RepublicanIn office since Nov 2012

Sean Bennett

South Carolina State Senator, District 38 since 2012. Next on the ballot in 2028.

South Carolina State Senator, District 38

In office
14 yrs
Since 2012
Bills became law
8
75 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
0.4%
Chamber median 3.4%
With party
81%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+17.8
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 · chair
  • Banking and Insurance
  • Corrections and Penology
  • Finance
  • Labor, Commerce and Industry
  • Transportation

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

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 75 sponsored · 8 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
S 863 Culinary Arts Management Degree
Became law Jun 2026
S 831 SCDOT Modernization
Became law Jun 2026
S 508 Monuments
Became law Jun 2026
S 439 Manufacturing property tax exemption
Became law May 2026
S 156 Fentanyl Induced Homicide
Became law May 2025

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

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Bennett sits in the South Carolina State Senate

Bennett is closer to the center than 60% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianBennettMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Everett Stubbs, Greg Hembree, Michael Johnson

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

With Bennett’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Republicans81%

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: Bennett’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

DateBillBennettRep. majorityDem. majorityResult
Jun 25, 2026H 4709: US produced iron and steelYesYesYesPassed 36–2
Jun 25, 2026H 4300: Retirement System for Judges and SolicitorsNoYesYesPassed 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 Bennett 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 38Won—
2020South Carolina State Senate, District 38WonR+17.8
2016South Carolina State Senate, District 38Won—
2012South Carolina State Senate, District 38Won—

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats Bennett has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Bennett has run against

  • John Lowe (D) · 2020 general, won

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Bennett

One person, matched across every source we use.

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