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Portrait of Todd RutherfordPhoto: scstatehouse.gov

SC · Officeholder

Todd Rutherford

DState Representative · District 74

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: South Carolina House District 74

Biography

J. Todd Rutherford is a Democratic state representative from Richland County who has represented South Carolina House District 74 since 1999 and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1][2] An attorney, Rutherford is the House Minority Leader and serves on the Ethics and Ways and Means committees.[1]

Rutherford earned a B.A. from Howard University in 1992 and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1996.[1] He worked as a legislative assistant to Congressman Robin Tallon from 1992 to 1993 and as an assistant solicitor and special prosecutor of narcotics and drug cases in the Fifth Solicitor's Office from 1996 to 1998.[1] His biography also lists The Rutherford Law Firm, LLC, beginning in 1998, and a seat on the national board of the NAACP Special Contributions Fund.[1]

Ballotpedia lists Rutherford under the name James Rutherford, also known as Todd, and reports that he faces Republican Collin Shelton in the November 3 general election.[2]

  1. 1.Representative J. Todd Rutherford - Member Biography · South Carolina Legislative Services Agency Official record
  2. 2.Todd Rutherford - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.

South Carolina House District 74

Todd Rutherford is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for South Carolina House District 74 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Collin SheltonCandidateRSouth Carolina House District 74South 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 12 of 267 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (8), Health & care (4), Education & families (3)

  • Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition

    What it does: Voids noncompete clauses in physician contracts that limit where or how long a doctor may practice or bar treating former patients, while letting employers recoup certain bonuses and relocation costs from doctors who…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 6–23, Republicans 52–30

    Mar 26, 2026Official record ↗

  • Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition

    Amends the bill to apply its noncompete provisions only to hospitals owned and operated by the State. (AI-written)

    What it does: On the version voted Mar 26, 2026: Voids noncompete clauses in physician contracts that limit where or how long a doctor may practice or bar treating former patients, while letting employers recoup certain bonuses and…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 26–4, Republicans 22–58

    Mar 25, 2026Official record ↗

  • Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition

    What it does: On the version voted Mar 26, 2026: Voids noncompete clauses in physician contracts that limit where or how long a doctor may practice or bar treating former patients, while letting employers recoup certain bonuses and…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 10–22, Republicans 55–28

    Mar 25, 2026Official record ↗

  • Appropriations Bill, 2025-2026

    What it does: On the version voted May 28, 2025: Sets South Carolina's state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, appropriating money and providing revenue for the ordinary expenses of state government and setting rul…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–18, Republicans 41–32

    May 6, 2025Official record ↗

  • Income tax

    What it does: On the version voted May 7, 2025: Sets individual income tax rates at 1.99% on the first $30,000 and 5.39% above, adds a state deduction in place of the federal standard deduction, and cuts rates further when projecte…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 9–19, Republicans 84–0

    May 6, 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 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

YesVOTED

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

YesVOTED

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

NoVOTED

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.