Happy Tuesday.
As a quick reminder: Welcome to SCETV and South Carolina Public Radio's newest blog, of sorts, previewing and capturing what goes on at the South Carolina Statehouse.
The blog is brought to you by longtime Statehouse reporters Gavin Jackson, Russ McKinney and Maayan Schechter.
It will include insider news, important meeting schedules, photos, video, behind-the-scenes interview clips with the state's policymakers and more.
We're still working on the name for the blog/newsletter.
Got ideas? Email us.
Alright, here's what happened today at the S.C. Statehouse, starting with an effort by the House Freedom Caucus.
As background: 123 of the 124-member South Carolina House of Representatives (there's one vacancy) were sworn in today for the 126th General Assembly. It was Day One of the lower chamber's organizational session. Day Two starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The Senate will start their organizational session at noon Wednesday. We're not expecting a lot of surprises in the upper chamber.
The organizational session is like the first day of school, except with lawmakers and a bunch of decorum rules.
In lawmakers' case, you get to see your old friends after a break. There are even freshmen. You find out what seat you get to sit in and who your desk mate will be. You get to vote on rules, find out your committee assignments and vote on who will run the chamber for the next two years.
That brings us to what occurred on the floor Tuesday.
Murrell Smith wins speaker reelection
House Speaker Murrell Smith, a Sumter Republican, successfully fended off a far-right challenge from longtime state Rep. Bill Chumley, a Spartanburg Republican and member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Freedom Caucus Chairman Jordan Pace, R-Berkeley, nominated Chumley. You can listen to his nominating speech below:
Smith's win was not a surprise. (He won 102 votes to Chumley's 17).
But, as we wrote this morning, it was a good indicator of the continued GOP fault lines going into the next session, and it gave us a better sense of where the Freedom Caucus membership may stand heading into the legislative session starting Jan. 14, 2025.
Moments from key speeches during the first day of the South Carolina House of Representatives organizational session, including from: House Speaker Murrell Smith, Speaker Pro Tem Tommy Pope and session temporary chair Gilda Cobb-Hunter. pic.twitter.com/enGUUQ0OXz
— GavinSJackson@bsky.social (@GavinJackson) December 3, 2024
Other House officers elected Tuesday
- House Speaker Pro Tempore Tommy Pope, R-York, was reelected to another two-year term. He faced no opposition.
- House Clerk Charles Reid was reelected to serve another term. He faced no opposition.
- Sergeant-At-Arms Mitch Dorman was reelected to another term in the House, a job he's held for more than 30 years. He faced no opposition.
- Charles Seastrunk was reelected to another term of serving as House chaplain. He faced no opposition.
- Bubba Cromer survived a push to oust him as reading clerk by a vote of 88-12. Despite the opposition from many Republican lawmakers, no one nominated an alternative.
“Speakers come and go, but BooBoo is forever,” Rep. Cody Mitchell says in his nominating speech for House Sergeant-at-Arms Mitch Dorman, who has served in this role for over 30 years. pic.twitter.com/Be6JvHfqFK
— Maayan Schechter (@MaayanSchechter) December 3, 2024
Under investigation, RJ May shows up
State Rep. RJ May, currently under federal investigation, showed up for Statehouse work Tuesday, answering an ongoing question over whether the Lexington Republican would be an active member this session.
Reporters on Tuesday watched May, who now sports a full beard, walk into the House chamber and participate in the swearing-in ceremony. May stood mostly in the far-left corner of the chamber, close to an exit that leads to what's known as the "cookie room," a room which also includes an exit out of the south side of the Statehouse. Reporters are not allowed inside, but did see a small handful of other lawmakers of both political parties stop to speak to him. May eventually spoke to reporters in separate small gaggles.

May is a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, and previously served as vice chair.
However, since the U.S. Attorney's Office of South Carolina formally filed official notice confirming an investigation, May has not been seen publicly.
In all his interviews with Statehouse reporters, May stayed on message and did not answer questions related to the investigation.
See below:
Rutherford holds onto Dem leader role
Longtime House Rep. Todd Rutherford will serve another two-year term as the minority leader of the House Democratic Caucus.
Rutherford, 54, successfully fended off challenger and Richland County colleague Rep. Kambrell Garvin, 33, by a 19-13 vote.
The ballot was secret, so we don't know how each lawmaker voted, but we're told a few lawmakers sat out of the race.
Rutherford told SC Public Radio on Monday before the vote that his key priority for the caucus is to maintain Democrats' voice in a chamber where Democrats currently hold 35 seats to 88 Republican seats.
"We have always pulled for the little guy, for public education, for the working stiffs in South Carolina," Rutherford said Monday. "And we will continue to do that."

Daily planner: A look ahead (12/4)
SC House
- 10 a.m. — House of Representatives
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Immediately upon adjournment — Blatt 427 — 3-M Full Committee Agenda Available
- Immediately upon adjournment — Blatt 410 — Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Immediately upon adjournment — Blatt 433 — Full Education and Public Works Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Upon adjournment — Blatt 516 — House Judiciary Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 45 minutes after adjournment — Blatt 503 — House Invitations and Memorial Resolutions Committee
Agenda Available - 45 minutes after adjournment — Blatt 110 — House Legislative Oversight Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 45 minutes after adjournment — Blatt 215 — House Rules Committee Agenda Available
- 45 minutes after adjournment — Blatt 427 — Regulations and Administrative Procedures Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Upon adjournment — Blatt 521 — House Ways and Means Full Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Upon adjournment — Blatt 403 — LCI Full Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Upon adjournment — Blatt 501 — House Interstate Cooperation Committee Agenda Available
SC Senate
- 12:00 pm -- State House, Senate Chamber -- Senate
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only
*Livestreams brought to you by SCETV
