | N/A | Won | N/A | N/A | |
| 2019 | S.C. Senate | Special | | Republican | Tina Belge | | Democratic | 4,440 | 55.64% | 1st | N/A | Won | | Hold | |
| 2020 | S.C. Senate | General | | Republican | Hao Wu | | Democratic | 33,300 | 65.13% | 1st | N/A | Won | | Hold | |

## Awards and honors

Governor Henry McMaster presented the Order of the Palmetto to Loftis at the December 2, 2024, Greenville County Legislative Delegation meeting.