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Portrait of Russell OttPhoto: scstatehouse.gov

SC · Officeholder

Russell Ott

DState Senator · District 26

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

  • Jobs & cost of living258 with · 8 against266 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Budget

      On the version voted Aug 11, 2026: 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.

      Apr 21, 2026 · Passed 21–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Hemp-derived ingestible

      On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and excise taxes.

      Mar 18, 2026 · Passed 22–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act

      Requires the legislature to approve, by joint resolution, state regulations estimated to cost $1 million or more over five years, directs courts to review agency interpretations of statutes and regulations without deference, and sets periodic Legislative Audit Council reviews of agency regulations.

      May 14, 2026 · Failed 22–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All jobs & cost of living votes
  • Rights & public safety27 with · 5 against33 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Driving under the influence

      On the version voted Jun 25, 2026: Makes DUI causing moderate injury a felony punishable by 90 days to 10 years in prison, creates reckless-driving offenses for causing injury, lengthens license suspensions for refusing alcohol tests, expands ignition interlock rules, and has circuit solicitors prosecute first and second DUI offenses.

      Feb 4, 2026 · Failed 19–27 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act

      Requires the legislature to approve, by joint resolution, state regulations estimated to cost $1 million or more over five years, directs courts to review agency interpretations of statutes and regulations without deference, and sets periodic Legislative Audit Council reviews of agency regulations.

      May 14, 2026 · Failed 22–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Redistricting, Congressional Districts

      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, and holds a special U.S. House primary on August 18, 2026 that replaces the June 9 results.

      May 22, 2026 · Failed 26–15 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All rights & public safety votes
  • Health & care29 with · 1 against30 votes

    Most contested

    • No

      Hemp-derived ingestible

      On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and excise taxes.

      Mar 18, 2026 · Passed 22–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Pharmacy access

      Feb 24, 2026 · Failed 6–38 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Ivermectin

      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.

      May 13, 2026 · Passed 38–3 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All health & care votes
  • Education & families17 with · 1 against18 votes

    Most contested

    All education & families votes
  • Climate & energy13 with · 1 against14 votes

    Most contested

    • No

      Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Programs (C-PACE)

      Lets counties and cities create voluntary C-PACE programs in which owners of commercial, industrial, agricultural and multifamily property finance energy and other improvements through a special assessment lien on the property, with existing mortgage holders' consent required.

      Jan 20, 2026 · Failed 17–27 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Santee Cooper Joint Project Authorization

      Authorizes the Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) to co-own, with Dominion Energy South Carolina, natural gas-fired generation and transmission facilities at or near the former Canadys coal plant in Colleton County, owning a share equal to its investment.

      Apr 3, 2025 · Passed 25–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Timber

      Mar 31, 2026 · Passed 38–5 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All climate & energy votes
  • Transportation11 with · 1 against12 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Driving under the influence

      On the version voted Jun 25, 2026: Makes DUI causing moderate injury a felony punishable by 90 days to 10 years in prison, creates reckless-driving offenses for causing injury, lengthens license suspensions for refusing alcohol tests, expands ignition interlock rules, and has circuit solicitors prosecute first and second DUI offenses.

      Feb 4, 2026 · Failed 19–27 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Utility terrain vehicle

      On the version voted May 13, 2026: Lets utility terrain vehicles be registered and driven on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or less by licensed drivers 17 and older, with a $10 fee every two years and insurance and safety rules; also allows golf carts near large athletic events.

      Apr 16, 2026 · Passed 22–14 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Failure to stop a motor vehicle

      May 1, 2025 · Passed 35–5 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All transportation votes
  • Housing & rent4 with · 0 against4 votes

    Most contested

    All housing & rent votes
  • Technology & privacy4 with · 0 against4 votes

    Most contested

    All technology & privacy votes
  • Foreign affairs & defense1 with · 0 against1 vote

    Most contested

    • Yes

      SC-Bahamas Trade Commission

      Creates a 15-member South Carolina-Bahamas Trade Commission, appointed by the Speaker, the Senate President and the Governor, to advance trade and investment between South Carolina and The Bahamas.

      May 12, 2026 · Passed 43–3 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All foreign affairs & defense votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 9 of 70 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (9), Rights & public safety (4), Health & care (2)

  • Hemp-derived ingestible

    What it does: On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and exci…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 5–6, Republicans 22–5

    Jun 25, 2026Official record ↗

  • Budget

    What it does: On the version voted Aug 11, 2026: 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…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–7, Republicans 20–10

    Apr 22, 2026Official record ↗

  • Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Programs (C-PACE)

    What it does: Lets counties and cities create voluntary C-PACE programs in which owners of commercial, industrial, agricultural and multifamily property finance energy and other improvements through a special assessment lien on the…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 10–2, Republicans 7–25

    Jan 20, 2026Official record ↗

  • Liquor liability

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 3–5, Republicans 32–0

    Apr 15, 2025Official record ↗

  • Tort Reform

    What it does: Changes how fault is divided in injury lawsuits, letting juries assign fault to parties who settled and limiting joint liability; lowers bars' required liquor liability coverage to $500,000, requires alcohol server tr…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–7, Republicans 31–0

    Mar 26, 2025Official 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 5126 · SC SENATE

Budget

YesVOTED

Motion: to adopt the 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 37–2·Substantive·Aug 11, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3924 · SC SENATE

Hemp-derived ingestible

YesVOTED

Motion: to adopt the conference report

On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and excise taxes.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 27–11·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4709 · SC SENATE

US produced iron and steel

YesVOTED

Motion: to adopt the conference report

Passed 36–2·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4763 · SC SENATE

Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act

NoVOTED

Motion: to grant free conference powers

Failed 29–9·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4248 · SC SENATE

Food labeling

YesVOTED

Motion: to adopt the conference report

Passed 33–5·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
S 0428 · SC SENATE

Fraudulent Check Expungement

YesVOTED

Motion: to override the veto

Passed 36–3·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4763 · SC SENATE

Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act

YesVOTED

Motion: to grant free conference powers

Passed 33–6·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4300 · SC SENATE

Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors

YesVOTED

Motion: 2nd Reading

Passed 36–3·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 5683 · SC SENATE

Redistricting, Congressional Districts

NoVOTED

Motion: Rule 15B

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, and holds a special U.S. House primary on August 18, 2026 that replaces the June 9 results.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 20–24·Substantive·May 26, 2026Roll call ↗
H 5683 · SC SENATE

Redistricting, Congressional Districts

YesVOTED

Motion: to continue the Bill

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, and holds a special U.S. House primary on August 18, 2026 that replaces the June 9 results.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 26–18·Substantive·May 26, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 393 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.