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Sumter’s Murrell Smith says SC House not DC after unopposed reelection to speaker

Facing an expanded Republican majority, newly reelected South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith told colleagues Tuesday that it’s time to work together to improve the state for everyone and avoid rancor that can prevent legislatures from getting work done.

“We must focus on creating the best environment that will improve the lives of all our citizens,” Smith, R-Sumter, said. “A rising tide truly does lift all our boats.”

Smith, 54, ran unopposed to continue serving as the 61st speaker Tuesday, the first of a two-day House organizational session where legislators pick their seats in the chamber and find out which committee they’ll sit on. Smith was nominated by desk mate state Rep. David Weeks, a Sumter Democrat, who lauded Smith’s work across the aisle, saying Smith “sees the power of the necessity of listening to all voices.”

As speaker, Smith will oversee a chamber with an expanded Republican majority that in the year has split into factions.

In November, Republicans flipped five seats to hold 88 of the chamber’s 124 seats, resulting in a supermajority. Democrats flipped one seat, and will now only hold 36 seats.

Smith, who previously served as the powerful House Ways and Means Committee chairman, was first elected speaker in April to succeed Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, who declined to run for reelection this year.

“Our chamber is not Washington, D.C.,” Smith said, “nor do we wish it to be.”

In his remarks Tuesday, Smith also touted the state’s economy, which recorded more than $5 billion in capital investment so far this year and over 9,000 new jobs, Smith said.

“Big things are often difficult,” Smith said. “I know we all won’t agree on the details but it is our essential duty we come here, come together and find a way to work for people to state. Not only for some, not only for your voters, not only for your area that you represent, but for the entire state of South Carolina.”

To round out the chamber leadership, state Rep. Tommy Pope, R-York, was reelected Tuesday as speaker pro tempore, a position that allows Pope to preside over the chamber when Smith steps away. And House Majority Leader Davey Hiott, R-Pickens, was reelected by his Republican colleagues.

Meanwhile, Richland County state Rep. Todd Rutherford won reelection Tuesday to stay the top Democrat in the House, followed by state Rep. Roger Kirby, D-Florence, who was elected assistant minority leader, succeeding Rep. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun.

On Tuesday, state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, an Orangeburg Democrat and the longest-serving member in the House, lamented the loss of Black women from the chamber and implored all members to reach across the aisle.

“Some of you believe that your way is the right way and the only way. I’m here to tell you that’s not the case,” Cobb-Hunter said. “What I’m encouraging you to do as you are here, is to make it your business to reach out and meet somebody new, to talk to somebody who does not share your political views, because believe it or not, as I look out on this body, you are not representative of South Carolina.”