Quick Facts
LibraBiography
Marvin R. Pendarvis (born October 13, 1989) is an American politician. He is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 113th District (parts of Charleston County), serving since 2017. He is a member of the Democratic party.
Education and career
Pendarvis attended Garrett Academy for high school in North Charleston where he was a wide receiver on his football team and the University of South Carolina and graduated in 2011 with an undergraduate degree in political science, where he was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He received a JD from the University of South Carolina in 2014.
Pendarvis works as an attorney in North Charleston for Pendarvis Law, LLC, as the attorney for the Dorchester County town of Ridgeville, South Carolina, and as a member of the legal team for the Charleston-based Racial Justice Network. In 2024, Pendarvis was accused of malpractice by a former client and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division opened an investigation. On May 17, the chief justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, Donald W. Beatty, suspended Pendarvis' license to practice law in the state.
South Carolina House of Representatives
2017
When long-time Democratic state legislator Jackson Seth Whipper resigned in August 2017 to become a magistrate judge in Charleston County, Pendarvis became a candidate for his seat in District 113. He ran against Angela M. Hanyak and Chris Collins in the Democratic primary. Pendarvis won with 79.9% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican Theron Sandy II of Pinehurst to win by 1,118 votes.
2018
Pendarvis was unopposed in the Democratic primary and general election.
2020
Pendarvis won his primary on June 9, 2020, and was unopposed in the general election on November 3. In June 2020, he hired his only major staffer, his communications director, Jackson Hamilton.
2023
After the announcement that North Charleston Mayor Keith Sumney would not run for re-election, Pendarvis declined to run for the seat, expressing his decision to remain in the House of Representatives.
2024
Pendarvis filed unopposed for re-election for the seat he currently occupies.
Committee assignments
- Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee
- Legislative Oversight
Election history
| Year | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Special Election Primary | Marvin R. Pendarvis | 804 | 79.9% | Angela M. Hanyak | 120 | 11.9% | Chris Collins | 82 | 8.2% | ||||
| 2017 Special Election | Marvin R. Pendarvis | 1,463 | 80.9% | Theron Sandy II | 343 | 19% | |||||||
| 2018 Primary | Marvin R. Pendarvis | ||||||||||||
| 2018 General | Marvin R. Pendarvis | 8,256 | 98.5% |
Controversy
On May 17, 2024, the South Carolina Supreme Court released a decision to temporarily suspend Pendarvis' license to practice law, in connection with a lawsuit filed against him alleging legal malpractice and forgery. After the lawsuit was filed April 11, 2024, First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe requested an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). SLED confirmed the following day that it had begun an investigation into the matter. His profile on the South Carolina Bar website listed him as not in good standing, due to the interim suspension.
