Democratic candidate Rhodes Bailey is challenging Kirkman Finlay III, Republican incumbent of eight years, for the chance to represent South Carolina’s 75th House District here in Richland. Bailey, an attorney from Columbia, is running a competitive campaign in a district that was won by Hillary Clinton in 2016. This has led many to believe that this is the year Democrats could finally send Finlay packing.
Throughout the campaign, Bailey has emphasized one key difference between himself and his Republican opponent: his relatability to normal South Carolinians. Whereas Finlay is a career politician who literally lives on a plantation, Bailey better represents the interests of South Carolinians and their businesses as a member of the South Carolina Bar. When he is not working as an attorney, Bailey serves his community in a different way: through traveling the city and playing guitar and pedal steel with local musical acts.
Back in June in the midst of a competitive Democratic primary, The Post and Courier reported that Bailey began his run for the House because he was “frustrated by the dysfunction and lack of leadership at the Statehouse,” adding, “I want to leave this state better than I found it, for my children.” This sentiment has been clearly demonstrated throughout the last couple weeks of his campaign, with the Democratic candidate hitting Finlay hard on his relationship with special interest organizations and his propensity to miss House votes — the latter of which prompted the purchase of e-billboard ad space by Bailey’s campaign which is pictured below.
Beyond the clear contrast between the two candidates, Bailey’s record and platform speaks for itself. His campaign is largely focused on improving South Carolina’s infrastructure in order to prevent disasters like the 2015 Columbia flooding from ever happening again. Bailey additionally pledges to fight the deregulation of dams within the state legislature.
As with all state Democrats, Bailey is also committed to improving our public education system. The Democratic candidate supports an expansion of pre-K education to every child in the state, a comprehensive education reform bill that addresses the gaps that the State House too often ignores, and a fight against the privatization of South Carolina schools.
With all this said, it’s no surprise Bailey was endorsed by Democratic leader Stacey Abrams and it certainly isn’t a surprise to see this House race tightening as election day draws closer. Voters in Columbia have a choice this November: stick with Finlay and the status quo or place their trust in Rhodes Bailey and elect a progressive, proven fighter.