Meet the 2026
Democratic
Candidates
This page was updated on March 16, 2026
Who’s running?
Candidate Filing began on March 16 and continues until noon on March 30, 2026. Many candidates will file on the first day, some take their time, and a few wait until the last day.
Also, several Democratic candidates announced their intention at the YCDP Convention on March 14. Your web/video editor prepared the video of the convention - and all the candidates who appeared - and it is now on our YouTube channel, podcast and Facebook group. We have also updated this Candidate page with all the newly announced candidates. It was a whirlwind couple of days, and there may be some loose ends. Please report any errors or missing information to ycdptv@gmail.com.
Other places to look” Many candidates for various offices have announced in the news or filed with the Federal Election Commission. We will list the candidates here and update the list as we learn about them.
(Check out the FEC page, especially the fundraising totals – eye-opening👁, though this report is only thru the end of 2025. Next filing is April 15.)
You can keep up yourself on Ballotpedia(which only reports official candidates). Wikipedia has even more detailed information, listing candidates who have announced as well as officially filed.
To request an update or report an error, contact YCDPTV@gmail.com.
On this page:
Statewide Offices
.
Governor
The Governor and Lt. Governor offices – and all other SC ‘Executive’ offices – are up for election in 2026, beginning with the Primary in June. Incumbent Governor Republican Henry McMaster is term-limited and cannot run in the 2026 election (but he can run again in 2030 – the term limitation prohibits holding office in more than two consecutive terms). As of February 13, 2026, Wikipedia reports list:
Pamela Evette (Republican, Lieutenant Governor)
Nancy Mace (Republican, U.S. Representative)
Ralph Norman (Republican, U.S. Representative) Declared
Alan Wilson (Republican, South Carolina Attorney General)
Josh Kimbrell (Republican, State Senate)
Here are the announced Democratic Party Candidates:
Jermaine Johnson, currently serving in the SC House, announced his candidacy for Governor on October 28, 2025, after looking into it with an ‘exploratory committee’ for several months.
He spoke at the SCDP Convention on May 31, 2025, and at our Dessert Before Dinner party, also in May.
Mullins McLeod has announced his candidacy for the Democratic Party race for Governor in 2026. The link will take you to his website for an intro video, platform, donations, etc.
McCleod appeared at the YCDP County Convention on March 14 and gave this speech.
At the SCDP Convention, the chair called for gubernatorial candidate Justin Bennet. Bennet was not present, but he does have a YouTube channel and a LinkTree for his candidacy.
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenent Governor runs on the same ticket as the Governor
The incumbent Lt. Governor, Republican Pamela Evette, is running for Governor.
Attorney General
Wikipedia reports that Solicitors David Pascoe and David Stumbo, as well as state senator Stephen Goldfinch, are running for the Republican nomination.
No Democrats have announced their intention to run for AG.
Secretary of State
No candidates have announced as of February 13, 2026. Wikipedia reports that Incumbent Republican secretary of state Mark Hammond, who was re-elected in 2022 with 63.3% of the vote, is eligible to run for re-election to a seventh term in office but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Commissioner of Agriculture
Wikipedia reports that Incumbent Republican commissioner Hugh Weathers was re-elected in 2022 with 77.6% of the vote. He is retiring.[24]
Fred West, the director of market development at the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, is running for the Republican nomination. He is endorsed by Weathers.[24]
No Democrats have announced for the office.
Comptroller General
No candidates have announced as of (February 13, 2026). Wikipedia reports that Republican Comptroller Richard Eckstrom, who was re-elected unopposed in 2022, left office on April 30, 2023, following the discovery of a $3.5 billion accounting error.[19] Governor Henry McMaster appointed Democrat Brian J. Gaines to serve the remainder of Eckstrom's term. He is not running for a full term.[20][21]
Superintendent of Education
The incumbent is highly partisan and equally unqualified Republican Ellen Weaver. We made a campaign video about her in 2022.
Here are the Democrats running in the Primary:
Sylvia Wright is running for Superintendent of Education in 2026.
She spoke at the SCDP Convention on May 31, 2025.
At the 2026 YCDP Convention, spokesman Frank Maurizio made this speech on her behalf.
Lisa Ellis is running for Superintendent of Education in 2026.
At the 2026 YCDP County Convention, spokesman Evan Lawton made this speech on her behalf.
Treasurer
Iincumbent state Treasurer, Republican Curtis Loftis, has been embroiled in controversy over a $1.8 billion “accounting error” in state funds. Wikipedia reports that the South Carolina Senate voted to remove Loftis from office in a 33–8 vote in April 2025, but the House did not vote on his removal before the end of their legislative session. Loftis has announced his intention to run again in 2026
No Democrats have announced their intention to run for Treasurer as of (June 13, 2025).
US Senate
US Senators serve six-year terms. Republican Lindsey Graham will be up for re-election in 2026. Paul Dans, the main architect of Project 2025, is challenging Graham for the Republican nomination. Republican Tim Scott will be up for re-election in 2028.
Democratic candidates are detailed below.
...
Dr. Annie Andrews has announced her candidacy for US Senate. Here’s her speech at the SCDP Convention on May 31, 2025. In June, she spoke at the YCDP Forward Together event, and again at the YCDP County Convention on March 14, 2026.
Catherine Fleming Bruce is making her second bid for US Senate. Here’s her speech at the SCDP Convention on May 31, 2025.
She was unable to appear at the YCDP County Convention, but she made this special greeting for us and sent it along via YouTube.
Brandon Brown is running for US Senate.
Click the link to go to his website for background and campaign information. He gave this speech at the 2026 YCDP County Convention on March 14.
Chris Giracello is running for US Senate.
Click the link to go to his website for background and campaign information
Lee Johnson
CAMPAIGN SUSPENDED
Lee Johnson was running for US Senate. Here’s his speech at the SCDP Convention on May 31, 2025. Lee also gave us an interview at the YCDP Dessert Before Dinner event
Johnson announced in July that he was suspending his campaign to promote party unity.
Regional Offices
This section lists offices that cover parts of York County. Some are fully contained in the county borders, while others extend to adjacent counties. They include the US House of Representatives (SC House District 5 covers all of York County), the State Senate and State House, and the Solicitorls office.
US House
of Representatives
All of York County is included in US House District 5. The incumbent is Republican Ralph Norman, who has declared his run for Governor in 2026. Republican Wes Climer, currently a State Senator from District 15 (central York county), is now running for the seat.
Here are the candidates competing for the 2026 Democratic Party nomination:
Andrew Cloughis running for US House, SC District 5. Here’s his speechat the YCDP Forward Together event on June 27. And he spoke at the 2026 YCDP County Convention as well.
Mallory Dittmer is running for US House, SC District 5. Here’s her speech at the 2026 YCDP County Convention.
Alex Harper
CAMPAIGN SUSPENDED
Alex Harper was running for US House, SC District 5. Here’s his speech at the SCDP Convention on May 31, 2025. And here’s his speech at the YCDP Forward Together event on June 27.
In August 2025, Harper announced that he suspended his campaign.
The remaining offices in this section serve only parts of York County. See the York County Political Maps section of this website to see the various political subdivisions.
State Senate
There are no State Senate offices up for eleciton in 2026. The South Carolina State Senate elections follow a four-year cycle, with the next one due in 2028. There are no term limits for state Senate seats.
There are four South Carolina Senate districts that include part of York County: 14, 15 16 and 17. District 15 is located entirely within the County.
State House of Representatives
State House seats are elected every two years, so all House members are up for reelection in 2026. There are no term limits for House seats.
There are eight South Carolina House Districts that include parts of York County: 26, 29, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 66. John R King is the incumbent Democrat in District 49, and that seat has been reliably Democratic. The other incumbents are Republicans. Often they run unopposed in the General Election, but in 2026 the YCDP has recruited candidates for most of them!
Below are State House races with Democratic candidates:
SC House District 26
Jenny Desch
Jenny Desch was recently recruited to run for office for the first time, and she scurried to put up this Facebook Page. She addressed the 2026 YCDP County Convention. So far she has no Primary opposition, and in November she will take on Republican incumbent David Martin, who is in his first term.
Jenny is an Assistant Prosecutor (Solicitor) in the SC 5th Judicial Circuit.
SC House District 47
Pete Martinez
Pete Martinez was recently recruited to run for office for the first time, so he doesn’t have any campaign media online as we prepare this entry. However, he did speak at the 2026 YCDP County Convention. So far he has no Primary opposition, and in November he will take on Republican incumbent Tommy Pope, who has held the office since 2010.
SC House District 48
Rustin Terry
Rustin Terry announced his candidacy for SC House 48 on March 8, 2026. SC House 48 runs from the northeast side of Rock Hill, along the south/west side of the Catawba River and Lake Wilie to the North Carolina border (see map). His opponent is Republican Brandon Guffey, who ran unopposed in 2024.
Here is Terry’s address to the 2026 YCDP County Convention.
SC House District 49
Rep. John King (Rock Hill)
John has represented SC House District 49 since 2009. He ran unopposed for the seat in 2024, and facing only write-in oppositon, he received 98% of the vote. In previous elections where he did have opposition, he typically received over 60% of the vote.
Here is his address to the 2026 YCDP County Convention on March 14..
SC House District 49
Perry Sutton
Perry Sutton ran for Rock Hill City Council (a nonpartisan office) in 2025, losing to YCDP Chair Nikita Jackson in that race. He is now challenging John King in the Primary for SC House District 49, and he spoke at the 2026 YCDP County Convention.
SC House District 66
Heather Hart
Heather Hart is a first-time candidate, running in a State House District that was ‘relocated’ to York County following the 2020 Census, part of a Republican gerrymander in 2021. The incumbent is Jackie Terribile, who is in her first term.
Heather addressed the 2026 YCDP County Convention on March 14.
16th Circuit Solicitor's Office
The Solicitor is the chief prosecuting attorney within a judicial circuit. South Carolina has sixteen judicial circuits which are comprised of two or more counties within the State. The 16th Circuit covers York and Union Counties.
Solicitor is a partisan office, with elections every four years on the Presidential election cycle. The incumbent is Republican Kevin Brackett.
County Offices
The offices below serve only York County (or parts of York County).
See a full list of all political office holders serving York County (at the Federal, State and County level) here.
County Council
There are seven York County Council Districts. Council members serve 4-year terms. Three will be elected in 2026: Districts 3, 4 and 7
We will update this information as Coucil races develop. As of February 13, 2026, we don’t find any incumbents or other candidates who have declared their intention to run.
York County
School Boards
School Board Candidate filing runs from August 1 – August 15, 2026, so School Board elections are not part of the June 9 Primaries.
There are four School Districts in York County. Each ‘seat’ is technically non-partisan, but the culture wars have affected some School Board elections. The YCDP does not endorse candidates in non-partisan elections, and we won’t be listing candidates here.
Elections are held in even-numbered years, with staggered four-year terms. More info here.
5 District Seats, plus 2 At-Large seats.
Seats 2,4, and one At-Large are up for election in 2026
5 District Seats, plus 2 At-Large seats.
Seats 1,3,5 and one At-Large are up for election in 2026
Rock Hill School District No. 3
5 District Seats, plus 2 At-Large seats.
Seats 2, 4 and one At-Large are up for election in 2026
Fort Mill School District No. 4
7 At-Large seats
Four At-Large seats are up for election in 2026
Soil and Water
Conservation District Commission
The Commission consists of a board of five nonpartisan commissioners.
Three of the Commissioners are elected, while two are appointed. One seat appears on the ballot during a Presidential election (2028) and two seats appear on the ballot during a Gubernatorial election (2026).
The Commission’s website is updated only sporadically, and as of February 13, 2026, it is out of date. The York County Elected Representatives page shows that Commissioners Peggy Palmer and Beth Black White will be up for reelection in 2026.
Watershed Conservation Districts
We have a lot of people looking after our water, it seems. In addition to the Soil and Water folks, there are two Watershed Conservation Districts serving York County.
Each Commission is comprised of five member seats with staggered four-year terms. Only voters that live in the these districts will see these offices on their ballots. Three seats will appear on the ballot during a Presidential election and two seats appear on the ballot during a Gubernatorial election. The offices are nonpartisan, so we won’t be following the candidates.
Fishing Creek Watershed District 13
The Fishing Creek Watershed lies west of Rock Hill (map).
Tinker's Creek Watershed District 33
The Tinker’s Creek is south of Rock Hill and the Watershed District includes both York and Chester Counties.