Who is Sen. Margie Bright Mathews?
🏛️ Personal Background
- Full Name: Margie Bright Matthews
- Born: February 10, 1963, in Walterboro, South Carolina justfacts.votesmart.org+12en.wikipedia.org+12margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+12
- Education: Earned a B.S. (1985) and J.D. (1989) from the University of South Carolina scstatehouse.gov+2en.wikipedia.org+2kids.kiddle.co+2.
- Family: Married Patrick F. Matthews on October 24, 1992. They have four daughters: Jessica, Patrice, Meredith, and Mattison legistorm.com+4scstatehouse.gov+4justfacts.votesmart.org+4.
⚖️ Professional Life
- Began practicing law in Walterboro, founding her own firm where she remains a senior partner justfacts.votesmart.org+2margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+2margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+2.
- Served as a Senate page and law clerk early in her legal career, contributing to drafting legislation margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3kids.kiddle.co+3.
- President of the Colleton County Bar Association and a certified Circuit Court mediator margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+4scstatehouse.gov+4en.wikipedia.org+4.
🗳️ Political Career
- South Carolina State Senate: Elected in a special election on October 20, 2015, to succeed the late Sen. Clementa Pinckney margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+5ballotpedia.org+5scstatehouse.gov+5.
- Represents District 45 (Allendale, Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton & Jasper counties) margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+3margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+3margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+3.
- Won re-election unopposed in 2016, defeated a challenger in 2020, and ran unopposed in 2024 .
🛠️ Legislative Focus & Leadership
- Committee Memberships: Corrections & Penology; Judiciary; Medical Affairs; Transportation; Family & Veterans’ Services (historically); Ethics; Finance; Labor, Commerce & Industry; Legislative Oversight scdp.org+3scstatehouse.gov+3margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+3.
- Key Priorities: Advocates strongly for criminal justice reform, women’s rights, public education, Medicaid expansion, economic development, and FOIA transparency margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+2margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+2scdp.org+2.
- Formed the bipartisan “Sister Senators” coalition in 2023 to protect reproductive rights, earning national attention and a JFK Profiles in Courage Award en.wikipedia.org.
- In January 2025, delivered the Democratic rebuttal to the State of the State address, highlighting issues like education, healthcare, and equity scdp.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
- Championed FOIA reform, advocating for rural judicial access during FOIA disputes kids.kiddle.co.
- Advocated for the Jasper Ocean Terminal project to boost regional economic opportunities en.wikipedia.org+1kids.kiddle.co+1.
🎯 District Engagement & Personal Interests
- Describes District 45 as “historical, beautiful, and recreational” margiebrightmatthewsforsenate.com+2spectrumlocalnews.com+2legistorm.com+2.
- Inspired to run following a local tragedy, committed to community change spectrumlocalnews.com.
- Enjoys Southern cooking and is a fan of the film You’ve Got Mail spectrumlocalnews.com.
📌 Summary
Margie Bright Matthews is a dedicated public servant, attorney, and advocate rooted in her community. As the longtime State Senator for South Carolina’s 45th District, she has focused her legislative work on justice, education, economic development, women’s health, and transparency. Her leadership—both at the Capitol and in her district—reflects a commitment to equity, community empowerment, and bipartisan collaboration.
Let me know if you’d like details on specific bills she’s sponsored, her voting record, or endorsements!