Jay Kilmartin
Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0
RepublicanIn office since Nov 2022

Jay Kilmartin

South Carolina State Representative, District 85 since 2022. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.

South Carolina State Representative, District 85

In office
3 yrs
Since 2022
Bills became law
9
1024 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
5.4%
Chamber median 7.9%
With party
83%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+11.9
Won 2026
Next election
2028
Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Education and Public Works

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

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 1,024 sponsored · 9 became law
BillIntroCmteHouseSenateLaw
H 5538 Guarantee Banking Act
Became law Jul 2026
H 3551 Poll Worker Pay
Became law Jun 2026
H 4804 Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, penalties
Became law Jun 2026
H 3034 Fargo's, Hyco's, Rico's, Coba's, Wick's, Mikka's, and Bumi's Law
Became law May 2026
H 3163 Occupational diseases
Became law May 2026

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

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Kilmartin sits in the South Carolina House of Representatives

Kilmartin is closer to the center than 11% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianKilmartinMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Chris Huff, Jackie Terribile, Dianne Mitchell

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

With Kilmartin’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Republicans83%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

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

DateBillKilmartinRep. majorityDem. majorityResult
Aug 25, 2026H 3305: Supplemental AppropriationsNoYesYesPassed 96–15
Aug 11, 2026H 4042: IvermectinNoNoYesPassed 43–51
May 14, 2026H 5122: Internet and Communications Service Providers EquipmentNoYesYesPassed 92–18
May 14, 2026H 4303: Cigarettes for heatingNoYesYesPassed 91–18
May 14, 2026H 4589: Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use TaxNoYesYesPassed 91–14

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

Career

Offices held, and every time Kilmartin 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.

YearRaceResultMarginSeat+/−
2026South Carolina House District 85WonR+11.9R+24.3−12.4
2024South Carolina House of Representatives, District 85Won———
2022South Carolina House of Representatives, District 85WonR+51.7——

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: South Carolina Election Commission (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET

Campaign money, 2025–26

Raised
$25.8K
Spent
$22K
Cash
$14.3K

Source: South Carolina State Ethics Commission filings through Jun 30, 2026Updated Oct 15, 2026, 1:11 AM ET

Campaign committees

Open committees can still raise and spend money.

John Kilmartin
State
Active

Source: South Carolina State Ethics Commission filings through Jun 30, 2026Updated Oct 15, 2026, 1:11 AM ET

How we know Kilmartin

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET