The State endorsement: Senate District 22 Democratic primary

The Democratic primary in the District 22 Senate election features three well-regarded candidates vying for Sen. Mia McLeod’s seat. They are Richland School District Two board member Monica Elkins, first elected in 2012; Rep. Ivory Thigpen, first elected in 2016; and Richland County Council member Overture Walker, elected in 2020.

The State Editorial Board — which is offering recommendations in more than two dozen June 11 primary elections — spent more time on this endorsement than any other because of the caliber of the candidates, their commanding performances in previous elections and our invitations to talk. Their responses showed us how they would govern. In a close call, that was crucial.

Elkins, Thigpen and Walker are all experienced, committed public servants with a seriousness of thought and sturdiness of purpose. They are generally aligned on major issues like education, energy and housing. Their Q&As offered sensibility, specificity and several ideas unique to their campaigns. We emailed each followup questions.

We asked Elkins about an altercation she had with McLeod’s sister after a school board meeting in 2019; Elkins was charged with disorderly conduct and underwent a diversion program for first-time offenders rather than face a trial. We also asked if she planned to run for reelection to the school board in the fall if she lost her Senate race. She declined to address either.

Her email reply stressed that she is focusing on the race to become the next female senator from District 22 and that “I will not entertain any discussion or distractions” that don’t align with “what God has in store for my future.” It was a dismissive reply to serious questions that she should have expected. The altercation is especially troubling for a public official.

We also asked Walker about his potential involvement in two 2024 elections. He is running, lawfully, for state Senate now, and he is the Democratic nominee for County Council against Forward Party candidate Jim Andreen in November. Walker’s council primary was canceled when no other Democrat challenged him, so his re-election is almost assured if he loses the Senate race.

Walker replied by email. He said he only considered the senate seat “after learning that my Senator, Mia McLeod (whom I have long supported), announced she would not seek reelection.” And he added that should he win the senate nomination, he would withdraw immediately as the Democratic County Council nominee “to allow ample time for the voters to choose my successor.” He didn’t note McLeod’s public announcement came April 1, the day the election filing period ended. We deemed his response inadequate.

By contrast, Thigpen called us back and answered our questions about why he is leaving his state House seat to run for Senate, and why he didn’t specifically mention women or women’s issues in his answers to our questionnaire. We talked for nearly an hour, and he was neither elusive nor equivocal. He said we didn’t ask specifically about women’s issues, which is true. And he said that his campaign slogan is “Liberty and justice for all,” which he means to include women, the LGBTQ community and minorities, and that his commitments to expanded education and health care funding, for example, begin with women.

He said something else of note: that he spoke with McLeod and Elkins, separately, for hours, before entering the Senate race.

Transparency and trust are built one conversation at a time. In our analysis, Thigpen’s approach with us, McLeod and Elkins shows a willingness to have potentially difficult conversations, a respect for other leaders and a responsiveness and responsibility to the public and the press that acts as its intermediary. His opponents for Senate did not demonstrate that to us.

The State Editorial Board endorses Ivory Thigpen for Senate District 22 in the Democratic primary.

This story was originally published May 30, 2024 at 8:11 AM.