Ott considering run for Senate

Ott, who has represented House District 93 since 2013, filed initial campaign spending documents with the South Carolina State Ethics Commission on Monday.

He also submitted documents for his current house seat.

Ott has not made an official announcement regarding either seat. Official candidacy documents must be submitted to the state between March 16 and March 30.

Spokesperson Ashley Hunter said Ott had not made an official decision to run for the senate seat as of Wednesday despite the ethics commission filings.

“He has filed initial paperwork for now and will spend the coming days and weeks talking to close friends and family to make his decision,” Hunter said.

Ott’s House district includes all of Calhoun County and portions of Orangeburg and Lexington counties.

The Senate District 26 seat will be vacated by Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington, at the end of his term. Setzler has held the seat since 1976 and announced Jan. 9 that he will be retiring.

District 26 currently covers portions of Aiken, Calhoun, Lexington and Saluda counties. Due to redistricting following the 2020 U.S. Census, the district has been redrawn to include portions of Lexington County and larger tracts of Calhoun and Richland counties in the next election.

Also due to the redistricting, Setzler’s district will overlap with that of Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Richland, starting next term.

Harpootlian, a prominent attorney, announced he would run for the empty seat on Jan 11.

The primary for the seat will be held on June 11.

Despite being held by a Democrat for 48 years, the Senate 26 seat has become more competitive for Republicans recently.

Setzler’s share of the vote has decreased each election cycle from 63% in 2008 to 54% in 2020, according to the state election commission. The retiring senator markets himself as a conservative on his website and campaign materials.

Ott won his House seat in a special election after his father, Harry L. Ott, Jr., resigned in 2013. He has only been challenged twice in the five House elections since.

He posted victories over Republican candidates with 66% and 61% of the vote in 2018 and 2022, respectively. He ran unopposed in 2014, 2016 and 2020, winning 97% to 99% of the vote each time.

Before being elected to the State House, Ott served as town administrator for Elloree, North and Neeses and as a lobbyist for South Carolina Farm Bureau from 2004 to 2013. He stepped down from his lobbyist position to assume his House seat.

He has a bachelor’s degree in English from Clemson University and a master of public administration from the University of South Carolina. He is a father of two.

He currently serves on the House committees on Labor, Commerce and Industry and Legislative Oversight.