Mayoral elections in Columbia are held every four years to elect the mayor of Columbia, South Carolina .
All Columbia municipal elections are required to be non-partisan , but most candidates can be affiliated with political parties. Columbia uses a two-round system , where election runoffs are held if no candidate obtains the majority of the vote.
2010 special [ edit ]
2010 Columbia mayoral special election
The 2010 Columbia mayoral special election took place on April 6, 2010, to elect the next mayor of Charleston, South Carolina . Incumbent Democratic Mayor Bob Coble did not seek re-election. A runoff was held on April 21, 2010, since no candidate surpassed 50%. In the runoff Democrat Stephen K. Benjamin defeated Republican candidate Kirkman Finlay III . Daniel became the first African American mayor of Columbia.[1]
Mayor of Columbia, 2010 (Special first round) UNOFFICIAL RESULTS[2]
Candidate
Votes
%
Steve Benjamin
6,067
35.53%
Kirkman Finlay III
5,485
32.12%
Steve Morrison
5,053
29.59%
Aaron Johnson
215
1.26%
Joseph S. Azar
175
1.02%
Sparkle Clark
49
0.29%
Nammu Muhammad
28
0.16%
Write-in
5
0.03%
Total
17,077
100.00%
Mayor of Columbia, 2010 (Special Runoff) [3]
Candidate
Votes
%
Steve Benjamin
10,894
55.19%
Kirkman Finlay III
8,845
44.81%
Total
19,739
100.00%
2013 Columbia mayoral election
The 2013 Columbia mayoral election took place on November 5, 2013, to elect the mayor of Charleston, South Carolina . Incumbent Democratic Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin won re-election to a full term. There was no need for a runoff election since Benjamin received more than 50% of the vote.
Results [ edit ]
Mayor of Columbia, 2013[4]
Candidate
Votes
%
Steve Benjamin (incumbent)
10,401
64.13%
Moe Baddourah
5,594
34.49%
Larry A Sypolt.
167
1.03%
Write-in
57
0.35%
Total
16,219
100.00%
Incumbent Democratic Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin was the only candidate to file; he was automatically declared re-elected with no votes.[5]
Mayor of Columbia, 2017
Candidate
Votes
%
Steve Benjamin
0
100.00%
2021 Columbia mayoral election
Candidate
Daniel Rickenmann
Tameika Isaac Devine
First round
8,417 43.51%
5,846 30.22%
Runoff
10,606 52.00%
9,789 48.00%
Candidate
Sam Johnson
First round
4,710 24.35%
Runoff
Eliminated
The 2021 Columbia mayoral election took place on November 2, 2021, to elect the next mayor of Charleston, South Carolina . Incumbent Democratic Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin did not seek re-election to a third term.[6] A runoff was held on November 16, 2021, since no candidate surpassed 50%. In the runoff Republican Daniel Rickenmann defeated Democratic candidate Tameika Isaac Devine. Daniel became the first Republican mayor of Colombia since 1990.[7] [8]
The election was officially non-partisan , but some candidates were affiliated with political parties.
Devine was endorsed by former U.S. president Barack Obama and House Whip Jim Clyburn . Previously, Columbia has historically voted for Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden for U.S. president by nearly 40 points. Its two previous mayors, Bob Coble and Steve Benjamin were Democrats.[9] [10] Some Republicans, including Ben Shapiro and United States Senator Rick Scott of Florida , cited Rickenmann's win as part of a "red wave."[11] [12]
Results [ edit ]
Election for Mayor of Columbia first round, 2021[13]
Candidate
Votes
%
Daniel Rickenmann
8,417
43.51%
Tameika Isaac Devine
5,846
30.22%
Sam Johnson
4,710
24.35%
Moe Baddourah
364
1.88%
Write-in
9
0.05%
Total
19,346
100.00%
Runoff election for Mayor of Columbia, 2021[a] [14]
Candidate
Votes
%
Daniel Rickenmann
10,606
52.00%
Tameika Isaac Devine
9,789
48.00%
Total
20,395
100.00%
2025 Columbia mayoral election
See also [ edit ]
^ Rickenmann and Devine went to a runoff election since no candidate won more than 50% of the vote in the initial election.
References [ edit ]
^ "South Carolina capital elects 1st black mayor" . NBC News . 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2024-03-30 .
^ "Richland County: Unofficial Results" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017 .
^ "City of Columbia Run-off: Official Results" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017 .
^ "Richland County: Official Results" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017 .
^ "Dubious new distinction for Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin" . Retrieved September 5, 2018 .
^ "Daniel Rickenmann sworn in as new mayor of Columbia" . The State . Retrieved 14 May 2022 .
^ sfastenau@postandcourier.com, Stephen Fastenau (2021-11-16). "Rickenmann wins Columbia mayor's race; Bussells takes at-large seat" . Post and Courier . Retrieved 2024-03-30 .
^ "Mayoral election in Columbia, South Carolina (2021)" . Ballotpedia . Retrieved 2024-03-30 .
^ "Columbia Mayor Bob Coble drops out of Senate race" . WIS-TV . October 20, 2003. Retrieved March 2, 2024 .
^ GAYNOR, GERREN KEITH (May 13, 2023). "Meet Stephen Benjamin, the most senior Black man in the White House" . The Grio . Retrieved March 2, 2024 .
^ Miller, Andrew. "GOP defeats Obama-endorsed candidate in deep blue city that Biden won handily in 2020" . Fox News . Fox. Retrieved 14 May 2022 .
^ Fastenau, Stephen. "As Republicans laud Rickenmann's Columbia mayor win, many downplay impact on city politics" . The Post and Courier Columbia . The Post and Courier. Retrieved 14 May 2022 .
^ "2021 Municipal Election Day Election Night Reporting" . SC Votes . State of South Carolina. Retrieved 14 May 2022 .
^ "2021 Municipal Election Day - Runoff Election Night Reporting" . SC Votes . State of South Carolina.