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South Carolina, State Representative, District 81

South Carolina House of Representatives District 81
Current incumbentBart Blackwell Republican Party
Population35,525
Ethnicity15.1% Black, 2.8% Hispanic
Voting age80.9% age 18 and over

South Carolina's eighty-first state house district is represented by Republican Representative Bart Blackwell.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 35,525 civilians reside within South Carolina's eighty-first state house district. South Carolina state representatives represent an average of 37,301 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 32,355 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the South Carolina House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. South Carolina legislators assume office the Monday after the election.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the South Carolina House of Representatives, a candidate must be:

  • A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
  • 21 years old at the filing deadline time
  • A resident of the district at the filing deadline time

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$10,400/year$202.03/legislative day

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. If candidates plan to seek the nomination through a party convention, the filing period begins on the third Friday after the vacancy happened. The qualifying deadline is ten days after the filing period opens.

If a candidate plans to seek the nomination via petition, all signatures must submitted to the appropriate filing officer no later than sixty days before the election. All signatures must be verified by the filing officer no later than 45 days before the election.

A primary election must be held on the eleventh Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. If necessary, a primary runoff must be held on the thirteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. The special election is held on the eighteenth Tuesday after vacancy occurs. No special election can be held less than 60 days before the general election.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of South Carolina House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 9, 2020, and a primary runoff is scheduled for June 23, 2020. The filing deadline is March 30, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 81

Incumbent Bart Blackwell (R) defeated Elise Fox (D) in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 81 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Bart Blackwell (R)
63.0
11,342

Elise Fox (D)
37.0
6,667
Other/Write-in votes
0.0
8

Total votes: 18,017
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 81

Elise Fox advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 81 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate

Elise Fox (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 81

Incumbent Bart Blackwell advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 81 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate

Bart Blackwell (R)

2016

Elections for the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The primary election runoff was held on June 28, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 30, 2016. Incumbent Don Wells (R) did not seek re-election.

Bart Blackwell ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 81 general election.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 81 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Bart Blackwell (unopposed) 100.00% 16,781
Total Votes 16,781
Source: South Carolina State Election Commission

Bart Blackwell defeated K.T. Ruthven in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 81 Republican primary runoff.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 81 Republican Primary Runoff, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Bart Blackwell 50.80% 1,042
Republican K.T. Ruthven 49.20% 1,009
Total Votes 2,051
Source: South Carolina State Election Commission

Bart Blackwell and K.T. Ruthven defeated Chris Austin and Jeremy O'Donnell in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 81 Republican primary.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 81 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Bart Blackwell 26.61% 848
Republican Green check mark transparent.png K.T. Ruthven 42.58% 1,357
Republican Chris Austin 19.52% 622
Republican Jeremy O'Donnell 11.30% 360
Total Votes 3,187
Source: South Carolina State Election Commission

2014

Elections for all 124 seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2014. Incumbent Don Wells ran unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2012

Elections for the office of South Carolina House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 12, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2012. Don Wells (R) defeated petition candidate Jane Vaughters (R) in the general election and was unopposed in the Republican primary.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 81, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDon Wells 65% 11,455
Republican Jane Vaughters 34.7% 6,102
Other Write-Ins 0.3% 53
Total Votes 17,610

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for South Carolina House of Representatives District 81 raised a total of $654,078. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $36,338 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, South Carolina House of Representatives District 81

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $65,433 4 $16,358
2014 $5,050 1 $5,050
2012 $75,635 3 $25,212
2010 $38,793 1 $38,793
2008 $277,749 4 $69,437
2006 $106,893 2 $53,447
2004 $9,550 1 $9,550
2002 $9,900 1 $9,900
2000 $65,075 1 $65,075
Total $654,078 18 $36,338