Katrina Shealy Runs for Re-election to S.C. Senate Lexington County Seat
Early Life and Political Beginnings
South Carolina Sen. Katrina Shealy, a life-long resident of Lexington, has recently announced her run for re-election in the forthcoming S.C. Senate elections. Raised and educated in Lexington County, Shealy began her working life at the young age of 13 in Batesburg-Leesville at a local grocery store owned by her parents. It was not long after graduating from Batesburg-Leesville High School that Shealy entered the insurance sector, where she worked for over four decades.
Shealy’s political career kicked off in the year 2008, only to witness an initial setback when she narrowly lost to Sen. Jake Knotts in a run-off election. Unfazed, she made her second attempt in 2012 and emerged victorious, despite a filing error that resulted in her name being removed from the ballot along with those of 232 other candidates. Nevertheless, Shealy managed to gather the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot and ultimately defeated incumbent Knotts, marking her one of the few candidates to achieve such a feat.
Achievements and Recognitions
Shealy’s tenure in the state legislature is characterized by commendable work that has received both statewide and nationwide recognition. Her contribution was notably acknowledged by Forbes, naming her one of America’s “50 most influential women over 50” in 2023.
Beyond her professional and political life, Shealy is a mother of three and grandmother of five, with her husband, Jimmy Shealy, having been her steady support for the past 27 years. Her prime areas of advocacy and reform have been child care, veteran services, senior citizen protection, and condemning domestic violence.
Re-election Journey
The journey towards re-election has not been without its share of difficulties for Shealy. Her vote against the 2023 Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act attracted significant criticism, both personal and professional, despite the bill eventually passing and becoming a law in May 2023. Her opposition to the Bill did not stem from an anti-life standpoint, rather she advocated for exceptions in cases such as rape and fatal fetal anomalies.
However, the criticism escalated into outright intimidation, with incidents of tire slashing, pellet gun shooting, and distasteful pamphleting at her church. Despite these instances, Shealy remains unwavering in her convictions and commitment towards the community.
Current Responsibilities and Future Commitments
Currently, Shealy chairs the Family and Veterans’ Services Committee and is a member of five other committees including Finance, Rules, Corrections, Joint Bond Review, and Labor and Commerce. She strongly believes in her capacity to represent Lexington on the Finance Committee and fears the lack of representation if she doesn’t win the re-election.
With the forthcoming elections, Shealy strives to represent the county she has lived in her whole life for another four years. In her words, “What I enjoy most about serving Lexington are the people. Being able to serve and help people you have grown up with all your life. I love seeing what I have been able to do to impact the lives of real people in Lexington County and all across South Carolina.”
