2020 LGBTQ Voters Guide

2020 LGBTQ Voters Guide

Get The Facts Before You Vote

Welcome to the 2020 LGBTQ Voters Guide for South Carolina! Since 2012, we’ve compiled candidate research and endorsements to help you cast an informed vote. LGBTQ South Carolinians make up a substantial voting block and our voice matters in elections.

Endorsements from SC Equality come in two forms:

  • Congressional and Presidential candidate endorsements are made by the political advocacy arm of our organization (SC Equality Coalition).
  • State and Local candidate endorsements are made by the political action committee arm of our organization (SC Equality PAC)

YOUR VOTE MATTERS

Our 2020 LGBTQ Voters Guide, In One Single List

SC Equality’s 2020 Voter’s Guide includes candidates for federal, state and local elections.  Our endorsements are made by SC Equality Coalition (501(c)4) for presidential and congressional races and by SC Equality PAC (Political Action Committee) for all state and local elections.  

The following endorsed candidates are part our 1st round of endorsements and we are currently in the process of interviewing candidates for our 2nd round of endorsements.  (If you don’t see a candidate listed below, rest assured that this is not our complete list for the upcoming November General Election.) 

The following list was updated on August 21, 2020.  Our next round of endorsements will be added around August 28, 2020.

President of the United States

Joe Biden

United States Senate

Jaime Harrison

United States House of Representative

Joe Cunningham

South Carolina Senate

S.C. Senate
District 03

Judith Polson
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 05

Michael McCord
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 07

Sen. Karl Allen
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 15

Vicki Holt
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 16

Ramin Mammadov
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 17

Sen. Mike Fanning
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 20

Sen. Dick Harpootlian
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 22

Sen. Mia McLeod
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 26

Sen. Nikki Setzler
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 27

Sen. Vincent Sheheen
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 29

Sen. Gerald Malloy
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 32

Sen. Ronnie Sabb
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 36

Sen. Kevin Johnson
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 41

Sam Skardon
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 43

Richard Hricik
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 44

Debbie Bryant
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 45

Sen. Margie Bright Matthews
(D)

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S.C. Senate
District 46

Nathan Campbell
(D)

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South Carolina House of Representatives

S.C. House
District 03

Pickens
County

Eunice Lehmacher
(D)

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S.C. House
District 07

ABBEVILLE,ANDERSON
Counties

Andrea Bejarano-Robinson
(D)

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S.C. House
District 12

GREENWOOD,MCCORMICK
Counties

Representative
Anne Parks
(D)

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S.C. House
District 15

BERKELEY,CHARLESTON
Counties

Representative
JA Moore
(D)

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S.C. House
District 18

GREENVILLE
County

Benjamin Smith
(D)

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S.C. House
District 19

GREENVILLE
County

Jevarus Howard
(D)

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S.C. House
District 25

GREENVILLE
County

Representative
Leola Robinson-Simpson
(D)

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S.C. House
District 26

YORK
County

Monica Danneman
(D)

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S.C. House
District 28

GREENVILLE
County

Ty Washington
(D)

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S.C. House
District 35

GREENVILLE,SPARTANBURG
Counties

Helen Pendarvis
(D)

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S.C. House
District 41

CHESTER,FAIRFIELD,RICHLAND
Counties

Representative
Annie E. McDaniel
(D)

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S.C. House
District 44

LANCASTER
County

Representative
Mandy Powers Norrell
(D)

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S.C. House
District 49

YORK
County

Representative
John R. King
(D)

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S.C. House
District 52

KERSHAW
County

Representative
Laurie Funderburk
(D)

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S.C. House
District 54

CHESTERFIELD,DARLINGTON,MARLBORO
Counties

Representative
Pat Henegan
(D)

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S.C. House
District 56

HORRY
County

Bruce Fischer
(D)

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S.C. House
District 63

FLORENCE
County

Isaac Wilson
(D)

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S.C. House
District 64

CLARENDON,SUMTER
Counties

Kimberly Johnson
(D)

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S.C. House
District 66

ORANGEBURG
County

Representative
Gilda Cobb-Hunter
(D)

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S.C. House
District 73

RICHLAND
County

Representative
Chris Hart
(D)

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S.C. House
District 74

RICHLAND
County

Representative
Todd Rutherford
(D)

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S.C. House
District 75

RICHLAND
County

Rhodes Bailey
(D)

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S.C. House
District 77

RICHLAND
County

Representative
Kambrell Garvin
(D)

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S.C. House
District 78

RICHLAND
County

Representative
Beth Bernstein
(D)

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S.C. House
District 79

RICHLAND
County

Representative
Ivory Thigpen
(D)

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S.C. House
District 80

KERSHAW,RICHLAND
Counties

Jermaine Johnson
(D)

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S.C. House
District 90

BAMBERG,BARNWELL,COLLETON
Counties

Representative
Justin Bamberg
(D)

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S.C. House
District 94

CHARLESTON,DORCHESTER
Counties

Patricia Cannon
(D)

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S.C. House
District 95

ORANGEBURG
County

Representative
Jerry Govan
(D)

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S.C. House
District 97

COLLETON,DORCHESTER
Counties

Ronee DeCanio
(D)

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S.C. House
District 99

BERKELEY,CHARLESTON
Counties

Jen Gibson
(D)

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S.C. House
District 111

CHARLESTON
County

Representative
Wendell Gilliard
(D)

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S.C. House
District 112

CHARLESTON
County

Daniel Brownstein
(D)

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S.C. House
District 118

BEAUFORT,JASPER
Counties

Mitchell Siegel
(D)

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S.C. House
District 119

CHARLESTON
County

Representative
Leon Stavrinakis
(D)

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S.C. House
District 123

BEAUFORT
County

Christine deVries
(D)

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S.C. House
District 124

BEAUFORT
County

Barb Nash
(D)

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S.C. House District
10

Anderson, Greenville,
Pickens

Lucy
Hoffman

(Democrat)

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S.C. House District
12

Greenwood & McCormick Counties

Representative
Anne Parks

(Democrat)

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S.C. House District
13

Greenwood
County

Michael
Gaskin

(Democrat)

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S.C. House District
15

Berkeley & Charleston
Counties

J.A.
Moore
T

(Democrat)

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S.C. House District 22

Greenville
County

Representative
Jason Elliott
T

(Republican)

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S.C. House District 23

Greenville
County

Representative
Chandra E. Dillard
T

(Democrat)

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S.C. House District 25

Greenville
County

Representative
Leola Robinson-Simpson
(Democrat)

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S.C. House District 35

Greenville & Spartanburg Counties

Helen
M. Pendarvis
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 44

Lancaster
County

Representative
Mandy
Powers Norrell
(D)

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S.C. House District 48

York
County

Vickie
Holt
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 49

York
County

Representative
John King
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 50

Kershaw, Lee & Sumter
Counties

Representative
Will Wheeler
T
(D)

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S.C. House District
51

Sumter
County

Representative
J. David Weeks
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 52

Kershaw
County

Representative
Laurie Slade Funderburk
(D)

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S.C. House District 54

Chesterfield, Darlington & Marlboro Counties

Representative
Pat Henegan
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 59

Darlington & Florence
Counties

Representative
Terry Alexander
T
(D)

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S.C. House District
61

Florence & Marion
Counties

Representative
Roger K. Kirby
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 64

Clarendon & Sumter
Counties

Representative
Robert L. Ridgeway, III
(D)

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S.C. House District 66

Orangeburg
County

Representative
Gilda Cobb-Hunter
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 67

Sumter
County

Representative
G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
(R)

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S.C. House District 69

Lexington
County

Beth Ann Rocheleau
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 70

Richland & Sumter
Counties

Representative
Wendy C. Brawley
(D)

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S.C. House District 72

Richland
County

Seth Rose

(D)

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S.C. House District 73

Richland
County

Representative
Christopher R. “Chris” Hart
(D)

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S.C. House District 74

Richland
County

Representative
J. Todd Rutherford
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 78

Richland
County

Representative
Beth E. Bernstein
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 79

Richland
County

Representative
Ivory Torrey Thigpen
(D)

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S.C. House District 80

Kershaw & Richland
Counties

Representative
Jimmy C. Bales
(D)

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S.C. House District
81

Aiken
County

Elise Fox
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 82

Aiken, Edgefield &
Saluda Counties

Representative
Bill Clyburn
(D)

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S.C. House District 85

Lexington
County

Sam Edwards

(D)

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S.C. House District 90

Bamberg, Barnwell &
Colleton Counties

Representative
Justin T. Bamberg
(D)

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S.C. House District
91

Allendale, Barnwell &
Orangeburg Counties

Representative
Lonnie Hosey
(D)

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S.C. House District 93

Calhoun, Lexington &
Orangeburg Counties

Representative
Russell L. Ott
(D)

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S.C. House District 99

Berkeley & Charleston
Counties

Jen Gibson
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 101

Clarendon & Williamsburg
Counties

Representative
Cezar E. McKnight
(D)

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S.C. House District 102

Berkeley & Dorchester
Counties

Representative
Joseph H. Jefferson, Jr.
(D)

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S.C. House District 103

Georgetown, Horry &
Williamsburg Counties

Representative
Carl L. Anderson
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 109

Charleston & Dorchester
Counties

Representative
David J. Mack, III
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 110

Charleston
County

Ben Pogue
T
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 111

Charleston
County

Representative
Wendell G. Gilliard
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 112

Charleston
County

Joe Preston
T
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 113

Charleston & Dorchester
Counties

Representative
Marvin R. Pendarvis
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 116

Charleston & Colleton
Counties

Representative
Robert L. Brown
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 119

Charleston
County

Representative
Leon Stavrinakis
T
(D)

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S.C. House District 121

Beaufort & Colleton
Counties

Representative
Michael F. Rivers, Sr.
T
(D)

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Make Your Voice Heard

and

VOTE!

Latest News

Only 8 Days Left. What’s Your Plan?

October 26th, 2020|

We're 8 days until the most important election of our lifetime. What's your plan? COLUMBIA, SC - Voting should never be a confusing process, but with the spread COVID-19, we know that many South Carolinians still have questions about how to vote in the November 3rd General Election. SC Equality has compiled information to help ensure you make [...]

Absentee Voting begins in South Carolina Let’s Elect Pro-Equality Candidates in November. Your Vote. Your Voice.

October 9th, 2018|

View Sample Absentee Ballot Forms South Carolina voters can begin casting in-person absentee ballots for the Nov. 6 general election now. The state doesn't allow no-excuses early voting. But someone who is working, will be out of town, is sixty-five years or older, or is physically unable to go to the polls can qualify for an absentee ballot. Machines will be set up in the office of each county election [...]

SC Equality PAC announce first wave of endorsements for 2018

September 17th, 2018|

SC Equality PAC announce first wave of endorsements for 2018 SC Equality PAC (the political action committee of SC Equality) announce endorsements of a record number of candidates running for state and local office in November. Jeff Ayers, Executive Director of SC Equality said “While many fight to take us backwards, these candidates will fight to advance LGBTQ equality across our state. We are proud to endorse this record [...]

SC Equality PAC has endorsed James Smith for Governor.

September 5th, 2018|

SC Equality PAC has endorsed James Smith for Governor. A long-time champion for LGBTQ equality in the SC House of Representatives, James Smith has been outspoken vocal supporter and advocate for SC Equality. He recognizes that all South Carolinians deserve the same rights in our state and understands the critical need for legislation protecting LGBTQ South Carolinians in the workplace, housing and public accommodations. This past legislative session, [...]

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