Walker wins runoff election for South Carolina’s 22nd Senate District

COLUMBIA – In the race for Richland County’s 22nd District State Senate seat, Richland County Councilman Overture Walker won with 2,851 votes (53.64 percent) over South Carolina House Representative Ivory Thigpen, who received 2,464 votes (46.36 percent). The two were battling for the State Senate seat vacated by Mia McLeod, who is not seeking re-election.

Walker also won three of Blythewood’s four precincts with 486 votes to Thigpen’s 315. Thigpen won the Round Top precinct with 26 votes to Walker’s 21. Blythewood’s precincts for District 22 are generally east of I-77.

After his victory, Walker spoke to The Voice and thanked voters in the 22nd District for their support.

“I look forward to serving them in a broader capacity in the State Senate,” he said. “I think my message that state government should work for everyone in the community resonated with voters.”

“My top priority is to advance legislation that improves the quality of life for residents in my district and the state.”

Walker said his focus will be on improving infrastructure to keep pace with growth; increasing funding for public education; economic development that creates living wage jobs and keeping the state out of decisions about women’s health. Walker will face Workers Party candidate Gary Votour in the November general election.

Walker is an attorney practicing in Columbia. A former municipal judge, he was elected to the Richland County Council in 2020 and served as chairman for two years during his nearly four-year term.

Walker had stated before the primaries that if he was successful in his bid for a seat in the Senate, he would immediately withdraw his candidacy as the Democratic candidate for the County Council in order to have time to choose a successor.