Democrats pick nominee to complete John Scott’s unfinished SC Senate term. Here’s who
Former Columbia City Councilmember Tameika Isaac Devine is now in the driver’s seat to complete the late John Scott’s state Senate term after winning Tuesday’s Democratic special primary election.
Devine, who is a highly capable fundraiser, used her more than two-to-one cash advantage to receive 2,508 votes, or 51.74% of the vote, to avoid a runoff with state Rep. Kambrell Garvin, D-Richland, who received 2,197 votes (45.33%), according to Tuesday’s unofficial results, with all 39 precincts reporting.
“Tomorrow that work continues for the next race but I am really grateful for the support of the residents of District 19 and I’m looking forward to keeping this race going into January,” Devine said.
Johnnie Cordero, a former S.C. Democratic Party Black caucus chairman received 72 votes and Javar Juarez, the senior director of the Broad River Business Alliance, received 70 votes.
Scott, who died in August, was elected to the seat in 2008 when he carried 91% of the vote in the general election. In Scott’s three other Senate elections, he only faced a primary challenger in 2016, but he carried 61% of the vote in the primary. He was unopposed in the 2012, 2016 and 2020 general elections.
Winning the Democratic nomination makes Devine the favorite to win the election to finish the final year of Scott’s term in the heavily Democratic district. She would become the sixth female state senator in the upper chamber.
Devine goes on to face Republican Kizzie Smalls, Independence Party member Michael Addison and United Citizens Party member Chris Nelums in the Jan. 2 general election for the seat.
Devine did not say how much money she has leftover for the general election campaign, but said she expects to continue to raise money.
“We made sure that we kept money in the bank to kick off tomorrow, because we know the general election starts tomorrow,” Devine said. “For us, we’re not taking any voter for granted. We understand that yes, it may be a heavily Democratic districts, but we have a lot of voters who are independent minded, and we want to be able to continue to connect with the voters to show them that I’m the best candidate to help be their voice at the State House.”
Garvin conceded the race to Devine Tuesday night and congratulated her on the win.
“I’m looking forward to voting for her in January and working with her as the next state senator for District 19,” Garvin said in a statement. “I’m also looking forward to continuing to serve my community in the House of Representatives where we are fighting to expand Medicaid, improve our education system, and continue to bring economic development to the Midlands.”
Devine, who raised $500,000 for an unsuccessful 2021 Columbia mayoral run, had the cash advantage in the primary election, raising $107,000 and spending $80,000 through Oct. 4. Garvin raised $50,000 and spent $43,000.
Neither Cordero nor Juarez submitted campaign finance reports ahead of the primary, according to the State Ethics Commission website.
Devine’s campaign cash advantage allowed her to go on television, spending at least $7,500 on three local broadcast television ads during the last two weeks of the primary race, according to Federal Communications Commission records. Devine also had advertising on WIS TV, but spending figures for the local NBC affiliate were not immediately available.
Garvin was only able to advertise on television in the last few days ahead of the primary, spending at least $8,500.
But campaigning wasn’t just on television.
Devine said through Sunday her campaign had knocked on 9,500 doors. She added her campaign also made phone calls and did promotion on digital media.
Garvin Tuesday morning said his campaign knocked on 10,000 doors and made 10,000 phone calls.
“I think all the campaigns did a lot of grassroots, which I think is a testament to where we are and the importance of the voters in this district,” Devine said.
During the campaign, Garvin received endorsements from Richland County Councilwoman Gretchen Barron, former Columbia City Councilman Sam Davis, and Joan Scott, who is John Scott’s widow.
Devine was endorsed by Vote Mama, a political action committee focused on electing Democratic moms.
Whoever wins the Jan. 2 election for the Senate 19 seat will enter a chamber that highly prioritizes seniority. The next senator for Senate District 19 will rank 46th out of 46 senators.
This story was originally published October 24, 2023 at 9:27 PM.
