{{short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Russell Ott | state_senate = South Carolina | district = 26th | term_start = January 14, 2025 | term_end = | predecessor = Nikki Setzler | successor = | state_house1 = South Carolina | district1 = 93rd | term_start1 = October 29, 2013 | term_end1 = January 14, 2025 | predecessor1 = Harry L. Ott Jr. | successor1 = Jerry Govan Jr. | birth_name = Russell L. Ott | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|3|16}} | birth_place = St. Matthews, South Carolina, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | relatives = Harry L. Ott Jr. (father) | education = Clemson University (BA)<br>University of South Carolina (MPA) }} '''Russell L. Ott''' (born March 26, 1978)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bustos |first=Joseph |date=October 8, 2024 |title=Meet the candidates in SC Senate District 26. After 47 years, Nikki Setzler isn’t running |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article293309909.html |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=thestate.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=South Carolina State Sen. Russell Ott - Biography {{!}} LegiStorm | url=https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/241898/Russell_L_Ott.html | access-date=2025-08-31 | website=www.legistorm.com}}</ref> is an American lobbyist and politician from the state of South Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, he is a member of the South Carolina State Senate from District 26 in Columbia's southern suburbs.

== Early life == Ott is a native of St. Matthews, South Carolina. He graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor's degree in English. He received his Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina. He has served as a member and state convention delegate for the Calhoun County Democratic Party. Ott worked as a lobbyist for the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation for eight years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fitsnews.com/2013/07/08/russell-ott-to-run-for-sc-house/ |title=Russell Ott To Run For SC House |publisher=FITSNews |access-date=October 30, 2013 |archive-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028002949/http://www.fitsnews.com/2013/07/08/russell-ott-to-run-for-sc-house/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Political career ==

=== South Carolina Senate === On February 13, 2024, Ott announced his candidacy for State Senate District 26 seat, held by incumbent Senator Nikki G. Setzler, who opted not to run for re-election.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parrilla-Guerrero |first=Mayra |date=February 13, 2024 |title=State Representative Russell Ott announces candidacy for State Senate District 26 |url=https://www.wistv.com/2024/02/13/state-representative-russell-ott-announce-candidacy-state-senate-district-26/ |access-date=February 15, 2024 |work=WIS-TV |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213200813/https://www.wistv.com/2024/02/13/state-representative-russell-ott-announce-candidacy-state-senate-district-26/ |url-status=live }}</ref> State Senator Dick Harpootlian, whose home was put in the same District as Setzler after re-districting, also announced for the seat.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brams |first=Sophie |date=January 11, 2024 |title=Democrat Dick Harpootlian to seek re-election to South Carolina Senate |url=https://www.counton2.com/news/your-local-election-hq/harpootlian-to-seek-re-election-to-south-carolina-senate/ |access-date=February 15, 2024 |work=WCBD-TV |archive-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214152646/https://www.counton2.com/news/your-local-election-hq/harpootlian-to-seek-re-election-to-south-carolina-senate/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Kokes, Kailee (February 13, 2024). "Ott, Harpootlian to square off for state Senate nom after Setzler's retirement". ''Lexington County Chronicle''. Retrieved February 15, 2024.</ref>

The primary race between Ott and Harpootlian generated headlines. Ott was endorsed by St. Matthews Mayor Helen Carson-Peterson. Harpootlian was endorsed by Congressman Jim Clyburn and former State Representative Bakari Sellers.<ref>Bustos, Joseph (May 29, 2024). "Who's a true Democrat? Harpootlian and Ott trade barbs in SC Senate primary". ''The State Newspaper''. Retrieved May 30, 2024.</ref><ref>Neville, Nick (May 20, 2024). "Harpootlian, Ott face off in spirited, contentious SC Senate District 26 forum". ''WIS-TV''. Retrieved May 30, 2024.</ref> Ultimately, Ott beat Harpootlian in the primary election by 51%.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Alexander |date=June 11, 2024 |title=Russell Ott ousts Murdaugh attorney Dick Harpootlian in SC Senate primary |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/harpootlian-ott-sc-state-senate-results-26/article_faa734e2-242c-11ef-a8d0-d72e01b6acfc.html |access-date=June 12, 2024 |work=<nowiki>The Post and Courier</nowiki>}}</ref>

Ott face Republican Jason Guerry and defeated him in the general election.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kenmore |first=Abraham |date=June 25, 2024 |title=SC Senate could have no GOP women after only chairwoman ousted in runoff |url=https://scdailygazette.com/2024/06/25/sc-senate-will-have-no-gop-women-after-only-chairwoman-ousted-in-runoff/ |access-date=August 16, 2024 |newspaper=South Carolina Daily Gazette |publisher=States Newsroom |archive-date=July 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724164255/https://scdailygazette.com/2024/06/25/sc-senate-will-have-no-gop-women-after-only-chairwoman-ousted-in-runoff/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Night Reporting |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/122436/web.345435/#/summary |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.enr-scvotes.org |language=en |archive-date=November 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108215909/https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/122436/web.345435/#/summary |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Popa |first=Naomi |date=2024-11-05 |title=AP projects Democrat Russell Ott as winner for hotly contested SC Senate district seat |url=https://www.wistv.com/2024/11/06/ap-projects-democrat-russell-ott-winner-hotly-contested-sc-senate-district-seat/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=WISTV |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116065257/https://www.wistv.com/2024/11/06/ap-projects-democrat-russell-ott-winner-hotly-contested-sc-senate-district-seat/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wade |first=Hannah |date=2024-11-05 |title=Russell Ott wins Senate District 26. Heather Bauer reelected to House District 75. |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/elections/2024-sc-statehouse-election-columbia/article_5663f024-9adc-11ef-bc01-e3b5be844753.html |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}</ref> Upon taking office, Ott became the only elected Democrat representing a significant portion of heavily Republican Lexington County above the county level. His predecessor, Setzler, had been the only elected Democrat above the county level for much of his tenure.

Ott serves on the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Veterans' Services; Fish, Game and Forestry, Judiciary and Rules committees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Carolina Legislature Online - Committee |url=https://www.scstatehouse.gov/committee.php?chamber=S |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=www.scstatehouse.gov |archive-date=December 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212133028/https://www.scstatehouse.gov/committee.php?chamber=S |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== South Carolina House of Representatives === Harry L. Ott, Jr., Russell's father, represented the 93rd district in the South Carolina House of Representatives, but resigned on June 30, 2013, to take a job with the Farm Service Agency. Russell declared his candidacy in the October 29 special election to fill the remainder of his father's term.<ref>{{cite web |last=Beam |first=Adam |url=http://www.thestate.com/2013/07/09/2854765/sc-legislators-son-wants-to-replace.html |title=COLUMBIA, SC: SC legislator's son wants to replace his father in House &#124; Politics |publisher=The State |date=July 9, 2013 |access-date=October 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031233212/http://www.thestate.com/2013/07/09/2854765/sc-legislators-son-wants-to-replace.html |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He won the election, defeating Republican Charles Stoudemire.<ref>{{cite web |author=The_State |url=http://www.thestate.com/2013/10/29/3066664/democrat-tops-republican-in-sc.html |title=ST. MATTHEWS, SC: Democrat tops Republican in SC House dist. 93 special election &#124; Politics |publisher=The State |date=March 27, 2009 |access-date=October 30, 2013 |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031233123/http://www.thestate.com/2013/10/29/3066664/democrat-tops-republican-in-sc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the 2022 general election, Russell won re-election against Republican challenger Jim Ulmer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bowen |first=Jim |date=October 19, 2022 |title="Vote 2022: 3 Races for SC House in Lexington County Are Competitive" |work=The Lexington Chronicle |url=https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/vote-2022-3-races-for-sc-house-in-lexington-county-are-competitive,30033 |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref>

Ott served on the House Legislative Oversight and the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committees.<ref>House Standing Committees". ''South Carolina Legislature''. December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.</ref> He is a former <ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Our Leadership |url=http://schousedems.org/leadership/ |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=South Carolina House Democratic Caucus |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213183343/http://schousedems.org/leadership/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Assistant Minority Leader of the House.

== Personal == Ott has two sons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thetandd.com/news/ott-ahead-in-house-race/article_8fb53d1a-40fc-11e3-b088-001a4bcf887a.html|title=Ott wins House 93 special election|author=MARTHA ROSE BROWN, T&D Staff Writer|date=October 30, 2013|work=The Times and Democrat}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == *[https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1433096420 Senator Russell L. Ott] *{{cite web|url=http://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1433096420|title=Representative Russell L. Ott|publisher=South Carolina Legislature}} *[https://ottforsenate.com/ Ott for Senate 2024 Campaign website] {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=144829 | fec= | congress= }}<!-- Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template: *{{C-SPAN|100475}} * [http://ballotpedia.org/Russell_L._Ott Biography] at Ballotpedia * [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=158209 Financial information (state office)] at the National Institute for Money in State Politics * -->

{{South Carolina State Senators}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ott, Russell}} Category:1976 births Category:21st-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly Category:American lobbyists Category:Clemson University alumni Category:Democratic Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives Category:Living people Category:People from St. Matthews, South Carolina Category:University of South Carolina alumni