Finlay loses his House seat. Other Midlands winners, losers

In an election that saw 1.7 million South Carolinians cast their votes, the biggest upset in the Midlands was arguably a S.C. House seat in downtown Columbia.

Democrat Heather Bauer upset incumbent Kirkman Finlay for the state House of Representatives District 75 seat, according to scvotes.org.

Bauer squeaked out a 50.73% to 49.5% victory, with 14,777 votes cast in the race.

“I’m excited for the district,” Bauer told The Carolina News & Reporter on Wednesday. “I’m excited for South Carolina. I think our voices were heard very loud and clear that if you try to take our rights, we’re going to take your seat.”

Bauer previously ran for the seat in 2020 but lost. She said the coupling of momentum she had from the last election and her platform focusing on women’s rights made it the perfect time for her to win. 

Finlay has held the District 75 seat for 10 years, and his family has a deep history of being involved in state politics. His father, Kirk Finlay Jr., was the mayor of Columbia from 1978-1986. And Finlay himself served on Columbia City Council from 2006 to 2010 before running unsuccessfully for mayor, then winning the House seat. 

“To flip the seat and fire him from his job is huge, and a lot of people said it couldn’t be done,” Bauer said.

Her victory is a welcome one for Democrats, who lost several races across at the state and at the national level on Tuesday. Bauer said her win could help send a message to the party as a whole.

“Even though we lost big-time across the state in other ways, I think Democrats could really learn a lesson that focusing on freedom, and focusing on freedom of choice, and getting politicians (and government) out of your private decisions and private matters is a great message,” Bauer said.

Statewide, Henry McMaster was one of the big winners for the Republican Party, securing his second full term as South Carolina’s governor. If he completes his term he will have served in the role for 10 years, the most of any governor in state history.

In another closely watched race, Republican Ellen Weaver beat Democrat Lisa Ellis for state superintendent of education, with Weaver getting 55.57% of the vote.

Below are results from other state and local elections.

 

State election results

South Carolina Governor and Lieutenant Governor

(R) Henry McMaster/Pamela Evette – 58.10%

(D) Joe Cunningham/Tally Parham Casey – 40.61%

(LIB) Bruce Reeves/Jessica Ethridge – 1.22%

US Senate

(R) Tim Scott – 62.96%

(D) Krystle Matthews – 36.935%

US House of Representatives, District 1

(R) Nancy Mace – 56.39%

(D) Annie Andrews – 42.46%

(ALN) Joseph Oddo – 0.97%

US House of Representatives, District 2

(R) Joe Wilson – 59.98%

(D) Judd Larkins – 39.87%

US House of Representatives, District 3

(R) Jeff Duncan – 97.64%

US House of Representatives, District 4

(R) William Timmons – 90.81%

US House of Representatives, District 5

(R) Ralph Norman – 64.03%

(D) Envangeline Hundley – 34.44%

US House of Representatives, District 6

(D) James E. Clyburn – 62.04%

(R) Duke Buckner – 37.85%

US House of Representatives, District 7

(R) Russell Fry – 65.48%

(D) Daryl W. Scott – 34.37%

State Superintendent of Education

(R) Ellen Weaver – 55.57%

(D) Lisa Ellis – 39.55%

(ALN) Lisa Ellis – 3.15%

Secretary of State

(R) Mark Hammond – 63.40%

(D) Rosemounda Peggy Butler – 36.53%

State Treasurer

(R) Curtis Loftis – 79.70%

(ALN) Sarah E Work – 19.83%

Attorney General

(R) Alan Wilson – 97.32%

Comptroller General

(R) Richard Eckstrom – 98.21%

Commissioner of Agriculture 

(R) Hugh Weathers – 77.61%

(GRN) David Edmond – 15.24%

(UNC) Chris Nelums – 6.83%

Richland County election results

State House of Representatives, District 41 

(D) Annie E McDaniel – 57.33%

(R) Jennifer Brecheisen – 42.55%

State House of Representatives, District 70

(D) Jermaine Johnson – 76.44%

(R) Vincent E Wilson – 19.96%

(GRN) Charla Henson-Simons

State House of Representatives, District 72

(D) Seth Rose – 98.49

State House of Representatives, District 73

(D) Chris Hart – 98.58%

State House of Representatives, District 74

(D) Todd Rutherford – 98.60%

State House of Representatives, District 75

(D) Heather Bauer – 50.73%

(R) Kirkman Finlay III – 49.5%

State House of Representatives, District 76

(D) Leon Howard – 99.04%

State House of Representatives, District 77

(D) Kambrell Garvin – 70.92%

(R) Kizzie Smalls – 29.05%

State House of Representatives, District 78

(D) Beth Bernstein – 97.90%

State House of Representatives, District 79

(D) Ivory Thigpen – 74.53%

(R) Melissa McFadden – 25.37%

Lexington County election results

State House of Representatives, District 86

(R)Bill Taylor – 98.29%

State House of Representatives, District 93

(D) Russell L Ott  – 60.76%

(R) Jim Ulmer 39.12%

State House of Representatives, District 39

(R) Cal Forrest – 99.06%

State House of Representatives, District 69

(R) Chris Wooten 97.69%

State House of Representatives, District 71

(R) Nathan Ballentine – 97.72% 

Editor’s note: District 71 covers parts of both Lexington and Richland counties.

State House of Representatives, District 85

(R) Jay Killmartin – 75.53%

(LIB) John Davis – 23.82%

State House of Representatives, District 87

(R) Paula Rawl Calhoon – 98.48%

State House of Representatives, District 88

(R) RJ May – 70.08%

(D) Daniel J Shrief – 29.81%

State House of Representatives, District 89

(R) Micah Caskey – 96.84%

State House of Representatives, District 96

(R) D. Ryan McCabe – 98.32%

State House of Representatives, District 40

(R) Joe White – 98.16%