Michael Gambrell
American politician (born 1958)
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Michael Wayne Gambrell (born January 10, 1958) is an American politician and businessman who has represented South Carolina's 4th Senate District since 2016. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 7th District from 2006 to 2016.
January 10, 1958
Michael Gambrell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 4th district | |
| Assumed office May 24, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Billy O'Dell |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 7th district | |
| In office December 5, 2006 – May 24, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Ronnie Townsend |
| Succeeded by | Jay West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Wayne Gambrell January 10, 1958 Belton, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Renee V. Gambrell (m. 1990) |
| Education | Clemson University (BS) |
| Occupation |
|
Early life and education
Gambrell was born January 10, 1958 in Belton, South Carolina to Aaron and Robbie Gambrell. He graduated with a B.S. from Clemson University in 1980.[1]
S.C. House of Representatives (2006-2016)
Gambrell served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2006 through 2016, representing the 7th district (parts of Anderson County).[1][2]
In 2015, in the wake of the Charleston church shooting, Governor Nikki Haley called on the state legislature to open debate about the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina Capitol. Gambrell was in the minority of members who voted against opening debate.[3] In July 2015, Haley signed a bill into law authorizing the flags removal.[4][5]
S.C. Senate
Gambrell was first elected to the South Carolina Senate during a special election in 2016 when incumbent William H. O'Dell died in office.[6][7] He has represented South Carolina's 4th Senate district (portions of Abbeville, Anderson, and Greenwood Counties).[1]
In 2022, Gambrell voted for the Fetal Heartbeat Act, legislation that banned abortion in the state after six-weeks.[8]
Personal life
Gambrell is self-employed at M&R Enterprises.[1]
Electoral history
| Year | Office | Type | Party | Main opponent | Party | Votes for Gambrell | Result | Swing | Ref. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | % | P. | ±% | |||||||||||||
| 2006 | S.C. Representative | Rep. primary | Republican | Dan Harvell | Republican | 1,477 | 53.83% | 1st | N/A | Won | N/A | [9] | ||||
| General | Republican | Ron Gilreath | Democratic | 4,300 | 56.04% | 1st | N/A | Won | Hold | [9] | ||||||
| 2008 | General | Republican | Richard Kelly | Democratic | 8,232 | 70.26% | 1st | +14.22% | Won | Hold | [10] | |||||
| 2010 | General | Republican | Write-in | N/A | 6,216 | 99.58% | 1st | +29.32% | Won | Hold | [11] | |||||
| 2012 | General | Republican | Write-in | N/A | 9,457 | 99.31% | 1st | -0.27% | Won | Hold | [12] | |||||
| 2014 | General | Republican | Write-in | N/A | 6,290 | 99.59% | 1st | +0.28% | Won | Hold | [13] | |||||
| 2016 | S.C. Senator | Rep. primary | Republican | Rockey Burgess | Republican | 45.50% | 1st | N/A | Won | N/A | [14] | |||||
| Rep. primary runoff | Republican | Rockey Burgess | Republican | 57.00% | 1st | N/A | Won | N/A | [15][16] | |||||||
| Special | Republican | Write-in | N/A | 1,246 | 91.75% | 1st | N/A | Won | Hold | [16][17] | ||||||
| Rep. primary | Republican | Rockey Burgess | Republican | 6,075 | 64.95% | 1st | +7.95% | Won | N/A | [15][18] | ||||||
| General | Republican | Write-in | N/A | 28,064 | 99.15% | 1st | +7.40% | Won | Hold | [19][20] | ||||||
| 2020 | General | Republican | Jose Villa | Democratic | 31,129 | 72.71% | 1st | -26.44% | Won | Hold | [21][22][23] | |||||