SC Majority Leader Micah Caskey (R) Defeated in House District 89

Nov 12, 2026 · @David https://x.com/MyrtleBeachnews

The bottom line

A state-mandated recount on Wednesday, Nov. 11, confirmed that Democrat Joe Madge unseated Republican SC Majority Leader Micah Caskey in S.C. House District 89 by 106 votes, 7,263 to 7,157. Caskey, a five-term incumbent picked by House Republicans this fall to be their next majority leader, conceded on X and said he had called Madge to congratulate him.

SC Majority Leader Micah Caskey joked after election night that he might have the shortest tenure of any majority leader. The result means House Republicans must choose a new floor leader, likely by December. His loss came in a Lexington County district with a 13.5-point Republican lean, on a night Democrats flipped 10 state House seats and broke the GOP supermajority.

Caskey’s concession

Caskey posted his concession on X after the recount was completed. The portion provided reads:

The recount in House District 89 has been completed, and it confirmed the result of last Tuesday’s election. The people have made their choice, and I respect it fully. I called Joe Madge this morning to congratulate him, and I wish him every success.

— Rep. Micah Caskey (@MicahCaskey), on X

The SC Daily Gazette reports the post goes on, including the line “The seat has never belonged to me.” Pull the full post before publication so the quote runs complete and in context.

On election night, Caskey had already signaled he did not expect the recount to change anything, writing that he would “let the process play out” before saying more.

The race and the recount

Madge’s lead held at about 100 votes through every count; the recount added a handful of votes to each side and widened the margin slightly.

• Write-ins: 11 votes in the final count; 14,431 ballots cast in the race.
• Why a recount: South Carolina orders an automatic recount when the margin is 1 percentage point or less. Madge’s election-night lead was under 1 point.
• Same-day recounts: The commission also certified the 2nd Congressional District recount Wednesday, confirming Rep. Joe Wilson’s narrow win, and a recount in House District 27.
• Turnout drop: About 14,400 voters cast ballots in District 89 this year, down from 16,862 in 2024.

Who is Micah Caskey

Caskey, 45, a West Columbia Republican, has represented District 89 since winning the seat in 2016. House Republicans chose him this fall to succeed Davey Hiott as majority leader for the coming session.

• Background: Born in Columbia; Dutch Fork High School; B.A., University of Florida; J.D. and master’s in international business, University of South Carolina (Wikipedia).
• Military: U.S. Marine Corps officer, 2003–2013, left as a captain; combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, including Helmand Province.
• Law: Runs Caskey Law Firm in West Columbia; former assistant solicitor in the 11th Judicial Circuit (2014–2016).
• In the House: Chaired the House Rules Committee and served on Ways and Means; previously on the Ethics Committee.
• Last race: Won District 89 by about 20 points in 2024, a year the district gave Donald Trump 66 percent.
• Money: Outspent Madge nearly four to one and raised about $84,000 more, per The State.

Who is Joe Madge

Madge, 59, is a manufacturing engineer of more than 30 years and a first-time candidate. He chaired the Lexington County Democratic Party from 2018 to 2022 (The State; SC Daily Gazette).

• Why he ran: Said he was “tired of being angry” about decisions coming out of state and federal government.
• Platform: Reproductive rights, public schools over private-school vouchers, lower health care costs, and road and bridge investment.
• Campaign: Door-to-door; says he passed his goal of 10,000 doors and targeted people who don’t usually vote.
• On the result: Said he was surprised, and that Caskey “wasn’t the right fit” for a district that has been changing.

What it means

House Republicans keep a solid majority but lose their supermajority and must elect a new majority leader, likely by December. An analyst identified as Pope told WACH it is a next-man-up situation for the caucus (confirm his full name and title before quoting).

Explanations offered so far for how a deep-red seat flipped:

• Turnout: About 2,450 fewer votes than 2024; Madge’s total landed close to what Democrat Wayne Borders drew in 2024, which The State reads as a sign lower turnout mattered.
• GOP engagement: Lexington County GOP Chair Mark Weber said too many Republicans did not fully engage, and set a goal of reclaiming the seat in 2028.
• Ticket-splitting: Lexington County, which had the second-largest swing in the state from 2020 to 2026, shows signs some voters split tickets.
• Not money: Caskey’s roughly 4-to-1 spending edge rules out a funding gap.
• Statewide wave: Democrats flipped 10 House seats, a Lowcountry congressional seat and a U.S. Senate seat, per The Post and Courier.

Grand Strand angle: worth asking Horry County’s House delegation whom they back for majority leader and whether the lost supermajority changes their 2027 priorities.

Before publishing

• Pull Caskey’s full X post and run the complete statement.
• Confirm when Caskey was chosen majority leader: The State and The Post and Courier say September; another Post and Courier story says August.
• Get the State Election Commission’s certified recount totals for the record.
• Request comment from Caskey, Madge and the House GOP Caucus on the leadership vote timeline.
• Confirm the HD 27 recount outcome if mentioned.

Sources

SC Majority Leader Micah Caskey – Democrat Joe Madge defeats incoming SC House Majority Leader Micah Caskey — WIS

SC Majority Leader Micah Caskey – Joe Wilson wins reelection after recount — The State via Yahoo

SC’s new House majority leader lost his seat in deep-red Lexington County — The State via Yahoo

SC Majority Leader Micah Caskey – How did the SC House majority leader lose his election? — Post and Courier

SC Majority Leader Micah Caskey – Where Democrats won to deny GOP a SC House supermajority — Post and Courier

SC Majority Leader Micah Caskey – Recounts confirm ousting of SC majority leader — SC Daily Gazette

SC Majority Leader Micah Caskey – Here’s who’s running for House District 89 — The State via Yahoo

SC congressional race, 2 State House races headed to recounts — ABC News 4

Democrats break GOP’s House supermajority — WACH

Micah Caskey — Wikipedia

Majority Leader on the Brink — Myrtle Beach News