Political Career
Walhalla City Council
Alexander started his political career on the Walhalla City Council in 1982.[4] His father, Claude Alexander, similarly served on that same council. In 1985, Alexander was elected Mayor Pro Tempore.[5]
S.C. House of Representatives
Elections
Alexander was first elected as a Democrat to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1986[6] After M. Duke Cleveland faced an initial set of four primary challengers,[7] Alexander defeated the incumbent directly in a runoff.[8]
For details on individual elections, see:
- 1986 South Carolina House of Representatives election (won in primary, uncontested in general[8])
- 1988 South Carolina House of Representatives election (uncontested[9])
- 1990 South Carolina House of Representatives election (uncontested[10])
- 1992 South Carolina House of Representatives election (won[11])
Tenure
He represented State House District 1 of Oconee and Pickens Counties through 1994.[5][12] During 1992 and 1993, he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.[13][14]
In 1991, South Carolina's auto-insurance system, known as the "mandate-to-write" law, faced further criticism from citizens about rising costs. Alexander, then chairmen of committees in the House that deal with insurance, spoke in favor of rethinking a new system for car insurance in the state.[15] However, even as late as 1993, this issue was untouched, despite much government effort spent on discussing restructuring.[16]
In 1992, he voted in favor of extending the lifetime of a nuclear waste landfill in Barnwell County.[17]
S.C. Senate
Elections
In 1994, Alexander was elected to the South Carolina Senate to represent S.C. Senate District 1 in a special election, again as a Democrat.[18] However, in 1996, he switched parties, joining the Republican Party. This was announced when he filed for re-election in the Republican primary instead of the Democratic one.[19]
Alexander has frequently run in his district uncontested including in 2020[20] and 2024.[21] His latest challenger, Constitution Party candidate Polly Nicolay, sought to defeat him in 2008. He won, receiving 85% of the vote.[22]
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).[23] He defeated Republican Gresham Barrett.[18]
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.[19] 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.[24]
2000-2004 elections
In 2000 and 2004, Alexander was reelected in uncontested elections.[25][26]
2008 election
|
Further information: 2008 South Carolina Senate election § District 1 |
In 2008, Alexander defeated Polly Nicolay, a Constitution Party challenger, in a landslide victory.[27]
2012-2024 elections
|
Further information: 2012 South Carolina Senate election § District 1, 2016 South Carolina Senate election § District 1, and 2020 South Carolina Senate election § District 1 |
In 2012,[28] 2016,[29] and 2020,[30] Alexander was again reelected in contested races.
|
Further information: 2024 South Carolina Senate election § District 1 |
In 2024, Alexander is likely to be reelected to a eighth full-term as Senator of District 1 as he is running in his district unopposed.[31]
Tenure
Following redistricting after the 2020 US Census, S.C. Senate District 1 covers Oconee County and a portion of Pickens County.[2]
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[32] and the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.[2]
Alexander serves as Vice-Chair of the College and University Trustee Screening Commission, a Joint Committee with members from the House and Senate.[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]
On December 6, 2021, Alexander was sworn in as the 2nd President of the South Carolina Senate.[5] His time as President has overseen several events of note:
- He 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. As such, he oversaw the alleged racially-drawn districts (and is the Alexander named in the case title).[37] On March 28, 2024, the three-judge district court issued an order allowing for the map to remain in place for the 2024 United States Elections. As of April 2024[update], the case is still pending before the Supreme Court.[38]
- He has overseen the state legislature's passage of abortion bans, so-called heartbeat bills.[39] A bill banning abortion after six weeks is currently in effect as of August 23, 2023[update].[40] He voted in favor of the legislation.[41] It is an issue he has been vocal on, as far back as 1996.[42]
In 2023, he introduced 12 bills to the Senate, though none became law.[43] That year, he had also been a strong supporter of bipartisan efforts to crack down on the growing youth vaping epidemic in the state.[44] He also played a role in passing legislation for a statewide plan to address issues related to Alzheimer's and dementia.[45]
Endorsements
Republican Party Presidential Nominee
- He endorsed John McCain instead of George Bush in the 2000 Republican Party presidential primaries.[46]
- He endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries, declining to endorse previous SC Governor Nikki Haley.[47]
