Caucus History
A Decade of Progress
In 1981 Republicans held only 18 seats in the 124-member House. In December 1994, the South Carolina House made history by becoming the first legislative body in the South to be controlled by Republicans since Reconstruction ended in 1876.
At that time, Rep. David Wilkins of Greenville became the first Republican Speaker in more than 118 years.
Since then, voters in North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Texas and Florida have handed over control of one or both of their legislative bodies to the GOP.
Here, the GOP has guided the state through 12 years of progress on a conservative agenda that has reshaped South Carolina.
In 2005, Speaker Wilkins left the Caucus when President George W. Bush appointed him U.S. Ambassador to Canada. On the final day of the 2005 legislative session, the House elected Rep. Robert "Bobby" Harrell of Charleston Speaker of the House.
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADERS
2004- James H. Merrill, Charleston
2001-2004 Richard Quinn, Columbia
1997-2000 Robert Harrell, Charleston
1995-1996 Annette Young, Summerville
REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADERS
1993-1994 H. Howell Clyborne, Jr., Taylors
1989-1992 Terry Haskins, Greenville
1979-1988 T. Moffat Burriss, Columbia
1977-1978 H. Ray Ham, West Columbia
1975-1976 John K. Earle, Greenville
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