South Carolina's fifty-sixth state house district is represented by Republican Representative Tim McGinnis.

South Carolina state representatives represent an average of 37,301 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 32,355 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the South Carolina House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. South Carolina legislators assume office the Monday after the election.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the South Carolina House of Representatives, a candidate must be:

• A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
• 21 years old at the filing deadline time
• A resident of the district at the filing deadline time

Salaries

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. If candidates plan to seek the nomination through a party convention, the filing period begins on the third Friday after the vacancy happened. The qualifying deadline is ten days after the filing period opens.

If a candidate plans to seek the nomination via petition, all signatures must submitted to the appropriate filing officer no later than sixty days before the election. All signatures must be verified by the filing officer no later than 45 days before the election.

A primary election must be held on the eleventh Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. If necessary, a primary runoff must be held on the thirteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. The special election is held on the eighteenth Tuesday after vacancy occurs. No special election can be held less than 60 days before the general election.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of South Carolina House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 9, 2020, and a primary runoff is scheduled for June 23, 2020. The filing deadline is March 30, 2020.

2018

No Democratic candidates ran in the primary.

Special election

A special election for the position of South Carolina House of Representatives District 56 was held on January 2, 2018. The primary election took place on October 24, 2017. The filing deadline for political parties to nominate their candidates to run in this election was September 2, 2017.

The seat was vacant following Mike Ryhal's (R) resignation on August 7, 2017. Ryhal cited family issues when announcing his resignation.

Tim McGinnis defeated Adam Miller and Dwyer Scott in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidates filed for election. Official results had McGinnis winning the primary with 66.5 percent of the vote. McGinnis was unopposed in the general election.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 56, Special Election, 2018

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 56 Republican Primary, 2018

2016

Elections for the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The primary election runoff was held on June 28, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 30, 2016.

Incumbent Mike Ryhal ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 56 general election.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 56 General Election, 2016

Incumbent Mike Ryhal ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 56 Republican primary.

2014

Elections for all 124 seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2014. Incumbent Mike Ryhal defeated Dennis DiSabato, Jr. in the Republican primary. Ryhal was unchallenged in the general election.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 56 Republican Primary, 2014

2012

Elections for the office of South Carolina House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 12, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2012. Petition candidate Mike Ryhal (R) defeated petition candidate Dennis DiSabato (R) in the general election.

South Carolina House of Representatives, District 56, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for South Carolina House of Representatives District 56 raised a total of $317,461. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $24,420 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, South Carolina House of Representatives District 56