Beaufort state Sen. Tom Davis has purchased land in Bluffton. Here’s why he’s moving
State Sen. Tom Davis is moving to Bluffton so he can run again for Senate District 46, which will no longer include his hometown of Beaufort in the 2024 election because of population-driven redistricting.
The 37-year Beaufort resident and attorney has represented Senate District 46 for 14 years. Davis, 61, a Republican, was first elected to the Senate in 2008 and is in the second year of his fourth term.
Currently, 90% of the population of Davis’ district lies in southern Beaufort County, and includes Bluffton, Hilton Head and Sun City and the portion of Sun City that spills over into Jasper County. The remaining 10% is in northern Beaufort County, including downtown Beaufort and an area long Highway 170 leading into the city.
But downtown Beaufort is being lopped off, which will put the district entirely south of the Broad River. The new District 46 will still include Bluffton, Hilton Head and Sun City.
Davis has purchased a lot near the intersection of Alljoy Road and Crystal Beach Lane in Bluffton, where he is in the process of building a house, in order establish residency and run for reelection for a fifth term representing District 46.
“So I will be moving from Beaufort,” Davis told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet.
Disproportionate population growth in southern Beaufort County, compared to the rest of the state, Davis said, forced the change in the district’s boundary and moving it entirely south of the Broad River.
“It’s a numbers thing. It’s inevitable,” Davis said. “They divided up the county the best way they could.”
Bluffton saw its overall population jump 124.4% to 27,716 people over the last decade — solidifying the once-tiny town as the fastest growing municipality in Beaufort County.
Meanwhile, Davis’ northern Beaufort County territory will be divided between Senate District 43, currently represented by George E. “Chip” Campsen III, a Charleston Republican, and Senate District 45, which Democrat Margie Bright Matthews of Walterboro represents.
The eastern half of downtown Beaufort will fall in Campsen’s District 43, while the western part of the downtown area, and Burton, will fall within Bright Matthews’ District 45.
If Davis had wanted to remain north of the Broad River and run again, he would have faced Campsen for the District 45 seat.
South Carolina added almost 500,000 new people over the last decade, a nearly 10.7% growth, pushing the state’s total population beyond 5 million, with particular counties along the coast recording significant growth.
The Senate district map had to be redrawn so each district had a population of approximately 111,270 people.
Given that, the county was divided up logically, Davis said. “As a practical matter for me,” Davis said, “it doesn’t change all that much.”
He already spends a lot of time in southern Beaufort County, he noted, because 90% of his constituents live there.
Davis, who served as a senior policy advisor and chief of staff in former Gov. Mark Sanford’s administration, has practiced law with Harvey & Battey, a long-time Beaufort law firm, since 1985.
In recent sessions, Davis has introduced bills in the Legislature that would legalize medical marijuana in South Carolina.
This story was originally published April 1, 2022 at 12:07 PM.
