S.C. Senate
Elections
Alexander as first elected to the South Carolina Senate to represent Senate District 1 in a special election in 1994. He has frequently run in his district uncontested. This includes 2000, [18] 2004, [19] 2012, [20] 2016, [21] 2020, [22] and 2024. [23]
1994 special election
In 1994,Alexander won a special election to finish Alexander Macaulay's senate term after Macaulay was elected to the judicial bench for the 10th Circuit (Anderson and Oconee counties). [24] At this time,Alexander was still a conservative Democrat. [25] He defeated Republican Gresham Barrett. [26]
1996 election
Leading up to the 1996 election,Alexander switched parties from the South Carolina Democratic Party to the Republican one. This was announced when he filed for reelection in the Republican primary. [27] Alexander received about 87% of the Republican primary vote,defeating David Riggs for the party's nomination. In the general election,Alexander defeated his opponent Democrat Ted Phillips,with Alexander winning 75% of the vote. [28]
2008 election
In 2008, Alexander defeated Polly Nicolay, a Constitution Party challenger, in a landslide victory. [29] He won, receiving 85% of the vote. [30]
Tenure
Following redistricting after the 2020 US Census, S.C. Senate District 1 covers Oconee County and a portion of Pickens County. [1]
As of April 2024 [update] , Alexander chairs the Interstate Cooperation Committee and the Legislative Oversight Committee. He also sits on the Banking and Insurance Committee, the Ethics Committee, the Finance Committee, the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, and the Medical Affairs Committee. In the past, he has also chaired the Finance Committee [31] and the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. [1] Alexander serves as Vice-Chair of the College and University Trustee Screening Commission, a Joint Committee with members from the House and Senate. [32] On December 6, 2021, Alexander was sworn in as the 2nd President of the South Carolina Senate. [5] [33]
When the Upstate had an uptick in bear removal requests in 2001, Alexander proposed a bill that would legalize the shooting of bears that threaten "property, crops, people, or pets." He later acknowledged his bill to have been too broad in scope. [34]
In 2002, Alexander attempted to get a do-not-call law passed but found the bill stalled by extensive lobbying from banks, insurance companies, and credit card companies. [35]
In 2008, Alexander sponsored legislation to raise the state tax on cigarettes from 45 to 57 cents to raise funds for programs to help curtail smoking and health insurance. [36]
In 2023, he introduced 12 bills to the Senate, though none became law. [37] That year, he had also been a strong supporter of bipartisan efforts to crack down on the growing youth vaping epidemic in the state. [38] He also played a role in passing legislation for a statewide plan to address issues related to Alzheimer's and dementia. [39]
Drug legislation
Alexander has proposed legislation with harsher penalties for fentanyl dealers, [40] [41] [42] and is against medical marijuana legislation. [43] [44]
Redistricting
Alexander has been President of the South Carolina Senate during the United States Supreme Court case regarding racial and partisan gerrymandering, Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP . He oversaw the redistricting process (and is the Alexander named in the case title). [45] On March 28, 2024, a three-judge district court issued an order allowing for the map to remain in place for the 2024 United States Elections. On May 23, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in the favor of the SC legislature, arguing that the NAACP failed to provide substantiated evidence that demonstrated race-based motivations in the districts drawn. [46]
Reproductive rights
Alexander is pro-life. [47] During his time as President of the Senate, he has overseen the legislature's passage of abortion bans, so-called heartbeat bills. [48] A bill banning abortion after six weeks is currently in effect as of August 23,2023 [update] . [49] He voted in favor of the legislation. [50]
