Skip to main content
The Full Record
Menu
Portrait of Jermaine JohnsonPhoto: scstatehouse.gov

SC · Officeholder

Jermaine Johnson

DState Representative · District 52

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Governor of South Carolina

Biography

Jermaine Johnson is a state representative, former professional basketball player and small business owner who has served in the South Carolina House since December 2020. He is the Democratic nominee for governor, running with Sam Skardon. He supports expanding Medicaid, has opposed Republican-backed abortion laws and introduced a resolution calling for a moratorium on data centers.[1][2][3]

Johnson was born in Los Angeles on July 4, 1985, and, according to his Wikipedia biography, spent part of his childhood in housing instability before basketball gave him access to preparatory schools.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree from the College of Charleston in 2008, where he played basketball, a master's degree from Strayer University in 2014 and a doctorate in business administration from Northcentral University in 2018.[1][4] He played professional basketball from 2009 to 2015, including more than six years overseas, and later became an adjunct professor at Webster University.[1][4]

Johnson was a Richland County recreation commissioner from 2016 to 2020 and owns a consulting firm, DT Consulting Firm, LLC.[4] In 2020 he defeated longtime Democratic incumbent Jimmy Bales in the primary for House District 80 and took office in December 2020.[1][5] After redistricting he won a contested 2022 primary in District 70 by 115 votes over Rep. Wendy Brawley, and he now represents District 52 in Kershaw and Richland counties.[1][4] He serves on the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, and on January 14, 2026 he announced that he would not seek re-election to the House in order to focus on the governor's race.[1][5] His campaign says his accomplishments in office include expanding broadband access, repairing roads and bridges and creating the Lower Richland Tech Academy.[2]

Johnson formed an exploratory committee in May 2025 and announced his campaign for governor on October 28, 2025, calling himself a "different kind of Democrat."[1][5] He became the Democratic nominee on June 9, 2026, and chose Charleston businessman Sam Skardon as his running mate.[1][3] He is married and has three children and lives in Hopkins.[4]

  1. 1.Jermaine Johnson (politician) · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  2. 2.Issues — Dr. Jermaine Johnson for Governor · Jermaine Johnson for Governor Candidate's own words
  3. 3.SC governor candidates agree on abortion, differ on gambling and Medicaid · SC Daily Gazette · 2026-10-07 News report
  4. 4.Representative Jermaine L. Johnson, Sr. · South Carolina Legislature · 2026-10-21 Official record
  5. 5.Democrat Jermaine Johnson Officially Enters Race for South Carolina Governor · WRHI · 2025-10-28 News report

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.

On the ballot

Full candidate research ›Governor of South Carolina ›

Also on the ballot for this seat

Alan WilsonCandidateRGovernor · South CarolinaSouth CarolinaMichael AddisonCandidateUnited CitizensGovernor · South CarolinaSouth CarolinaWalid HakimCandidateGGovernor · South CarolinaSouth Carolina

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 26 of 276 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Rights & public safety (25), Health & care (1)

  • Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 7–16, Republicans 75–0

    Jun 25, 2026Official record ↗

  • Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–20, Republicans 72–1

    Jun 25, 2026Official record ↗

  • Redistricting, Congressional Districts

    What it does: On the version voted May 20, 2026: Replaces the congressional district map with new boundaries for the seven U.S. House districts (by county, voting district and census block), repeals the current district statute, an…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 29–1, Republicans 1–80

    May 19, 2026Official record ↗

  • Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 11–16, Republicans 84–2

    Mar 4, 2026Official record ↗

  • Ivermectin

    What it does: On the version voted Jun 25, 2026: Allows adults 18 and older to buy FDA-approved human-use ivermectin over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription, kept behind the counter, with Board of Pharmacy screening a…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 27–3, Republicans 16–48

    Aug 11, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

YesVOTED

Motion: Invoke the Previous Question (Cloture)

Passed 94–18·Procedural·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

YesVOTED

Motion: Table Amendment 1A Amendment number 1A

Passed 95–17·Procedural·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

NoVOTED

Motion: Table Amendment 2A Amendment number 2A

Passed 78–21·Procedural·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

NoVOTED

Motion: Table Motion to Waive Rule 4.8

Failed 15–96·Procedural·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

YesVOTED

Motion: Waive Rule 4.8

Passed 95–15·Substantive·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

YesVOTED

Motion: Concur in Senate Amendments

Passed 96–15·Substantive·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 5126 · SC HOUSE

Budget

YesVOTED

Motion: Proviso to 117.220

Appropriates money and provides revenues for the ordinary expenses of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, regulates how those funds are spent, and sets other provisions for operating state government that year.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 105–10·Substantive·Aug 11, 2026Roll call ↗
H 5126 · SC HOUSE

Budget

YesVOTED

Motion: Adopt Conference Report

Appropriates money and provides revenues for the ordinary expenses of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, regulates how those funds are spent, and sets other provisions for operating state government that year.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 100–17·Substantive·Aug 11, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4042 · SC HOUSE

Ivermectin

NoVOTED

Motion: Table Motion to Reconsider

On the version voted Jun 25, 2026: Allows adults 18 and older to buy FDA-approved human-use ivermectin over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription, kept behind the counter, with Board of Pharmacy screening and information rules and dispensing bans when contraindications exist.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 43–51·Procedural·Aug 11, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3558 · SC HOUSE

Commissioners to Article V Convention

Not votingNO VOTE

Motion: Override Veto by the Governor

On the version voted Mar 5, 2025: Sets rules for commissioners who represent South Carolina at an Article V convention: the General Assembly names them in joint session, they must meet residency and other qualifications and take an oath, follow written instructions, and may be recalled.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 74–27·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 664 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.