SC special election scheduled to fill the late Sen. John Scott’s seat. Here’s when
A new state senator to finish the late John Scott’s term will formally chosen one week before the General Assembly comes into session. But because of the make up of the district, the decision may happen several weeks earlier.
A special election to complete Scott’s term has been scheduled for Jan. 2, S.C. Senate President Thomas Alexander’s office announced.
Scott, who had been a lawmaker since 1990, died Aug. 13 from undisclosed reasons. The Democrat would have been up for reelection in 2024 if he ran for a fifth term.
If more than one candidate for a party files to run, a primary election will take place on Oct. 24, with the runoff on Nov. 7 if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.
The Democratic primary election will most likely decide who wins the seat in the district, which covers northwest Richland County, as Scott ran unopposed in 2020.
Filing for the seat will open at noon Sept. 1 and last until noon Sept. 9.
So far no candidates have announced intentions to run.
With Scott, Democrats held 15 of the 46 seats in the Senate. Republicans hold 30 seats and the chamber has one independent.
The General Assembly is scheduled to come back into session on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
