RepublicanIn office since Nov 2024

J.D. Chaplin

South Carolina State Senator, District 29 since 2024. Next on the ballot in 2028.

South Carolina State Senator, District 29

In office
1 yr
Since 2024
Bills became law
4
59 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
2.5%
Chamber median 3.4%
With party
75%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+0.6
Won 2024
Next election
2028
Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Family and Veterans' Services
  • Fish, Game and Forestry
  • Judiciary
  • Transportation

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 59 sponsored · 4 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
S 508 Monuments
Became law Jun 2026
S 28 AI Child Abuse
Became law May 2025
S 29 MPIC
Became law May 2025
S 504 Distribution of controlled substance within proximity
Passed Senate Mar 2026
S 244 Tort Reform
Passed Senate Apr 2025

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Chaplin sits in the South Carolina State Senate

Chaplin is closer to the center than 80% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianChaplinMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Stephen Goldfinch, Ronnie Cromer, Ross Turner

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET

With Chaplin’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Republicans75%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the South Carolina State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Chaplin’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

DateBillChaplinRep. majorityDem. majorityResult
Jun 25, 2026H 4709: US produced iron and steelYesYesYesPassed 36–2
Jun 25, 2026H 4300: Retirement System for Judges and SolicitorsYesYesYesPassed 36–3
Jun 25, 2026H 4248: Food labelingYesYesYesPassed 33–5
Jun 25, 2026S 428: Fraudulent Check ExpungementYesYesYesPassed 36–3
Jun 25, 2026H 3558: Commissioners to Article V ConventionYesYesNoPassed 20–5

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Chaplin was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMargin
2024South Carolina State Senate, District 29WonR+0.6
2020South Carolina State Senate, District 29LostD+7.5
2016South Carolina House of Representatives, District 54LostD+31.8

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats Chaplin has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Chaplin has run against

  • Gerald Malloy (D) · 2024 general, won
  • Gerald Malloy (D) · 2020 general, lost
  • Patricia Pat Moore Henegan (D) · 2016 general, lost

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Chaplin

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET