2023 State Senate Election
See:2023 United States state legislative elections
On March 13,2023,Gilliard announced his intention to run for the South Carolina Senate District 42 seat,vacated by Marlon Kimpson after his appointment to a role in the Biden administration. The seat was decided in a special election in 2023. [24] [25] Endorsements that Gilliard received in his race for the Senate seat include Our Revolution,a group affiliated with US Senator Bernie Sanders,and Local 1442 of the International Longshoremen's Association. [26] He was also endorsed by Bakari Sellers. [27]
The Democratic Primary took place on September 5,and the special election took place on November 7. [28] Other candidates in the race were Democrats SC Rep. JA Moore and SC Rep. Deon Tedder,and Republican Rosa Kay. In the Democratic Primary unofficial results,Moore was bested by Gilliard and Tedder,who went on to a September 19 runoff. [29] [30] Gilliard led the evening with close to 47% of the vote. [31]
On September 19,Tedder led the runoff by 11 votes,triggering a recount. [32] The recount was conducted and results certified by the Charleston County Board of Canvassers and the Dorchester County Voter Registration and Elections Office on September 21;later that day Tedder was declared the winner by the South Carolina State Election Commission. [33]
