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.

Michael Gambrell
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 4th district
Assumed office
May 24, 2016
Preceded byBilly O'Dell
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 7th district
In office
December 5, 2006 – May 24, 2016
Preceded byRonnie Townsend
Succeeded byJay West
Personal details
Born
Michael Wayne Gambrell

(1958-01-10) January 10, 1958 (age 66)
Belton, South Carolina
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Renee V. Gambrell
(m. 1990)
Alma materClemson University (BS, 1980)
OccupationEntrepreneur

Early life and education

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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)

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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

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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

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

Electoral history

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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][21]
2020 General Republican Jose Villa Democratic 31,129 72.71% 1st -26.44% Won Hold [22][23][24]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Gambrell wins SC Senate District 4 runoff election primary". WYFF. 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  16. ^ a b "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 4th District State Senate Results: Michael Gambrell Wins". The New York Times. 2017-08-01. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  21. ^ "South Carolina 2016 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 4". South Carolina Election Commission. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  22. ^ Dominguez, Damian (2020-11-03). "Gambrell reelected to state Senate District 4". Index-Journal. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  23. ^ Brown, Kirk (March 30, 2020). "South Carolina elections: Here's who is running for office in Anderson County". Independent Mail. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  24. ^ "South Carolina 2020 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 4". South Carolina Election Commission. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
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South Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 7th district

2006–2016
Succeeded by
South Carolina Senate
Preceded by Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 3rd district

2016–present
Incumbent