A special primary election was held for South Carolina State Senate District 31 on Jan. 25. Mike Reichenbach (R) advanced to the special general election and defeated Jay Jordan (R).
The special general election is scheduled for March 29. The filing deadline passed on Dec. 11.
The special election was called after the seat became vacant due to the death of Hugh Leatherman (R) on Nov. 12. Hugh Leatherman served from 1981 to 2021.
As of January 2022, 31 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2022 in 15 states. Between 2011 and 2021, an average of 74 special elections took place each year. South Carolina has held 33 state legislative special elections from 2010 to 2021.
Entering the special election, the South Carolina State Senate has 16 Democrats, 29 Republicans, and one vacancy. A majority in the chamber requires 24 seats. South Carolina has a Republican trifecta. A state government trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and both state legislative chambers.
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