Gerald Malloy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerald Malloy
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| Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 29th district |
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| In office November 5, 2002 – November 14, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Edward Eli Saleeby |
| Succeeded by | JD Chaplin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 26, 1961 Chesterfield County, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Davita McFarland
(m. 1989) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of South Carolina (BS, JD) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Gerald Malloy (born October 26, 1961) is a lawyer and former politician from South Carolina. He served as a member of the South Carolina Senate for 22 years. He represented the 29th District, which includes Chesterfield, Darlington, Lee, and Marlboro Counties. Malloy is a member of the Democratic Party. His time in the Senate ended in 2024.
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Gerald Malloy's Political Career
Gerald Malloy served in the South Carolina Senate for over two decades. During his time as a senator, he worked on many important committees. One of these was the SC Commission on Indigent Defense, which helps people who cannot afford a lawyer. He also served on the Robert Smalls Monument Commission. Malloy was a close friend of Senator Clementa C. Pinckney. He also worked as the attorney for the Pinckney family.
Serving in the S.C. Senate
The 2002 Election
After Senator Edward Eli Saleeby passed away, a special election was held. This election was to choose someone new to fill his seat. Eight people wanted the job, including Saleeby's son. Gerald Malloy won this election and became the new senator.
The 2016 Election
In 2016, Gerald Malloy ran for re-election without any opponents. This means no one else ran against him for the seat.
The 2020 Election
In 2020, Malloy faced a challenge from JD Chaplin, a farmer who was a Republican. Malloy won this election, getting about 54% of the votes. Later in 2020, Malloy wanted to become the Senate Minority Leader. This is a top position for the party not in power. However, he lost that election to Brad Hutto.
The 2024 Election and Recount
In 2024, Malloy ran against JD Chaplin again. On the day of the general election, Chaplin was ahead by 287 votes. This was a very small difference, less than 1%. Because the vote was so close, the law required an automatic recount. After the votes were counted again, Malloy was defeated by Chaplin.
Election Protest and Concession
On November 19, 2024, Malloy officially challenged the results of the election. He filed a protest with the South Carolina Election Commission. His protest focused on problems with the votes in Lee County. Malloy's legal team included his son, Donovan, and other experienced lawyers. His opponent, JD Chaplin, and the head of the South Carolina Republican Party said Malloy was trying to deny the election results. Malloy asked for a new election if the problems could not be fixed.
A hearing for his protest was planned for December 3, 2024. If Malloy had appealed the decision, the South Carolina Senate would have made the final choice. However, on December 2, 2024, the day before the hearing, Malloy gave up. He said he was withdrawing his protest. Malloy explained that he could not properly check the vote data. He said the state Election Commission did not give the information to his expert witness.
Awards and Honors
Gerald Malloy has received several awards for his work:
- In 2004, he was named a "Friend of the Libraries" by the South Carolina Library Association.
- In 2016, he received the "Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award." This award came from a national group of criminal defense lawyers.
- In 2024, he received the "Compleat Lawyer Award" from the Joseph F. Rice School of Law at the University of South Carolina.
What Gerald Malloy Does Now
On January 8, 2025, Gerald Malloy was chosen for a new role. The Robert Smalls Monument Commission, a state agency, asked him to lead their fundraising committee. This committee's job is to collect money to finish building the Smalls Monument.
