Richland County Councilman Overture Walker secures Democratic nomination for SC Senate

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Richland County Councilman Overture Walker secured the Democratic nomination for S.C. Senate District 22 on Tuesday night in a runoff election.

The Senate District 22 race was one of the most-watched runoff races of this election. The Senate District 22 seat is currently being held by Independent Sen. Mia McLeod, who decided not to seek re-election.

No Republican filed for the race, so Walker will face Gary Votour, a candidate from the Workers Party, in November.

Walker secured the nomination with a less than 10% margin.

After the Democratic primary race two weeks ago, the race was narrowed down to the top-two vote-getters ― state representative Ivory Thigpen and Walker.

Walker currently represent Richland County’s District 8 on council. A special election will be held to fill his seat.

Both Rep. Thigpen and Councilman Walker have similar visions for the district, but different ways to go about bringing those plans to fruition.

WIS News 10 asked both candidates about previous legislation and ordinances they’ve supported during their time governing on the state and local level respectively.

Rep. Thigpen touted HOA legislation that was passed back in 2017 which he said was a top priority from the community. Thigpen said the legislation was “watered down” by the time it passed, but still made way for a reservoir with the Ombudsman’s Office where complaints could be filed.

Walker explained in his position as chairman, he signed off on ordinances, but did not create them. He pointed to his support for the Richland County mask ordinance back in 2021.

He says when the S.C. General Assembly failed to enact a mask mandate, residents came to Richland County Council which led him to signing off on that ordinance. Walked emphasized that this has saved many lives.

WIS News 10 asked both candidates about their first order of business if elected.

This is what they had to say.

Rep. Thigpen: “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.”

Councilman Walker: “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.”

Walker’s campaign has outraised Thigpen.

Walker entered the race for Senate District 22 on the last day of filing but still raised more than $116,000 while Thigpen’s campaign brought in more than $45,000.

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