Margie Bright Matthews
South Carolina State Senator, District 45 since 2016. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 9 yrs
- Since 2016
- Bills became law
- 4
- 82 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 14.9%
- Chamber median 3.4%
- With party
- 97%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +18.9
- Won 2020
- 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.
- Ethics
- Finance
- Labor, Commerce and Industry
- Legislative Oversight
- Medical Affairs
- Transportation
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 Matthews sits in the South Carolina State Senate
Matthews is closer to the center than 0% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Deon Tedder, Brad Hutto, Ronnie Sabb
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With Matthews’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats97%
Black tick: the average of Democrats 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: Matthews’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Matthews | Dem. majority | Rep. 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 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 33–5 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | S 428: Fraudulent Check Expungement | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 36–3 |
| May 26, 2026 | H 5683: Redistricting, Congressional Districts | No | No | Yes | Failed 20–24 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Matthews 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 45 | Won | — |
| 2020 | South Carolina State Senate, District 45 | Won | D+18.9 |
| 2016 | South Carolina State Senate, District 45 | Won | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Matthews has held
- South Carolina State Senate, District 45 · since 2016
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Matthews has run against
- Rodney Buncum (R) · 2020 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Matthews
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/829bd3ab-d117-43fd-b274-f9ff8177c789
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET