Penry Gustafson

Penry Gustafson (born May 20, 1970) is a member of the South Carolina Senate. She represents District 27.[1]

Penry Gustafson
Penry Gustafson at a SC Senate meeting
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 27th district
Assumed office
January 2021
Preceded byVincent Sheheen
Personal details
Born (1970-05-20) May 20, 1970
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationNewberry College (BA)
University of South Carolina

Tenure

In early May 2023, Gustafson joined with a Democrat, an Independent and two other Republican women state senators, calling themselves, "The Sister Senators": Sen. Mia McLeod, Sen. Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington), Sen. Penry Gustafson (R-Kershaw), Sen. Margie Bright-Matthews (D-Colleton), and Sen. Sandy Senn (R-Charleston). They blocked male state senators from passing a bill that would ban all abortions in South Carolina.[2][3] On May 23, 2023, Senate Republicans passed another bill that severely restricted abortion rights to six weeks, a time when most women don't even know they're pregnant, exceptions made only in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities or the woman's life or health, and paving the way for a Supreme Court confrontation over its elements.[4]

In June 2023, Gustafson endorsed Tim Scott in the 2024 United States presidential election.[5]

In September 2023 it was announced that "The Sister Senators" had been selected to receive the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award. The award will be presented in an October 2023 ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.[6]

Elections

In 2020, though taking only one of three counties, Gustafson defeated popular Senate incumbent and two-time gubernatorial candidate, Democrat Vincent Sheheen. [7]

References
  1. "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov.
  2. Republican women are helping block an abortion ban in South Carolina, WBTW, May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  3. The Unexpected Women Blocking South Carolina's Near-Total Abortion Ban, New York Times, Kate Zernike, May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  4. South Carolina Senate passes abortion ban, setting up Supreme Court showdown, The Hill, Nathaniel Weixel, May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  5. Sen. Tim Scott in Spartanburg to announce campaign endorsements". FOX Carolina. June 12, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  6. LeBlanc, Steve (September 19, 2023). "'Sister senators' who fought abortion ban to receive JFK Profile in Courage award". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  7. Longtime Sen. Vincent Sheheen loses seat to Penrey Gustafson, WLTX, November 4, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
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