Daniel Rickenmann
American politician (born 1969/70)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daniel Rickenmann (born 1969/1970)[1] is an American businessman and politician, serving as the 71st mayor of Columbia, South Carolina.
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Daniel Rickenmann | |
|---|---|
| |
| 71st Mayor of Columbia | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen K. Benjamin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1969 or 1970 (age 55–56) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Laura Rickenmann |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of South Carolina (BA) |
| Website | https://mayor.columbiasc.gov/ |
Early life and education
Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Rickenmann is the son of immigrants from Switzerland. He attended the University of South Carolina in 1987.[2]
Political career
2004 City council election
In 2004, Rickenmann was elected as an at-Large representative for Columbia City Council. He held the position until 2013 when he chose not to run for reelection. He ran again for city council in 2017, winning the election as a representative from Columbia's fourth district.[3]
2021 mayoral election
After confirmation on February 2021 that incumbent Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin would not seek re-election,[4] Rickenmann announced his bid for the office.[5] Other candidates were At-Large Columbia City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine, attorney Sam Johnson, and former Columbia City Councilman Moe Baddourah.[6] On November 16, 2021, Rickenmann won the runoff election against Isaac Devine with 52% to 48% of the vote.[7] He was sworn in as mayor of Columbia on January 4, 2022.[8]
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Rickenmann ranked Number 2 in The Post and Courier Columbia Power List 2023.[9] and 2024.[10] He ranked number 6 on the Post and Courier Columbia's 2025 Power List.[11]
While candidates for the office of mayor in Columbia, South Carolina, are officially non-partisan, Rickenmann is a Republican. Conversely, his opponent in the 2021 election, Tameika Isaac Devine, is a Democrat. Devine was endorsed by former U.S. president Barack Obama and House Whip Jim Clyburn. Previously, Columbia had historically voted for Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden for U.S. president by nearly 40 points. Its two previous mayors, Bob Coble and Steve Benjamin, were Democrats.[12][13][14]
Endorsements
In June 2023, Rickenmann endorsed Tim Scott in the 2024 United States presidential election.[15][16]
2025 Mayoral election
In March 2025, Rickenmann announced his re-election bid for Mayor.[17][18] He faced challenges from Jessica Thomas and Wade Fulmer Jr.,[19] and won re-election on November 4, 2025.[20]
Mayoral race endorsements
Rickenmann was endorsed by The State Newspaper.[21]
Rickenmann and other city officials will be sworn in on January 5, 2026.[22]
Electoral history
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Rickenmann | 9,398 | 61.53 |
| Jessica S. Thomas | 4,943 | 32.36 |
| Wade Fulmer Jr. | 845 | 5.53 |
| Write-in | 89 | 0.58 |
| Total | 15,275 | 100% |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Rickenmann | 8,417 | 43.51 |
| Tameika Isaac Devine | 5,846 | 30.22 |
| Sam Johnson | 4,710 | 24.35 |
| Moe Baddourah | 364 | 1.88 |
| Write-in | 9 | 0.05 |
| Total | 19,346 | 100% |
Notes
- Rickenmann and Devine went to a runoff election since no candidate won more than 50% of the vote in the initial election.
See also
External links
- Rickenmann announces bid for Mayor, April 28, 2021 on WLTX-TV
- Mayor's Inauguration and Swearing In Ceremony, January 4, 2022 from City of Columbia, South Carolina
- Fireside Chat with Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, May 11, 2023 from Bipartisan Policy Center
- Mayor Rickenmann and Congressman Jim Clyburn greet President Joe Biden, arriving on Air Force One in Lexington County, SC, July 6, 2023 on WLTX
- Appearances on C-SPAN