COLUMBIA – In the Richland County’s Dist. 22 State Senate race, Richland County Councilman Overture Walker took the win with 2,851 votes (53.64 percent) over S.C. House Representative Ivory Thigpen who garnered 2,464 votes (46.36 percent). The two were contending for the State Senate seat being vacated by Mia McLeod who is not seeking re-election.
Walker also won three of the four Blythewood precincts with 486 votes to Thigpen’s 315 votes. Thigpen carried the Round Top precinct with 26 votes to Walkers’ 21 votes. The Blythewood precincts for District 22 generally run east of I-77.
Following his win, Walker spoke with The Voice, thanking the voters in District 22 for their support.
“I look forward to serving them in a broader capacity in the state senate,” he said. “I think my message of wanting to make state government work for everyone in the community truly resonated with voters.
“My top priority is to advance legislation that improves the quality of life for residents in my district and in the state.”
Walker said his focus will be on improving infrastructure to keep pace with growth; to increase funding for public education; economic development that provides jobs that pay a livable wage; and getting government out of women’s health choices. Walker will face Workers party candidate Gary Votour in the November general election.
Walker is an attorney with a practice in Columbia. A former municipal judge, he was elected to Richland County Council in 2020, and served two years as chairman during his nearly four years on council.
Walker said prior to the primary that if he is successful in his bid for the senate seat, he will immediately withdraw as the Democratic County Council nominee to allow time for a successor to be chosen.
