Margie Bright Matthews

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Margie Bright Matthews
Bright Matthews (second from left) with Henry McMaster, Hugh Weathers and others at a 2020 event with US Secretary Sonny Perdue
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 45th district
Assumed office
October 27, 2015
Preceded byClementa Pinckney
Personal details
Born (1963-02-10) February 10, 1963 (age 61)
Walterboro, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Patrick Matthews
​
(m. 1992)​
Children4
Parent(s)Herbert Garfield and Jessie Rine Davis Bright
EducationUniversity of South Carolina (BS, JD)

Margie Bright Matthews (born February 10, 1963) is a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 45th District since 2015, when she won a special election to succeed Clementa Pinckney, who was killed in the Charleston church shooting in 2015.[1][2] She is an attorney who founded a law firm.[3]

Early life and career[edit]

Margie Bright Matthews was born on February 10, 1963 in Walterboro, South Carolina. She graduated from University of South Carolina with a B.S. in 1985, and graduated with her J.D. from University of South Carolina School of Law in 1989.[1]

Prior to her tenure in the state Senate, Matthews served as a page in the Senate and as a law clerk that helped draft legislation.[4]

State Senate[edit]

Elections[edit]

Matthews ran unopposed in the 2016 general election.[5] In 2024, she will run unopposed again, and is expected to win her third full term in office.[6]

2015 Special Election[edit]

See also: 2016 South Carolina Senate election § District 45 (October 20, 2015)

After Senator Clementa C. Pinckney was murdered in the Charleston church shooting, a special election was held in 2015. The primary, held on September 1st, featured eleven Democrats and two Republicans.[7] Matthews raised almost $80,000 and was endorsed by Johnette and John Pinckney, sister and father of Clementa Pinckney. In the Democratic primary, Matthews received the most votes with 37%, leading to a runoff with Representative Kenneth Hodges who earned 35% of the vote.[8] In the runoff on September 15, Matthews defeated Hodges by 12.4%.[9] On October 20th, Matthews defeated Republican Al Fernandez when she received 89% of the vote.[10] She was sworn into office on October 27, 2015.[2][11]

2020 election[edit]

See also: 2020 South Carolina Senate election § District 45

Matthews was the uncontested Democratic nominee for her district in 2020.[12] She defeated her Republican challenger, Rodney Buncum, when she received 60% of the vote.[13]

Endorsements[edit]

Bright Matthews was among several African American women from around the United States who endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for President in 2016.[14] Following Jim Clyburn's endorsement of Joe Biden, Matthews similarly endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries the day before South Carolina's primary.[15]

In the 2018 South Carolina gubernatorial election, Matthews endorsed James Smith, who would become the Democratic party's nominee.[16] In 2022, Matthews endorsed fellow "Sister Senator" Mia McLeod in the 2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election.[17]

Tenure[edit]

FOIA Reform[edit]

Senator Matthews was involved in reforming South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). During 2016 and 2017, Matthews consistently opposed key provisions of FOIA reform bills that aimed to transfer dispute resolution from local circuit courts to the state's Administrative Law Court.[18] She argued that such changes would impose undue financial burdens on rural counties and increase costs for taxpayers.[19] Matthews placed minority reports on several versions of the bill, effectively blocking their progress.[20][21][22]

Despite significant support for the bill from other legislators and advocacy groups like the S.C. Press Association, Matthews maintained that establishing a new administrative office for FOIA disputes was unnecessary.[23] Her opposition led to amendments that kept FOIA cases within the jurisdiction of circuit courts but imposed stricter deadlines for processing requests, aiming to balance transparency with fiscal responsibility.[24] The final bill, which passed in 2017 and was signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster, included these compromises.[25]

Recent investigations have assessed the impact of these FOIA reforms, revealing mixed results. While the law aimed to reduce fees and expedite access to public records, many agencies continue to charge high fees, particularly for copying and redaction. Examples include Chester County's $29,000 charge for email records and Horry County's $75,500 demand for lawsuit-related documents.[26] Reports have shown that some agencies have not complied with the law's requirement to post fee schedules online, further complicating access to information. Critics argue that the allowance for redaction costs has effectively blocked access to public records, undermining the law's intent.[26] Senator Matthews has defended the law, emphasizing the need to standardize costs and make them consistent across government entities.[27]

Jasper Ocean Terminal[edit]

Matthews has pushed for the Jasper Ocean Terminal project, emphasizing its economic importance for Jasper County. Initially expected to be completed by 2025, the project faced delays, with the State Ports Authority (SPA) projecting completion by 2035-2037 due to current port capacities. Matthews expressed frustration at these delays, arguing for expedited development alongside other legislators.[28][29] In 2021, the SPA agreed to transfer its interest in the terminal to Jasper County, contingent on legislative approval of $550 million in debt for improvements at the Port of Charleston. Matthews supported this bond bill, highlighting its potential to aid South Carolina's poorest counties and attract businesses to the region.[30]

Reproductive Rights[edit]

Throughout her tenure, Senator Matthews has been a steadfast advocate for women's reproductive rights. She consistently opposed various personhood and abortion restriction bills, emphasizing constitutional concerns and the importance of women's autonomy. In 2016, she was the lone dissenting vote against a personhood bill that sought to grant legal rights to unborn children from conception, arguing it would lead to costly constitutional challenges shouldered by the state.[31]

Matthews played a significant role in the 2018 filibuster against a bill that would have banned nearly all abortions in South Carolina, highlighting the lack of female representation in legislative discussions.[32] She opposed the 2021 "fetal heartbeat" bill, which banned abortions as early as six weeks without exceptions for rape or incest, criticizing the requirement for victims to file police reports to qualify for exceptions.[33]

In 2023, Matthews joined fellow female Senators, Mia McLeod (I-Richland), Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington), Penry Gustafson (R-Kershaw), and Sen. Sandy Senn (R-Charleston), to form a non-partisan coalition of women, dubbed "The Sister Senators," to oppose abortion restrictions in the state.[34] They blocked the majority-male Senate from passing a bill that would ban all abortions in South Carolina.[35] In September 2023, it was announced that "The Sister Senators" had been selected to receive the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award. The award was presented in an October 2023 ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.[36]

In addition to opposing restrictive abortion laws, Matthews has advocated for better healthcare access to address high infant mortality rates in rural areas. She organized community events to provide resources and support for pregnant women, emphasizing the need for comprehensive healthcare solutions.[37]

Throughout her career, Matthews has called for greater female representation in the legislature[38] and advocated for public referendums to allow South Carolinians to decide on abortion rights.[39] Her commitment to reproductive freedoms is reflected in her efforts to protect and advance women's rights in South Carolina.[40][41][42][43]

Controversies[edit]

Confederate Flag Procession in Colleton County[edit]

In June 2016, Matthews faced criticism for her reaction to a procession in Colleton County that displayed Confederate flags. The procession was intended to honor two local teenagers who had died in a car accident. Matthews initially condemned the display, mistakenly believing it was related to the Mother Emanuel Church shootings. She later apologized and clarified her misunderstanding.[44]

Death of Raniya Wright[edit]

In 2019, Matthews became involved in the controversy surrounding the death of Raniya Wright, a fifth-grader from Forest Hills Elementary School in Walterboro, South Carolina. Following a classroom altercation, Raniya died, leading to conflicting accounts and public scrutiny.[45]

Matthews stated, on the Senate floor, that Raniya did not receive any physical blows during the incident,[45] contradicting claims by Raniya's mother, Ashley Wright, who alleged that her daughter had been bullied and that the school ignored her complaints.[46] This statement was criticized by the Wright family's attorneys as premature and potentially downplaying the incident's severity.[47]

The Colleton County Sheriff's Office and the Colleton County Coroner concluded that Raniya's death was due to a preexisting condition, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), and that the altercation did not cause her death. Despite these findings, Raniya's family continued to dispute the official reports, insisting that bullying and the school's inaction were factors.[48]

Adding to the controversy, Matthews was identified as the attorney for the substitute teacher involved in the incident, although she publicly denied this role. The inconsistency in her statements further fueled public criticism.[49]

Residency[edit]

During the 2015 special election, Matthews and her primary Democratic opponent, Ken Hodges, had their residency questioned. Both candidates acknowledged the properties they owned outside the district, but asserted that their primary residences were the homes they owned in-district.[50]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography".
  2. ^ a b "SC's newest senator Margie Bright Matthews sworn in". Associated Press. January 13, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  3. ^ Senator Margie Bright Matthews, an African-American Trailblazer for All Women in Law and Politics, Walterborolive, Anna S. Bright, February 17, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  4. ^ Roldan, Cynthia (August 14, 2015). "Candidates acknowledge Pinckney's distinctive legacy". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "South Carolina 45th District State Senate Results: Margie Bright Matthews Wins". The New York Times. 2017-08-01. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  6. ^ Brams, Sophie (March 19, 2024). "Here's who has filed to run for the South Carolina legislature in 2024". WCBD-TV. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Millman, Joel (July 12, 2015). "13 file to run for late Sen. Clementa Pinckney's vacant District 45 seat". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  8. ^ Roldan, Cynthia (August 31, 2015). "District 45 race headed for runoff". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Roldan, Cynthia (September 14, 2015). "Matthews wins Senate Dist. 45 runoff". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  10. ^ Jackson, Gavin (October 20, 2015). "Matthews wins S.C. Senate seat, Webb drops out of White House race". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  11. ^ "Matthews sworn in to fill seat of slain SC state senator". The Post and Courier. Associated Press. October 26, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  12. ^ "SC-Uncontested". Columbia Basin Herald. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  13. ^ "South Carolina State Senate - District 45 Election Results | Times Herald". Times-Herald. November 3, 2020. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  14. ^ "Growing List of African American Women Leaders Stand with Hillary Clinton". The American Presidency Project. February 3, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  15. ^ "Biden Campaign Press Release - Joe Biden's Support in South Carolina Swells with State Legislator, Community Leader Endorsements | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  16. ^ Shain, Andy (November 14, 2017). "James Smith wins endorsements from Lowcountry politicians in S.C. governor's race". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  17. ^ Adcox, Seanna (June 3, 2022). "Democrats running for SC governor to debate on SCETV next Friday". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  18. ^ Cleveland, Christina (March 15, 2016). "FOIA bill 'truly a people's bill'". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  19. ^ Cleveland, Christina (2016-04-04). "Minority report stalls bill for first responders". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  20. ^ "Government should be transparent". The Post and Courier. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  21. ^ Smith, Michael (2016-05-14). "FOIA bill faces deadline in Senate". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  22. ^ Lurye, Rebecca (May 24, 2016). "SC senator blocks bill expanding open-records law". Rock Hill Herald. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  23. ^ Brown, Andrew (2017-05-02). "South Carolina FOIA bill gets moved to the full Senate, but may hit roadblock". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  24. ^ Brown, Andrew (2017-05-10). "South Carolina Senate passes diminished Freedom of Information Act bill". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  25. ^ "Henry McMaster Signs Freedom of Information Bill - FITSNews". 2017-05-31. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  26. ^ a b Wilks, Avery G. (2020-03-15). "Despite new law, SC cities, counties are charging thousands of dollars for public records". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  27. ^ Knapp, Andrew (2018-03-15). "South Carolina law was aimed at dropping price of public records. But is it paying off?". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  28. ^ Lovegrove, Jamie (February 21, 2018). "Delayed target date for Jasper Ocean Terminal rankles South Carolina state senator". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  29. ^ Wren, David (July 11, 2018). "Senator wants to rush new SC-Ga. port; maritime officials are in no hurry". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  30. ^ Wren, David (February 23, 2021). "Charleston ports agency to cede its role in Jasper deal to notch $550M debt bill". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  31. ^ Smith, Tim (April 12, 2016). "SC Senate panel OKs personhood bill; it could lead to rights for unborn". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  32. ^ Moore, Eva (May 4, 2018). "SC Senate Dems Defeat Abortion Ban Overnight". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  33. ^ Adcox, Seanna (January 14, 2021). "Anti-abortion bill advances in the SC Senate in the first week of session". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  34. ^ The Unexpected Women Blocking South Carolina’s Near-Total Abortion Ban, New York Times, Kate Zernike, May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  35. ^ Republican women are helping block an abortion ban in South Carolina, WBTW, May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  36. ^ LeBlanc, Steve (September 19, 2023). "'Sister senators' who fought abortion ban to receive JFK Profile in Courage award". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  37. ^ Alani, Hannah (2018-12-04). "'I don't want to be a statistic': Women in rural SC battle soaring infant mortality". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  38. ^ Wilks, Avery (2016-12-07). "SC makes history with 4 women in state Senate". The State. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  39. ^ Adcox, Seanna (2023-08-26). "SC's 5 female Statehouse senators renew long-shot call for ballot question on abortion". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  40. ^ Matthews, Margie Bright; Smith, James; King, John; Norrell, Mandy Powers (September 14, 2016). "S.C. Democrats: 'Enough is enough'". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  41. ^ Henderson-Myers, Rosalyn (August 22, 2019). "Legislators: SC's black women deserve equal pay". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  42. ^ Benson, Adam (March 11, 2020). "SC lawmakers renew push for amendment ensuring women have same legal protections as men". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  43. ^ Green, Mary (April 30, 2024). "Bill headed to governor would remove SC sales taxes from period products". WCSC-TV. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  44. ^ Cabbagestalk, Shawn (2016-06-24). "Confederate flag controversy in Colleton County". WCBD-TV. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  45. ^ a b Adcox, Seanna (2019-04-02). "SC senator says 5th-grader who died last week took no physical blows". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  46. ^ ""The system failed her" Raniya Wright's grandfather speaks after Colleton Co. school board meeting". WJBF-TV. 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  47. ^ Duncan, Charles (April 8, 2019). "Mom of SC 5th grader who died after fight: 'The situation at school was getting worse'". The State. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  48. ^ Jackson, Angie; Novelly, Thomas (2019-04-19). "Officials say SC 5th-grader died of natural causes, school fight didn't lead to her death". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  49. ^ "Raniya Wright Death Case: Sen. Bright Matthews identified as Substitute Teacher's Attorney". WCBD-TV. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  50. ^ Roldan, Cynthia (September 7, 2015). "Senate District 45 candidates' residency questioned, but law open to interpretation". The Post and Courier.

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