Michael Gambrell

Michael Gambrell
Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office May 24, 2016
Preceded by	Billy O'Dell
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 7th district
In office December 5, 2006 – May 24, 2016
Preceded by	Ronnie Townsend
Succeeded by	Jay West
Personal details
Born	Michael Wayne Gambrell (1958-01-10) January 10, 1958 (age 67) Belton, South Carolina
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Renee V. Gambrell ​ (m. 1990)​
Alma mater	Clemson University (BS, 1980)
Occupation	Entrepreneur

Michael Wayne Gambrell (born January 10, 1958) is an American politician and businessman who has represented South Carolina's 4th Senate District since 2016. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 7th District from 2006 to 2016.

Early life and education

Gambrell was born January 10, 1958 in Belton, South Carolina to Aaron and Robbie Gambrell. He graduated with a B.S. from Clemson University in 1980.[1]

S.C. House of Representatives (2006-2016)

Gambrell served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2006 through 2016, representing the 7th district (parts of Anderson County).[1][2]

In 2015, in the wake of the Charleston church shooting, Governor Nikki Haley called on the state legislature to open debate about the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina Capitol. Gambrell was in the minority of members who voted against opening debate.[3] In July 2015, Haley signed a bill into law authorizing the flags removal.[4][5]

S.C. Senate

Gambrell was first elected to the South Carolina Senate during a special election in 2016 when incumbent William H. O'Dell died in office.[6][7] He has represented South Carolina's 4th Senate district (portions of Abbeville, Anderson, and Greenwood Counties).[1]

In 2022, Gambrell voted for the Fetal Heartbeat Act, legislation that banned abortion in the state after six-weeks.[8]

Personal life

Gambrell is self-employed at M&R Enterprises.[1]

Electoral history

Year	Office	Type	Party		Main opponent	Party		Votes for Gambrell				Result	Swing		Ref.
								Total	%	P.	±%
2006	S.C. Representative	Rep. primary		Republican	Dan Harvell		Republican	1,477	53.83%	1st	N/A	Won	N/A		[9]
		General		Republican	Ron Gilreath		Democratic	4,300	56.04%	1st	N/A	Won		Hold	[9]
2008		General		Republican	Richard Kelly		Democratic	8,232	70.26%	1st	+14.22%	Won		Hold	[10]
2010		General		Republican	Write-in	N/A		6,216	99.58%	1st	+29.32%	Won		Hold	[11]
2012		General		Republican	Write-in	N/A		9,457	99.31%	1st	-0.27%	Won		Hold	[12]
2014		General		Republican	Write-in	N/A		6,290	99.59%	1st	+0.28%	Won		Hold	[13]
2016	S.C. Senator	Rep. primary		Republican	Rockey Burgess		Republican		45.50%	1st	N/A	Won	N/A		[14]
		Rep. primary runoff		Republican	Rockey Burgess		Republican		57.00%	1st	N/A	Won	N/A		[15][16]
		Special		Republican	Write-in	N/A		1,246	91.75%	1st	N/A	Won		Hold	[16][17]
		Rep. primary		Republican	Rockey Burgess		Republican	6,075	64.95%	1st	+7.95%	Won	N/A		[15][18]
		General		Republican	Write-in	N/A		28,064	99.15%	1st	+7.40%	Won		Hold	[19][20]
2020		General		Republican	Jose Villa		Democratic	31,129	72.71%	1st	-26.44%	Won		Hold	[21][22][23]

References

1. "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography: Senator Michael W. Gambrell". South Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
2. Lewis, J.D. "South Carolina During the 2000s - The 117th General Assembly (2007-2008)". Carolana. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
3. "South Carolina lawmakers weigh in on removal of Confederate flag from state Capitol grounds". WYFF. 2015-06-24. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
4. Chappell, Bill (July 9, 2015). "South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Signs Confederate Flag Bill Into Law". NPR. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
5. "South Carolina Confederate Battle Flag Removal Bill Signing Ceremony | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
6. The Associated Press (January 12, 2016). "SC Senate remembers Billy O'Dell, who died in office". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
7. "Upstate Sen. William O'Dell passes away at the age of 77". WISTV. 2016-01-07. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
8. Ablon, Matthew (2022-06-28). "Who voted for, against South Carolina's Fetal Heartbeat Act?". WCNC. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
9. "South Carolina Election Report (2005-2006)" (PDF). South Carolina Election Commission. 2006. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
10. "South Carolina 2008 General Election: State House of Representatives District 7". South Carolina Election Commission. 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
11. "South Carolina 2010 General Election: State House of Representatives District 7". South Carolina Election Commission. 2010-11-18. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
12. "South Carolina 2012 General Election: State House of Representatives District 7". South Carolina Election Commission. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
13. "South Carolina 2014 General Election: State House of Representatives, District 7". South Carolina Election Commission. 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
14. "Runoff needed to fill vacant SC Senate seat". WYFF. 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
15. "Gambrell wins SC Senate District 4 runoff election primary". WYFF. 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
16. "Gambrell takes SC Senate seat of the late Billy O'Dell". Spartanburg Herald Journal. May 24, 2016. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
17. "State Senate District 4 Special Election". South Carolina Election Commission. May 17, 2016. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
18. "South Carolina 2016 Republican and Democratic Primary: State Senate, District 4 - REP". South Carolina Election Commission. 2016-07-26. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
19. "South Carolina 4th District State Senate Results: Michael Gambrell Wins". The New York Times. 2017-08-01. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
20. "South Carolina 2016 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 4". South Carolina Election Commission. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
21. Dominguez, Damian (2020-11-03). "Gambrell reelected to state Senate District 4". Index-Journal. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
22. Brown, Kirk (March 30, 2020). "South Carolina elections: Here's who is running for office in Anderson County". Independent Mail. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
23. "South Carolina 2020 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 4". South Carolina Election Commission. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

External links

• Mike Gambrell Senate District 4

South Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Ronnie Townsend	Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 7th district 2006–2016	Succeeded by Jay West
South Carolina Senate
Preceded by William H. O'Dell	Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 3rd district 2016–present	Incumbent