West Columbia voters are watching a critical contest unfold in House District 89. Rep. Micah Caskey, the Republican majority leader and longtime chair of the judicial‑screening commission, is currently trailing first‑time Democratic challenger Joe Madge by just 101 votes, according to unofficial returns.
Vote totals and recount trigger
Unofficial results show Madge with 7,248 votes (50.3%) and Caskey with 7,147 votes (49.6%). With more than 14,000 ballots cast, the 101‑vote gap falls within South Carolina’s automatic‑recount threshold of 1% of the total vote, roughly 144 votes. State law therefore requires a mandatory recount, meaning the final outcome remains uncertain.
Why the race matters for the statehouse
Caskey, 45, was elevated to House majority leader just weeks ago, a position that steers which bills reach the floor and shapes the Republican caucus’s strategy. Losing his seat would force House Republicans to select a new floor leader before the 2027 session begins, potentially disrupting the party’s agenda.
Beyond leadership, Caskey chairs the Judicial Merit Selection Commission (JMSC), the body that screens candidates for most state judges. His experience has been a stabilizing influence on the process that determines judges for the 15th Judicial Circuit, which includes Horry and Georgetown counties. A change in commission leadership could alter the composition of the bench in those coastal communities.
Background on the candidates
Rep. Caskey is a Columbia native, former U.S. Marine Corps officer, and former felony prosecutor. He first won the District 89 seat in 2016 and has risen through the ranks, chairing the bipartisan freshman caucus, the House Rules Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee before his recent election as majority leader.
Joe Madge, 59, is an engineer with a manufacturing background. His campaign emphasized practical problem‑solving and highlighted the fact that Republicans have held the seat for at least 25 years.
Recent voting trends in the district
Early returns on election night showed Caskey ahead by 29 votes when about 83% of the vote was counted. Subsequent ballots shifted the lead to Madge, illustrating how precinct‑by‑precinct reporting can change the picture in a close race.
The district’s narrow margin is not unprecedented for Caskey. In the 2022 Republican primary, he survived a recount after winning by just 26 votes.
Implications for Lexington County and the Grand Strand
For readers along the Grand Strand, the outcome matters because the majority leader influences legislation affecting Horry and Georgetown counties. Additionally, the JMSC’s role in judicial selection directly impacts the courts serving those coastal areas.
Even if Caskey ultimately loses, Republicans will retain a commanding majority in the South Carolina House—88 of 124 seats after the 2024 election—so overall chamber control will not shift.
What comes next
The State Election Commission will conduct the recount in accordance with state law. Both campaigns have pledged to respect the process and await the certified results before drawing conclusions.
We will update this story as the recount proceeds and final results are certified.
Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.
