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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The race for South Carolina Senate District 22, which is currently held by one of six sister Senators, Mia McLeod, is heating up. Now two candidates are left vying for the Democratic nomination and will face off in the upcoming run offs.

Following the statewide primaries last Tuesday the race for Senate District 22 trickled down to S.C. Rep. Ivory Thigpen and Richland County Councilman Overture Walker.

It was a tight race between Rep. Thigpen and Councilman Walker. Thigpen took 43 percent of the vote on primary night while Walker trailed behind Thigpen with 40 percent.

Today I got down to the nitty gritty with these candidates asking about past legislation and ordinances they’ve passed and supported and their goals if elected.

Both candidates have touted their experience serving on a governing body. So, we spoke about the legislation and ordinances they’ve supported that’s impacted the lives of people living within the district.

“What we passed in 2017 was the homeowner’s association act by the time it made it to passage, it had been watered down to a degree but there was still a reservoir in the ombudsman’s office where people could file complaints against their homeowner’s association. The thought and the intention was to circle back and deal with that and put more teeth and enforcement,” Thigpen said.

Councilman Walker said, “We can begin with the mask ordinance that passed in 2021 at a time when a republican controlled general assembly refused to pass a mask mandate that would’ve saved lives during COVID. Ultimately the people turned to the Richland County council to step up and save lives and it made a difference.”

Rep. Thigpen says he’s also sat on Ad-Hoc committees for major issues such as judicial reform, funding for higher education, and law enforcement reform.

Councilman Walker spoke about the land development code, which dictates how Richland County will grow, and pointed to the incentive agreement to bring Scout Motors to the county. It’s also important to note that as the Chairman of the Richland County Council, Walker could not introduce or create any ordinances but could only sign off on them.

Next both candidates broke down their top three goals if elected.

“Certainly, I would want to place an emphasis on economic development, I believe one of the panels I’d like to see is gun violence, gang violence, you know crime, and some of the other socioeconomic challenges that we are confronted with as a society,” said Councilman Walker.

Rep. Thigpen said, “For me, this is about unfinished business. I know what we’ve done in the house, I know what accomplished and what’s left to be done. The Clementine Pickney hate crime act, that’s something that I sponsored, that passed, but i still say were at a hits for not having hate crime legislation, Wyoming is the only other state and we have arguably in my humble opinion the first if not the worst hate crimes ever committed with Mother Emanuel where not only nines innocent lives were taken but a sitting senator was assassinated.”

No republican filed for the South Carolina Senate District 22 race. So, the winner of this race will face Gary Votour from the Worker’s party in November.

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