Rock Hill Sees New Leadership as Everett Stubbs Wins State Senate Seat
Rock Hill, South Carolina — Everett Stubbs will be the next state senator representing the Rock Hill area after his opponent, Democratic incumbent Mike Fanning, conceded defeat following a tight election. Fanning’s concession came via an email sent to the S.C. Election Commission on Friday evening, acknowledging a narrow loss of just 29 votes.
The Details of the Concession
In his email, Fanning stipulated that no recount was necessary in accordance with state law since he was declining the option. “Please accept this as my declining a recount in my senate re-election race. Appreciate you and all you do. Mike,” the Senator stated in a message from his official account. John Michael Catalano, a spokesman for the South Carolina Election Commission, confirmed that this email served as the formal waiver required to close the race.
Results of the Election
The election results are officially certified, showing that Stubbs secured 27,953 votes, compared to Fanning’s 27,926. The race was intense, with the margin of victory being only 0.06%, which translates to a mere 29 votes out of a total of 55,931 ballots cast. Stubbs expressed his gratitude to his supporters and family in a phone interview with local media.
Stubbs’ Plans Ahead
Stubbs, a first-time candidate and lawyer by profession, shared his enthusiasm about representing District 17, which encompasses much of the southern part of York County, Rock Hill, and sections of Chester and Fairfield counties. “I look forward to representing all the citizens of our district and promise to be a strong advocate for the district and unification,” he stated. He also conveyed well wishes to Fanning and acknowledged his service in public office over the past years.
The Final Counts
The final tally came after extended hours of counting provisional ballots at the York County Courthouse. After election boards in York, Chester, Lancaster, and Fairfield counties tallied these ballots, the difference between the candidates briefly closed from 32 to 29 votes—a marginal difference but insufficient for Fanning to overturn the results.
In the final count, Fanning gained 42 votes, which included 27 from York, 2 from Lancaster, 1 from Chester, and 12 from Fairfield. Conversely, Stubbs earned 39 votes, with 17 from York, 8 from Lancaster, 2 from Chester, and 12 from Fairfield.
A Look Back
During the election cycle, Fanning had held the state senate seat since 2016 and successfully won re-election in 2020. After conceding, he posted a message on his Facebook page acknowledging the loss and congratulating Stubbs, stating, “The people have spoken.” His efforts to reach Fanning following the election have been unsuccessful.
Future Steps for Stubbs
As a newcomer to the legislative body, Stubbs will represent the interests of a diverse district marked by both urban and rural areas. South Carolina is home to 46 state senators, of which 33 are Republicans. The new legislative session kicks off in early January, and it remains to be seen when Stubbs will take the oath of office.
This election marks a significant moment in Rock Hill politics, as Stubbs prepares to step into his new role and engage with the community he aims to serve.
