Michael Bedenbaugh

Bedenbaugh served as president and CEO of Preservation SC, a nonprofit organization preserving historic properties in South Carolina, from 2007 to 2022.^[7] He implemented programs and raised over $3 million for preservation projects, generating over $2 million in operating revenue.^[8]

During his career, Bedenbaugh's advocacy and behind the scenes negotiations helped ensure the conversion of the Palmetto Compress near the University of South Carolina into off-campus student housing, and the Curtiss-Wright Hangar at Columbia's L.B. Owens Airport transformation into a bustling brewery and restaurant.^[9] Bedenbaugh led the effort to preserve Trinity Episcopal Church in 2019, and applied for a $250,000 national preservation grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places.^[10] In 2020, he negotiated the donation of the vacant Plantation House hotel in Edgefield with the desire to revitalize the 30,000-square-foot historic building by finding qualified investors and entrepreneurs to refurbish it.^[8]

For his work, he received the Order of the Palmetto from Governor Henry McMaster in 2021.^[11]

In January 2024, Bedenbaugh announced his candidacy to represent South Carolina's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, being vacated by Jeff Duncan.^[12] He was the Alliance Party nominee. Bedenbaugh was defeated by Republican nominee Sheri Biggs.^[13]