James Rutherford
1998 - Present
2026
26
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James Rutherford (Democratic Party) (also known as Todd) is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 74. He assumed office in 1998. His current term ends on November 9, 2026.
Rutherford (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the South Carolina House of Representatives to represent District 74. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
As of February 3, 2021, Rutherford served as the state house minority leader.[1]
Biography
Rutherford earned his B.A. from Howard University in 1992. He went on to receive his J.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1996. Rutherford was a legislative assistant to Congressman Robin Tallon from 1992 to 1993. In 1993, he was owner of 3 Technical Integrated Systems. He then worked for The Rutherford Law Firm, LLC, from 1998 to 2006. Rutherford was assistant solicitor and special prosecutor for the 5th Solicitor's Office from 1996 to 1998. He worked as an attorney and owner of 803 Motorsports.
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Rutherford was assigned to the following committees:
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2021-2022
Rutherford was assigned to the following committees:
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2019-2020
Rutherford was assigned to the following committees:
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2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
| • Legislative Oversight |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Rutherford served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Rutherford served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Rutherford served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Rutherford served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74
Incumbent James Rutherford won election in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | James Rutherford (D) | 98.4 | 12,303 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.6 | 197 | ||
| Total votes: 12,500 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent James Rutherford advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
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Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Rutherford in this election.
2022
See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74
Incumbent James Rutherford won election in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Rutherford (D) | 98.6 | 9,089 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.4 | 129 | ||
| Total votes: 9,218 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent James Rutherford advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74.
2020
See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74
Incumbent James Rutherford defeated Vimalkumar Jariwala in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Rutherford (D) | 82.8 | 12,328 |
 | Vimalkumar Jariwala (R) | 17.0 | 2,526 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 33 | ||
| Total votes: 14,887 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent James Rutherford advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Vimalkumar Jariwala advanced from the Republican primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74.
2018
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74
Incumbent James Rutherford defeated Michael Block in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Rutherford (D) | 90.0 | 9,681 |
| Michael Block (United Citizens Party) | 9.5 | 1,018 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 52 | ||
| Total votes: 10,751 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74
Incumbent James Rutherford advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 74 on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | James Rutherford |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The primary runoff election was held on June 28, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 30, 2016.
Incumbent James Rutherford ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 74 general election.[2][3]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 74 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  James Rutherford Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 12,174 | |
| Total Votes | 12,174 | |||
| Source: South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
Incumbent James Rutherford ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 74 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 74 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | James Rutherford Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for all 124 seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2014. Incumbent James Rutherford was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Donna McGreevy ran as an American Independent party candidate. Rutherford defeated McGreevy in the general election.[6][7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James Rutherford Incumbent |
87% | 8,088 | |
| American Independent | Donna McGreevy | 13% | 1,207 | |
| Total Votes | 9,295 | |||
2012
Rutherford ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 12, as well as the general election on November 6.[9][10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James Rutherford Incumbent |
99.6% | 13,750 | |
| Other | Write-Ins | 0.4% | 62 | |
| Total Votes | 13,812 | |||
2010
Rutherford ran unopposed in the June 8 Democratic primary for District 74 of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Rutherford defeated Christopher Jones (G) in the general election on November 2.[11]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 74 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| James Rutherford (D)
|
6,493 | 87.93% | ||
| Christopher Jones (G) | 866 | 11.73% | ||
| Write-In | 25 | 0.34% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Rutherford won re-election to the 74th District seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives, defeating Antonio Williams (G).
Rutherford raised $8,250 for his campaign, while Williams raised $0.[12]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 74 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| James Rutherford (D)
|
10,154 | |||
| Antonio Williams (G) | 1,012 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
James Rutherford did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
James Rutherford did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
James Rutherford did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Presidential preference
2016 presidential endorsement
✓ Rutherford endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[13]
- See also: Endorsements for Hillary Clinton
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of South Carolina scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 10 to May 11.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 11 to May 12.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 13.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 14 to June 25. The state Senate reconvened September to September 3. Both chambers reconvened September 15 to September 24.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 21.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 10.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 10 through May 11.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 12 through June 2.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 13 through June 4.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 14 through June 6.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 8 to June 20.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 11 through June 7.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the South Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 11 through June 2. On June 2, 2011, Governor Nikki Haley (R) attempted to call the legislature into an "emergency" special session to begin on June 7 to create the new South Carolina Department of Administration. A lawsuit was filed by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell (R), in which he contended that Haley's call for a special session was unconstitutional, and that it violated the state Constitution's requirement of separation of powers among the governor, legislature and courts.[14] On June 6, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled 3-2 against Governor Haley, stating that her order violated the Legislature's ability to set its calendar and agenda. The legislature met in a special redistricting session from June 14 - July 1.[15] The legislature re-convened July 26.[16]
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The Palmetto Liberty PAC Scorecard
The Palmetto Liberty Political Action Committee, a conservative, pro-limited government think tank in South Carolina, releases its scorecard for South Carolina representatives and senators once a year. The scorecard gives each legislator a score based on how he or she voted in the two-year legislative term prior to the election on specific issues that the Palametto Liberty PAC thinks are anti-limited government. "Most of the votes shown on the score card are votes that we lost. Now we can identify the Legislators that caused us to lose these votes. These Legislators are the ones who need to be replaced if we are to achieve the vision of having the most free state in the nation."[17]
2012
James Rutherford received a score of 7% in the 2012 scorecard, ranking 120th out of all 124 South Carolina House of Representatives members.[18] His score was followed by representatives Bakari Sellers (7%), Robert Williams (7%), and Terry Alexander (0%).[19]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Rutherford has a wife, Naida.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate South Carolina House of Representatives District 74 |
Officeholder South Carolina House of Representatives District 74 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ South Carolina State House, "Officers of the House," accessed February 3, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Candidate listing for the 11/8/2016 statewide general election," accessed August 26, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2016 Statewide General Election," accessed November 28, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "Candidate Tracking," accessed March 31, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Unofficial primary election results," accessed June 14, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Election Results," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2014 Election Information," accessed March 31, 2014
- ↑ AP.org, "South Carolina State Senate and State House Election Results," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2012 Candidates," accessed April 23, 2012
- ↑ www.enr-scvotes.org, "2010 General Election Results," accessed May 1, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 campaign contributions," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ "The Post and Courier, "Bill and Hillary Clinton will campaign in rural South Carolina this weekend," February 10, 2016
- ↑ The State, "High court rules against Haley," June 6, 2011
- ↑ The Sun News, "S.C. House to have special session in June," May 6, 2011
- ↑ The Island Packet, "S.C. Senate OKs new congressional districted anchored in Beaufort County," June 29, 2011
- ↑ The Palmetto Liberty Political Action Committee, "Voting Records," accessed April 11, 2014
- ↑ Palmetto Liberty Political Action Committee, "South Carolina Senate Score Card 2012," accessed April 11, 2014
- ↑ Palmetto Liberty Political Action Committee, "South Carolina Senate Score Card 2012," accessed May 15, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
South Carolina House of Representatives District 74 1998-Present |
Succeeded by - |
