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Achievement

Holy City Sinner: Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Spotlights Rep. Spencer Wetmore

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) has announced that State Representative Spencer Wetmore (D-Charleston) has been named a Spotlight candidate. The DLCC said that candidates who receive a spotlight “displayed extraordinary leadership while fighting for their communities.”

“It’s an honor to be recognized for my work to protect our coast and expand access to affordable housing and healthcare,” Wetmore said. “Now, more than ever, we need leaders focused on finding solutions as our state and country grapple with the spike in gun violence, rising prices, and climate change. I’ll continue to work and reach across the aisle to get things done for our community and South Carolina as a whole.”

Wetmore was first elected in 2020 during a special election, flipping a district won by Trump in 2016. In her first term as a state legislator, Wetmore successfully passed two bills, a rare feat for a freshman lawmaker. She also delivered the Democratic response to Gov. McMaster’s 2022 State of the State address in January.

“Democratic state legislators are on the frontlines defending and expanding our access to health care, education funding, abortion access, and the right to vote,” said DLCC President Jessica Post. “During the Trump administration, the DLCC and state Democrats flipped hundreds of seats from red to blue, elected strong candidates from all across the country, and returned over half a dozen chambers to Democratic control. We are proud to stand with Representative Wetmore and include her in our growing list of amazing candidates who are committed to making a difference in their communities.”

The race for Wetmore’s seat (District 115) will be one of the most closely contested elections in South Carolina, a high priority target for both Democrats and Republicans.

Read the Holy City Sinner article.

Categories
Achievement Legislation

Spencer Wetmore Named Joseph Neal Elected Official of the Year

“The Joseph Neal Elected Official of the Year Award is given to an elected official in South Carolina of any level. Honoring an elected official that has put in a lot of work in South Carolina for the Democratic Party.

[Spencer’s] primary focus as Administrator has been legislation, beach nourishment, resilience and disaster response, personnel, and budget management.

We are so proud of the work Representative Wetmore doest to benefit all South Carolinians, but are specifically pleased with how she represents the values of Young Democrats of South Carolina in Columbia.”

-The Young Democrats of South Carolina

Categories
Achievement Campaign

Associated Press: South Carolina Democrat flips State House seat

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina Democrat has flipped a legislative seat from Republican control in a victory heralded by some Democrats as a possible signal their party could make more gains this fall.

Spencer Wetmore won more than 59% of the votes counted in Tuesday night’s special election in state House district 115, according to unofficial election results from the state election commission. Republican candidate Josh Stokes received just over 39% of votes counted.

The seat in South Carolina’s Lowcountry had long been held by Republicans but was targeted by Democrats seeing possible trends in their direction in the area, spurred in part by Democrat Joe Cunningham’s 2018 victory in the 1st Congressional District. Its most recent occupant, Peter McCoy, earlier this year resigned to become South Carolina’s U.S. attorney. McCoy had been chairman of the state House judiciary committee.

A Green party candidate secured 1% of votes cast. Results will be certified later this week.

Republicans currently hold control of the state House chamber, in which Democrats would now have 45 seats with Wetmore’s victory. The legislature is not currently in session, but lawmakers are due to return next month for a special gathering to weigh in on some measures related to the pandemic, including possible expansions of absentee voting and other changes for the November election. They will also debate the state budget and spending $668 million in federal coronavirus reimbursements to state agencies and local governments.

Democrats across the state heralded Wetmore’s apparent victory as a sign their party could make substantive gains in the November general elections, during which all seats in South Carolina state House and Senate are up for election.

Wetmore’s victory holds only until that balloting, when the seat will again be up for a vote. The Folly Beach city administrator and Stokes, a local attorney, will again face-off in that contest.

Categories
Achievement Campaign

Count On News 2: Spencer Wetmore projected winner of special election for State House Seat 115

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Spencer Wetmore (D) is projected to win the special election for State House Seat 115, recently vacated by now US Attorney for the District of SC Peter McCoy Jr.

The area covers James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah, and Seabrook.

As of 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wetmore held 59.43% of reported votes, with Josh Stokes (R) trailing at 39.32% and Eugene Platt (GPUS) at 1.15%.

The special election will determine who will serve out the remainder of McCoy’s term. Wetmore and Stokes will face off once again in the November 3 general election.

Wetmore currently serves as the City Administrator for Folly Beach. Of the projected win, she said:

“We’re living in trying and uncertain times. The residents of James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah and Seabrook deserve a leader who is going to put party labels aside, listen to the experts on pandemic response, protect our coastline and our healthcare, improve our public schools, and put the Lowcountry first. I’m excited to hit the ground running and get to work for House District 115.”

Although all precincts have reported, SCVOTES has yet to officially call the race. We are monitoring for the official announcement.