J. David Weeks
J. David Weeks (Democratic Party) is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 51. He assumed office in 2000. His current term ends on November 9, 2026.
Weeks (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the South Carolina House of Representatives to represent District 51. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. He advanced from the Democratic primary on June 9, 2026.
Biography
Weeks attended Morris College, School of Religion. He then earned his B.A. from Morris College in 1975. He went on to receive his J.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1989. He then received his M.Ed. from Howard University in 1996. Weeks served as Municipal Court Judge of Timmonsville from 1996 to 2000. He is currently an attorney. Weeks served as Chair of the Sumter City/County Planning Committee from 1998 to 2000.
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Weeks was assigned to the following committees:
2023-2024
Weeks was assigned to the following committees:
- House Ethics Committee, Vice Chair
- Ways and Means Committee
2021-2022
Weeks was assigned to the following committees:
- Ways and Means Committee
- House Ethics Committee, Vice chairman
2019-2020
Weeks was assigned to the following committees:
- House Ethics Committee, Vice chairman
- Ways and Means Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Ethics, Vice chair |
| • Judiciary |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Weeks served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Ethics, Vice Chair |
| • Judiciary |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Weeks served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
| • Ethics, Vice Chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Weeks served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Weeks served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2026
See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51
Incumbent J. David Weeks (D) is running in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | J. David Weeks (D) | |
| ||||
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51
Incumbent J. David Weeks (D) defeated Melissa Weeks-Richardson (D) in the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51 on June 9, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | J. David Weeks | 79.9 | 3,334 |
| Melissa Weeks-Richardson | 20.1 | 841 | ||
| Total votes: 4,175 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary
The Republican primary scheduled for June 9, 2026, was canceled.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
- See also: Our approach to covering endorsements
J. David Weeks received the following endorsements and voter guide recommendations. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
2024
See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51
Incumbent J. David Weeks won election in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | J. David Weeks (D) | 98.7 | 11,824 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.3 | 153 | ||
| Total votes: 11,977 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent J. David Weeks advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
- See also: Our approach to covering endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements or voter guide recommendations for Weeks in this election.
2022
See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51
Incumbent J. David Weeks won election in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | J. David Weeks (D) | 98.4 | 7,895 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.6 | 127 | ||
| Total votes: 8,022 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent J. David Weeks advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51.
2020
See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51
Incumbent J. David Weeks won election in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | J. David Weeks (D) | 98.5 | 12,708 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.5 | 193 | ||
| Total votes: 12,901 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent J. David Weeks advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51.
2018
General election
General election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51
Incumbent J. David Weeks won election in the general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | J. David Weeks (D) | 99.0 | 8,758 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 88 | ||
| Total votes: 8,846 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51
Incumbent J. David Weeks advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina House of Representatives District 51 on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | J. David Weeks |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The primary runoff election was held on June 28, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 30, 2016.
Incumbent J. David Weeks ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 51 general election.[1][2]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 51 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  J. David Weeks Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 12,217 | |
| Total Votes | 12,217 | |||
| Source: South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
Incumbent J. David Weeks ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 51 Democratic primary.[3][4]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 51 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | J. David Weeks Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for all 124 seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2014. Incumbent J. David Weeks ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[5][6][7]
2012
Weeks ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 12 and in the general election on November 6, 2012.[8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | J. David Weeks Incumbent |
99.5% | 14,049 | |
| Other | Write-Ins | 0.5% | 77 | |
| Total Votes | 14,126 | |||
2010
Weeks ran unopposed in both the June 8 Democratic primary and November 2 general election for District 51 of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 51 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| J. David Weeks (D)
|
6,973 | 99.32% | ||
| Write-In | 48 | 0.68% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Weeks won re-election unopposed to the South Carolina House of Representatives with 11,855 votes, representing District 51.[10]
Weeks raised $14,150 for his campaign.[11]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 51 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| J. David Weeks (D)
|
11,855 | |||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
J. David Weeks did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
J. David Weeks did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
J. David Weeks did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2025.
- Americans for Prosperity - South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2024.
- Americans for Prosperity - South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2023.
- Americans for Prosperity - South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Institute for Legislative Analysis — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2022.
- Americans for Prosperity - South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2021.
- Americans for Prosperity - South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2020.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2019.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2018.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2017.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2016.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2015.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2014.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- Greenville Tea Party — Legislators are scored by the Greenville Tea Party on their votes on bills "related to jobs, spending, and freedom."
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2013.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- Greenville Tea Party — Legislators are scored by the Greenville Tea Party on their votes on bills "related to jobs, spending, and freedom."
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2012.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- Palmetto Liberty — Legislators are scored by Palmetto Liberty on bills related to "limited government, the free market, and individual liberty and responsibility."
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2011.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- Palmetto Liberty — Legislators are scored by Palmetto Liberty on bills related to "limited government, the free market, and individual liberty and responsibility."
- South Carolina Business & Industry Political Education Committee — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business and industry issues.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce on their votes on bills "that directly impact the business climate and competitiveness of the state."
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Weeks and his wife, Cheryl, have two children.
Noteworthy events
Panama trip funding
Weeks was one of several South Carolina lawmakers who traveled to Panama in September 2010 for a three-day trip paid for by the South Carolina State Ports Authority, even though he's a member of a commission that oversees the authority. At least $29,000 was spent on the Ports Authority-sponsored junket, which sought to promote South Carolina ports to Panama Canal officials. Information gathered by the investigative journalism website The Nerve showed that the authority covered most of the costs for the seven-member legislative group, which included five legislators - Weeks; Sen. Lawrence Grooms, R-Berkeley; Rep. Bill Sandifer III, R-Oconee; Sen. Phillip Shoopman, R-Greenville, and then-Rep. Harry Cato, R-Greenville.[12]
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Candidate listing for the 11/8/2016 statewide general election," accessed August 26, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2016 Statewide General Election," accessed November 28, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "Candidate Tracking," accessed March 31, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Unofficial primary election results," accessed June 14, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Election Results," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2014 Election Information," accessed March 31, 2014
- ↑ AP.org, "South Carolina State Senate and State House Election Results," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2012 Candidates," accessed April 23, 2012
- ↑ www.enr-scvotes.org, "2010 General Election Results," accessed May 1, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 campaign contributions," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ The Nerve, "Ports Authority Spends 29K on Panama Trip," January, 26, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
South Carolina House of Representatives District 51 2000-Present |
Succeeded by - |
