Senator Margie Bright Matthews - Contact Information

Margie Bright Matthews (born February 10, 1963) is a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 45th District since 2015. She won a special election to succeed Clementa Pinckney, who tragically lost his life in the Charleston church shooting that same year. An attorney by profession, Margie founded her own law firm.

Early Life and Education:

• Born on February 10, 1963, in Walterboro, South Carolina.
• Graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in 1985.
• Earned her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1989.

Career Highlights:

• Prior to her tenure in the state Senate, Margie served as a page in the Senate and worked as a law clerk, contributing to legislative drafting.
• In 2015, she won a runoff election and was subsequently sworn into office on October 27, 2015.
• Margie ran unopposed in the 2016 general election and is expected to secure her third full term in office in 2024.
• She has been an active advocate for FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) reform.

Endorsements:

• Margie Bright Matthews endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for President in 2016.
• She also endorsed Joe Biden during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.
• In the 2018 South Carolina gubernatorial election, she supported James Smith.
• Most recently, in 2022, she endorsed fellow “Sister Senator” Mia McLeod in the gubernatorial race.

Personal Details:

• Margie is married to Patrick Matthews, and they have four children.

And that’s a glimpse into Senator Margie Bright Matthews’s impactful career in South Carolina politics!