Jeff Zell
South Carolina State Senator, District 36 since 2024. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 30
- 144 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 3.9%
- Chamber median 3.4%
- With party
- 62%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +1.3
- 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
- Medical Affairs
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Zell sits in the South Carolina State Senate
Zell is closer to the center than 94% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Tom Davis, Brian Adams, Jason Elliott
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With Zell’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans62%
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: Zell’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Zell | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2026 | H 4709: US produced iron and steel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 36–2 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | H 4300: Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 36–3 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | H 4248: Food labeling | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 33–5 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | S 428: Fraudulent Check Expungement | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 36–3 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | H 3558: Commissioners to Article V Convention | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 20–5 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Zell 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.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | South Carolina State Senate, District 36 | Won | R+1.3 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Zell has held
- South Carolina State Senate, District 36 · since 2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Zell has run against
- Kevin L. Johnson (D) · 2024 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Zell
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/236892d9-be31-4afa-9c3c-e68dff8bf480
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET