Who represents Richland, Lexington County in the statehouse? Here’s who to know

Richland and Lexington counties’ lawmakers will help decide if taxes are cut, how state roads are fixed and how much money gets sent to school districts. Those are just some of the ways the local delegation of lawmakers decisions will impact the Midlands when the General Assembly convenes next week.

While the counties are represented by 30 members in the statehouse, here are a few to know:

Todd Rutherford

State Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, is the House’s Minority Leader and sits on the Ways and Means Committee, giving him access to crafting South Carolina’s budget.

Rutherford, a Columbia attorney, has led the Democratic caucus in his chamber since 2013. In 2024, he faced a challenge from state Rep. Kambrell Garvin, R-Richland, for the leadership position. Rutherford was re-elected 19-13.

Rutherford has served in the House since 1999. He received his law degree from the University of South Carolina.

Micah Caskey

State Rep. Micah Caskey, R-Lexington, chairs the House Rules Committee and sits on Ways and Means. He has represented portions of Lexington County, including West Columbia and Cayce, since 2017.

As a member of the House GOP caucus, Caskey has gone up against hard-right House Freedom Caucus members on social media and on the floor, sometimes colorfully. The West Columbia attorney is also a member of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, which vets judicial candidates, and the Joint Bond Review Committee.

Caskey also sat on a House panel investigating a $1.8 billion accounting error in the South Carolina Treasurer’s Office last year.

Freedom Caucus members from Lexington

The House Freedom Caucus faced setbacks last year when one of its founders, former state Rep. RJ May of Lexington County, was arrested in June after a federal criminal investigation. May pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing child pornography and is set to be sentenced the day after lawmakers return.

But its fewer than 20 members will likely still push back on the GOP House caucus. State Reps. Ryan McCabe, R-Lexington, and state Rep. Jay Kilmartin, R-Lexington, are local members of the caucus.

The House group has pushed for far-right legislation, including on culture war issues and stricter abortion laws.

Kilmartin, a Lexington County business owner, was elected in 2022. McCabe, an attorney, has served in the House since 2020.

Darrell Jackson

State Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, is the most senior member of Richland County’s delegation. Jackson is the senior pastor at Bible Way Church of Atlas Road.

Jackson sits on the Finance Committee, in addition to five others. He is also the only Democratic Senator on the Joint Bond Review Committee.

House Democrats pushing for change

State Reps. Heather Bauer, D-Richland, and state Rep. Kambrell Garvin, D-Richland, have been vocal about making the state’s Democratic lawmakers more competitive and influential in the state House. In 2022 elections, the caucus lost four members, putting Democrats deeper into a super minority. The 36-member caucus did not gain any seats in 2024.

Garvin ran against Rutherford for the minority leadership position in the House, arguing the party needed more relevancy. Bauer has also pushed for making votes more challenging for the Republican supermajority through amendments.

Bauer is the co-owner of Warrior Fitness, a Columbia gym. She’s served in the House since 2022. Garvin, a local attorney, was first elected to the House in 2018.

State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, D-Richland, is also sometimes known for his passionate House speeches that have gained attention on social media. Johnson is running for governor.

Other local Senators

Richland County is primarily represented by Democratic lawmakers in the Senate. Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine, D-Richland, is currently serving her first full term, and she has been actively hosting local town halls and delivering speeches. Devine is only one of two women in the 46-member Senate.

State Sen. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun, represents a large swath of Lexington County, but he also represents a majority of downtown Columbia. Ott is also in his first term in the Senate, but he previously served in the House for over a decade. He defeated incumbent Dick Harpootlian in the 2024 primaries.

State Sen. Overture Walker, D-Richland, is also serving his first term in the Senate. The attorney previously was on the Richland County Council.

In Lexington County, state Sen. Carlilse Kennedy, R-Lexington, filed the highest number of bills in the Senate before January.

Other local House members

State Rep. Nathan Ballentine, R-Richland, has served in the House since 2005 and represents portions of Richland and Lexington near Lake Murray. Ballentine works on the Ways and Means Committee.

Lexington County also has a new representative this year, after pastor John Lastinger won a special election to complete May’s term in December.

State Rep. Beth Bernstein, D-Richland, is on the Judiciary and Ethics Committees. She has served in the House for over a decade. State Rep. Paula Calhoon, R-Lexington, is in the same committees.

State Rep. Seth Rose, D-Richland, also serves on the Judiciary Committee and previously was on the Richland County Council. He was first elected in 2018. Also on the Judiciary Committee, state Rep. Chris Hart, D-Richland, has served in the House since 2007.

State Rep. Hamilton Grant, D-Richland, is a freshman House member. He’s a financial consultant and on the Education committee.

Rep. Cal Forrest, R-Saluda, represents portions of western Lexington County. He is the second vice chair of the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.

A member of the House since 2018, state Rep. Chris Wooten, R-Lexington, is the owner of BodyShop Athletics. He is the vice chair of the Government Efficiency and Oversight Committee.

This story was originally published January 9, 2026 at 8:49 AM.