Katrina Shealy Is Petition Movement's Best Hope

Among the 153 petition candidates on the ballot on Nov. 6, there are more than a few long shots. There are also quite a few with a realistic chance to spring the upset. But among those who follow Palmetto State politics, one of the petition candidates most likely to emerge victorious is Katrina Shealy in Senate District 23.

Shealy has several of the attributes USC Political Science Professor Mark Tompkins thinks are needed for a petition candidate to beat an incumbent.

Within her district Shealy has name recognition. While being outraised more than three-to-one, Shealy has remained competitive in that area, gathering more than $70,000 in donations according to the most recent public reports.

She also received the endorsement of the State GOP, a rare instance of the party going against a fellow Republican.

Finally, there is also a strong anti-incumbent sentiment both in the state and towards Shealy’s opponent, incumbent Jake Knotts.

Indeed, Knotts is one of the most well-known politicians in the state, but he hasn’t always made headlines for the best reasons. And it was his lawsuit in April that started the ballot controversy that has made this election season, if nothing else, memorable.

Shealy was purged from the ballot along with hundreds of others in May and for a while it appeared she might get back on via legal maneuverings. Ultimately, she qualified via petition. Like many of the petition candidates, the last few months have been a roller coaster ride.

Few would have blamed Shealy if she had simply given up and returned to private life. But she never considered it. “I always felt like we could do it,” Shealy told Patch. “I’ve always felt like we needed a change. I felt like the people wanted me to be on the ballot. It was never really a question of whether I would run.”

Shealy acknowledges that the disadvantage in fundraising is the biggest challenge to her campaign. As a petition candidate she can only receive the maximum donation once, but any candidate who won a primary—as Knotts did in June—can receive a second round of donations from donors.

But, that’s not nearly enough to deter Shealy. “I go door-to-door every single day and the responses I get are so receptive,” she said. “I would be running even if I didn’t have any money.”

Shealy said the voters she talks to are knowledgeable about local and national issues. She’s happy to talk politics, but her goal is to educate. “I encourage people not to vote the straight party ticket and for the individual not the party,” she said.

Being a petition candidate is unchartered territory for Shealy and the 152 other candidates who made it onto November ballots, so there’s no real roadmap to victory.

“I go with the idea that if you shake somebody’s hand they’ll remember you,” Shealy said.

Handshake by handshake, person by person, Shealy believes she can win. And her goals extend beyond District 23.

“We need to be represented by people who aren’t just politicians,” she said. “My focus is on changing the face of politics in South Carolina.”

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