Thigpen running for House seat held by McLeod

Ivory Thigpen, a pastor and chiropractor, will run next year for the S.C. House seat in Richland County held by Democratic Rep. Mia McLeod.

McLeod, who is in her third term in the northeast Richland district, is running for the state Senate seat held by Democrat Joel Lourie, who is not seeking re-election. McLeod is not running for her House seat, which is allowed under state law.

Thigpen, pastor at Rehoboth Baptist Church on Hardscrabble Road, said he thinks South Carolina needs more servant-minded leaders after recent tragedies in the state, including the mass slaying at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.

“We must no longer see unity as an option or alternative,” said Thigpen, who is running for the Democratic nomination. “Our coming together must be seen as essential.”

The 37-year-old Mississippi native has been a hospital volunteer and a chaplain for the Columbia Police Department. Thigpen moved to Columbia in 2005 and has been senior pastor at Rehoboth for seven years. He is on the executive board of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc

“For all of our many differences, we share but one world, are but one race, and have but one end,” he said.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Thigpen running for House seat held by McLeod."