Conway, S.C.: The Senate District 33 Race Heats Up!
As we all soak up the sun along the beautiful shores of Myrtle Beach, there’s some serious political action taking place just a stone’s throw away in Conway. The race for Senate District 33 is buzzing, and incumbent Luke Rankin, who’s been in the Senate since the early ’90s, is making energy and infrastructure his campaign’s shining stars. If you’re someone who cares about the growth in our area and making sure we’re all taken care of, you’ll want to keep an ear out for what he has to say.
Energy: A True Hot Topic
Rankin is all about energy right now, what with South Carolina’s population growing faster than a beach bonfire on a summer night. He’s been part of a study committee diving deep into our energy needs—what we have, what’s working, and what’s on the demand list. “We’ve got a growing population here, we’ve got growing businesses here,” he said, while pointing to the exciting data center boom, like DC Blox, as a great example of how we need to keep our energy game strong!
One of his highlighted projects is the partnership between Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy to transform an aging coal plant into a natural gas facility in the Lowcountry. This, he believes, is a step in the right direction for energy production that not only impacts businesses but homeowners too. “If we don’t create this authorization to build this plant, we’ll be buying power from others at higher prices,” he warned. If we want to keep those electricity bills from going through the roof, this could really be our ticket.
Infrastructure: We Need to Talk!
Now, onto infrastructure—Rankin is listening to the community’s murmurings about the need for development in Horry County. With all this talk around town, he’s pushing voters to get behind the RIDE 4 initiative. “If you’re waiting for President Trump to work things out or for the federal government to step in, you might be waiting a while,” he joked. What he’s saying is, to get things rolling, we must take matters into our own hands and support local projects like I-73.
He emphasizes that with a little state funding, we could really change the game for travel and trade in our region. “This [I-73] is the only project getting the green light from the Corps of Engineers,” Rankin pointed out. If we’re going to see improvements in our roads, we need to show our commitment to push this forward.
A Voice in the Senate
These days, Rankin sits pretty with a top-three seniority ranking in the Senate, which means he has a pull in discussions that could greatly affect our community. Holding the title of Judiciary Committee Chairman, he’s got a hand in some of the most significant decisions being made. “The challenge for me is to serve people justly and humbly,” said Rankin, discussing the importance of staying in touch with what the folks in Horry County really want.
In a world where politics can feel a bit overwhelming, it’s refreshing to see leaders like Rankin who genuinely want to champion the needs of our local community. So, as we sip our sweet tea and enjoy all that Myrtle Beach has to offer, keep an eye on the upcoming election—because these issues really matter to the future of our beloved paradise.
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
