Beaufort pastor joins race to replace Pinckney’s seat

A Beaufort pastor and friend and colleague of state Sen. Clementa Pinckney will run for the slain lawmaker's vacant seat.

State Rep. Kenneth Hodges, a Democrat and pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, announced his candidacy for the special election to fill the District 45 seat at a gathering at his Colleton County home Saturday.

Pinckney held the District 45 seat before he was murdered along with eight others at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston on June 17.

“After his death, it was laid on my heart: I would have to get into the race,” Hodges said, a video of the announcement later posted on YouTube.

Hodges, 63, will be joined in the race by Walterboro attorney Margie Bright Matthews, who declared her candidacy Thursday.

Matthews has practiced law in Allendale, Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties for 26 years, and she owns her own law firm, according to a news release.

Hodges has served as a state representative since 2005.

During his announcement, Hodges noted his decade on the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs committee and that he had been instrumental in promoting small-business development.

Hodges said focus is needed on education, the environment and health care.

“I think that my record speaks for itself,” Hodges said. “There are some unique challenges in this area.”

The District 45 seat extends to portions of Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Colleton, Charleston and Allendale counties.

The candidate filing period opened at noon Friday and closes at noon July 13. A primary for the special election is set for Sept. 1, with a potential runoff election scheduled for Sept. 15.

The special election will be held Oct. 20.

Hodges was endorsed at his announcement by Rep. Robert Brown, a Charleston Democrat. Brown said Hodges knows the state’s senators and that there would be no learning curve.

He noted the similarities between Hodges and Pinckney, who was the pastor at Emanuel AME.

“The path to the Senate is already paved for him,” Brown said. “If there is anybody that is Rev. Pinckney-like, this is our man right here.”