# 2012 South Carolina Senate election

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
The 2012 South Carolina Senate elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. The primary elections were held on June 12 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on June 26. The current composition of the state delegation is 28 Republicans and 18 Democrats. Senators are elected for four-year terms, all in the same year.

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Safe R | October 24, 2012 |

## Detailed Results

Elections in South Carolina :
Federal government
U.S. President
1788-89
1792
1796
1800
1804
1808
1812
1816
1820
1824
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
Rep
Dem
2004
Dem
2008
Dem
Rep
2012
Rep
2016
Dem
2020
Dem
2024
Dem
Rep
U.S. Senate
1897
sp 1898
1902
1903
1907
1908
1909
1913
1914
1918
sp 1918
1920
1924
1926
1930
1932
1936
1938
sp 1941
1942
1944
1948
1950
1954
1956
1960
1962
1966
sp 1966
1968
1972
1974
1978
1980
1984
1986
1990
1992
1996
1998
2002
2004
2008
2010
2014
sp 2014
2016
2020
2022
2026
2028
U.S. House of Representatives
1788
1790
1793
1794
1796
1798
1800
1803
1804
1806
1808
1810
1812
1814
1816
1818
1820
1823
1824
1826
1828
1830
1833
1834
1836
1838
1840
1843
1844
1846
1848
1850
1853
1854
1856
1858
1860
1868
1870
1872
1874
1876
1878
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
7th 1901
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
4th 1915
1916
1918
6th 1919
7th 1919
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
4th 1953
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1st 1971
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2nd 2001
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
1st 2013
2014
2016
5th 2017
2018
2020
2022
2024
List of specials :
State offices
General elections
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1865
1868
1870
1872
1874
1876
1878
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1930
1934
1938
1942
1946
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2026
State Senate elections
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
State House elections
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures
2006
Amendment 1
2008
2010
2012
2014 :
Charleston
Mayoral elections
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Columbia
Mayoral elections
2005
2009
2010
2013
2017
2021 :
Rock Hill
Mayoral elections
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Greenville
Mayoral elections
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
vte :

### District 1

District 1 covers parts of Oconee and Pickens Counties. Incumbent Thomas C. Alexander ran unopposed in the Republican primary and the general election. He was reelected to his fifth full-term as senator.
South Carolina Senate District 1 General Election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thomas C. Alexander (incumbent) | 29,957 | 99.1 |
| | Write-in | Other | 270 | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,227 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 2

The district includes parts of Pickens county. Republican incumbent Larry A. Martin faced Republican petition candidate Rex Rice in the general election. Rice was initially on the Republican primary ballot, but due to a lawsuit about proper filing of economic interest statements, he and many other state candidates were decertified. To get on the November ballot instead, Rice pursued the little-used paper process of getting signatures of at least five percent of the district's registered voters. Martin won with 64% of the vote.
South Carolina Senate District 2 General Election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry A. Martin (incumbent) | 24,013 | 64.4 |
| | Republican | Rex Rice (petition) | 13,164 | 35.43 |
| | Write-in | Other | 108 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,285 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 3

The district includes parts of Anderson county. Republican incumbent Kevin L. Bryant is a pharmacist. In the Republican primary, Bryant won over Don Bowen 75.93% to 24.07%.

### District 4

The district includes parts of Abbeville, Anderson and Greenwood counties. Republican incumbent William H. O'Dell is CEO of O'Dell Corporation.

### District 5

The district includes parts of Greenville county. Retiring Republican incumbent Phillip Shoopman is a retired businessman. Tom Corbin won the election for District 5 after defeating Amanda Tieder Somers in the Republican primary.
2012 South Carolina Senate District 4 Republican Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Corbin | 3,050 | 65.4 |
| | Republican | Amanda Tieder Somers | 1,616 | 34.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,666 | 100.0 |
2012 South Carolina Senate District 4 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Corbin | 33,491 | 98.8 |
| | Write-in | | 406 | 1.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,897 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 6

The district includes parts of Greenville county. Republican incumbent Michael L. Fair works in insurance.

### District 7

The district includes parts of Greenville county. Retiring Democratic incumbent Ralph Anderson is a retired postmaster. In the Democratic primary, Karl B Allen defeated Lillian Brock Flemming 54.83% to 45.17%.

### District 8

The district includes parts of Greenville county. Retiring Republican incumbent David L. Thomas is an attorney. In the Republican run-off, Ross Turner won over Joe Swann 50.32% to 49.68%.

### District 9

The district includes parts of Greenville and Laurens counties. Republican incumbent Daniel B. Verdin III is the owner of Verdin's Farm and Garden Center.

### District 10

The district includes parts of Abbeville, Greenwood and Laurens counties. Democratic incumbent John W. Drummond is President of Drummond Oil Company, Inc. and President Pro Tempore Emeritus of the South Carolina Senate.

### District 11

The district includes parts of Spartanburg county. Democratic incumbent Glenn G. Reese is a businessman.

### District 12

The district includes parts of Spartanburg county. Freshman Republican incumbent Lee Bright is a school board member.

### District 13

The district includes parts of Greenville, Spartanburg and Union counties. Freshman Republican incumbent Shane Martin is an attorney.

### District 14

The district includes parts of Cherokee, Spartanburg, Union and York counties. Republican incumbent Harvey S. Peeler, Jr. is a dairyman/businessman.

### District 15

The district includes parts of York county. Republican incumbent Robert W. Hayes, Jr. is an attorney.

### District 16

The district includes parts of Lancaster and York counties. Republican incumbent Chauncey K. Gregory is President of Builders Supply Company.

### District 17

The district includes parts of Chester, Fairfield, Union and York counties. Democratic incumbent Creighton B. Coleman is an attorney.

### District 18

The district includes Newberry and parts of Saluda and Lexington counties. Republican incumbent Ronnie Cromer is a pharmacist. The Democratic nominee is Michael Ray Ellisor, winning over Pete Oliver 52.30% to 47.70% in the primary.

### District 19

The district includes parts of Richland county. Democratic incumbent John L. Scott Jr. is a small business owner.

### District 20

The district includes parts of Lexington and Richland counties. Republican incumbent John E. Courson is Senior V.P., Keenan & Suggs.

### District 21

The district includes parts of Richland county. Republican incumbent Darrell Jackson is a businessman and minister; Pres., Sunrise Enterprise of Columbia

### District 22

The district includes parts of Kershaw and Richland counties. Democratic incumbent Joel Lourie is a businessman

### District 23

The district includes parts of Lexington county. Republican incumbent John M. Knotts, Jr. is retired from law enforcement. In the Republican run-off, Knotts won over Katrina Shealy 57.52% to 42.48%.

### District 24

The district includes parts of Aiken county. Republican incumbent W. Greg Ryberg is CEO of REI, Inc.

### District 25

The district includes parts of Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties. Freshman Republican incumbent A. Shane Massey is an attorney.

### District 26

The district includes parts of Aiken, Lexington and Saluda counties. Democratic incumbent Nikki G. Setzler is an attorney.

### District 27

The district includes parts of Chesterfield, Kershaw and Lancaster counties. Democratic incumbent Vincent A. Sheheen is an attorney.

### District 28

The district includes parts of Dillon, Horry, Marion and Marlboro counties. Democratic incumbent Dick Elliott is a real estate developer, retail.

### District 29

The district includes parts of Chesterfield, Darlington, Lee and Marlboro counties. Democratic incumbent Gerald Malloy is an attorney.

### District 30

The district includes parts of Dillon, Florence, Marion and Marlboro counties. Freshman Democratic incumbent Kent M. Williams is a Deputy County Administrator.

### District 31

The district includes parts of Darlington and Florence counties. Republican incumbent Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. is a businessman.

### District 32

The district includes parts of Florence, Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg counties. Democratic incumbent J. Yancey McGill is a real estate broker and residential homebuilder. In the Democratic primary recount, J. Yancey McGill won over Cezar E McKnight 50.32% to 49.68%.

### District 33

The district includes parts of Horry county. Republican incumbent Luke A. Rankin is an attorney.

### District 34

The district includes parts of Charleston, Georgetown and Horry counties. Republican incumbent Raymond E. Cleary III is a dentist.

### District 35

The district includes parts of Lee and Sumter counties. Retiring Democratic incumbent Phil P. Leventis is an aviation and management services consultant. In the Republican run-off, Tony Barwick won over Wade Kolb 56.86% to 43.14%.

### District 36

The district includes parts of Calhoun, Clarendon, Florence and Sumter counties. Democratic incumbent John C. Land III is an attorney.

### District 37

The district includes parts of Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester counties. Republican incumbent Lawrence K. Grooms is president and CEO of GTI.

### District 38

The district includes parts of Charleston and Dorchester counties. Freshman Republican incumbent Randy Scott is a small businessman. Bill Collins qualified as a petition candidate and will have his name on the ballot in the general election.

### District 39

The district includes parts of Bamberg, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton and Orangeburg counties. Democratic incumbent John W. Matthews, Jr. is a businessman and retired elementary school principal.

### District 40

The district includes parts of Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell and Orangeburg counties. Democratic incumbent C. Bradley Hutto is a trial lawyer.

### District 41

The district includes parts of Charleston county. Republican incumbent Glenn F. McConnell is an attorney/businessman, and President Pro Tempore.

### District 42

The district includes parts of Charleston county. Democratic incumbent Robert Ford is a developer.

### District 43

The district includes parts of Berkeley and Charleston counties. Republican incumbent George E. Campsen III is a businessman/attorney. Dist. No. 43 - Berkeley & Charleston Cos.

### District 44

The district includes parts of Berkeley county. Freshman Republican incumbent Paul G. Campbell, Jr. is a retired Regional President for Alcoa, now a consultant.

### District 45

The district includes parts of Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. Democratic incumbent Clementa C. Pinckney was a pastor and student.

### District 46

The district includes parts of Beaufort county. Republican incumbent Catherine C. Ceips is a full-time legislator.