Lowcountry representative Harriet Holman makes history in South Carolina

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Harriet Holman was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives during the November 5 election, and she’s been on the job in Columbia for about a month.

What makes her story unique is that when sworn in, Holman became the first Black Republican woman in the state’s House of Representatives in history.

“I’m a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Army. I was on county council for Dorchester County, and now I’m currently serving the great State of South Carolina for District 102,” she said.

One of her priorities while at the State House is making sure her constituents have proper fire support.

“In fact, the other day on Thursday, I went out to my district, District 102, and I went out there with Chief Ben Waring and we went around to several fire stations. So, I’d like to work on that as one of my priorities. Because fire support is very important in the district. Nobody knows better than I,” she said.

Holman’s home caught fire in the middle of the night five years ago. “We were not able to get my son out,” she said, adding that her son perished in the fire.

It is her goal to prevent tragedies like that from happening to others.

Holman said she’s proud of her recognition.

“And I went to the Republican Party, and I asked for their support, and they gave it to me. You know, I think about that. I think about it didn’t have to be now. Although it is now and I’m glad that it is me, but it could’ve happened years ago,” she said.

State Representatives sit two to a desk on the floor of the House.

“When you arrive here you are assigned a seat, and you get your desk mate. Well, Brandon Cox came to me, and he asked me to be his desk mate. That was probably one of the most wonderful things that’s happened to me since I have been here,” she said.

“There’s a lot of things happening in the state that I’m very proud of. There’s some things that we’ve done in this state I’m not proud of. My family’s been here since the late 1600s. So, it’s just been some transition in the state and Harriet is a transitional voice in our current state,” said Rep. Cox.

Rep. Holman said she’s not ruling out future elected office positions in the future.