ABOUT
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SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN HOUSE CAUCUS
The South Carolina House Republican Caucus consists of all the Republican members of the State House of Representatives. Heading into the 2019-2020 session, the GOP holds 80 of the 124 House seats.
The members elect new leadership following the general election of all members every two years. In December 2018, the House elected J. Gary Simrill of Rock Hill – the 12th Republican Caucus leader and the seventh Republican Majority Leader.
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 of the South Carolina House in more than 118 years.
Since then, voters across the South and West have handed over control of one or both of their legislative bodies to the GOP.
Here in Columbia, the GOP has guided the state through two decades 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. Bobby Harrell of Charleston as Speaker of the House. In December 2014, current Speaker, Rep. Jay Lucas, was elected.
Republican House Speakers
2014-pres
James H. “Jay” Lucas
Hartsville
2005-2014
Robert W. “Bobby” Harrell Jr.
Charleston
1994-2005
David H. Wilkins
Greenville
Republican Majority Leaders
2016-Pres
J. Gary Simrill
York
2012-2016
Bruce W. Bannister
Greenville
2008-2012
Kenneth A. “Kenny” Bingham
Cayce
2004-2008
James H. “Jim” Merrill
Charleston
2001-2004
Richard M. “Rick” Quinn Jr.
Columbia
1997-2000
Robert W. “Bobby” Harrell Jr.
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