The south carolina delegation
congressional officials …
South Carolina is a mid-sized and electorally stable congressional delegation.
Of the nine members, eight are Republicans, and only one is a Democrat. Two are minority representation through the end of the year. Seven are male, and two are female. The group includes the first woman to graduate from The Citadel. Four are lawyers, two have a Master’s degree, and one has a doctorate.
The University of South Carolina has conferred five degrees - the highest any .
The average tenure for the delegation currently is 5.4 terms, assuming everyone completes their service by the end of 2026. Three of the members have military service, and the longest-serving member has been in Congress for 17 terms.
One member of the South Carolina delegation is a freshman. One of the Senators is up for re-election in 2026.
When you look at these profiles, we have given each a letter grade for their effort this Congress, based on various factors, which you will find in What Is Thomas Looking For? These letter grades are probably pretty familiar to you if you have ever been a school student (we hope the answer to that is we all have!)
If you see a meager score for a particular member, it will probably be due to one or two key factors: ethics challenges or anti-democratic behavior.
Republicans have been hit hard on their lack of push back on former and now current President Trump and their support of election denying in the 2020 presidential campaign. The unanswered soaring deficit on their watch, the dismantling of allied relationships around the globe, and opposition to funding anti-authoritarian initiatives. The denial of climate change weighs heavily on us as well. We make no secret that transparency and Government in the Sunshine are essential to us, and we further argue that some have been awful stewards of this category. For example, three of the nine South Carolina delegation members voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results the same evening as Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol.
Democrats have been hit hard for their lack of progress on critical matters because they control the United States Senate and have a razor-close margin in the U.S. House of Representatives. They have not been innovative or necessarily insistent on finding rational, reasonable solutions to the problems plaguing the American public today. We want to see more and better.
Both have been dinged for being too partisan and not collaborative where evident. Being too doctrinaire, in our opinion, or an obstructionist to good government in the 21st century, such as Lindsey Graham has been doing, does not get one a good grade from Thomas. In our opinion, being too doctrinaire
We also indicate what we believe might be the outcome of these Members’ 2026 elections today. The overwhelming majority of House members were re-elected in 2024.
Our prospect ratings fall into three categories:
Safe Bet - which means what it means. These members of Congress are running strong and look to be overwhelming prospects for re-election at this time. However, we reserve the right to re-categorize their chances if necessary.
It’s A Race - means this race is too close to call, and we can not reasonably predict who will win this seat.
Nudging - means the seat is leaning one way or another for this candidate. We have just a small number of current members of Congress in this category. Stay tuned!
So, would you like to meet these fascinating South Carolinians? If so, keep reading on!
what is thomas looking for?
There are no vulnerable races in South Carolina that we are watching for 2026.
the senators
Credit: US Senator Lyndsey Graham
United States Senator lindsey graham (r)
Lindsey Graham is a four-term United States Senator from the state of South Carolina. He is the senior senator and serves on the Appropriations Committee; the Environment and Public Works Committee; chairs the Budget Committee; and also serves on the Judiciary Committee. Both his undergraduate and law degrees were earned from the University of South Carolina. The Senator is not married and does not have children.
Thomas Take: Up for re-election in 2026
Thomas Rank: D
Credit: US Senator Tim Scott
United states senator tim scott (r)
South Carolina’s junior senator is serving his second full term after being appointed by then-Governor Nikki Haley to fill an open seat in 2012. A former member of the House, Senator Scott chairs the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee; and serves on the Finance Committee; the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. A candidate for the Republic nomination for President in 2024, Senator Scott withdrew from the race in late 2023 and strongly endorsed Donald Trump’s bid for the White House in 2024. The Senator holds a degree from Charleston Southern University, is not married, and has no children.
Thomas Take: Not up for re-election in 2026
Thomas Rank: C
the representatives
Credit: US Rep. Nancy Mace
district 1 - u.s. rep. nancy mace (r)
Congresswoman Nancy Mace represents the east coast area of South Carolina around Charleston and Hilton Head. A three-term member of the House, Congresswoman Mace earned her graduate degree from the University of Georgia and was the first woman to graduate from The Citadel. She is the divorced mother of two and serves on the Armed Services Committee; the Oversight and Government Reform Committee; and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The Congresswoman spoke out strongly against President Trump for his January 6th role but also voted not to impeach the then-President.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
district 2 - U.S. Rep. joe wilson (r)
Joe Wilson represents the area of South Carolina that runs from Columbia west to the Georgia state line. A twelve-term member of the House, Congressman Wilson serves on the Armed Services Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee, and the Foreign Affairs Committee. A graduate of Washington & Lee University, Wilson also holds a law degree from the University of South Carolina. An Army Reserves and Army National Guard member, Congressman Wilson generated some controversy in 2009 when he yelled, “You lie!” at President Obama during his joint session speech discussing Obamacare. Wilson quickly apologized for the outburst which the President accepted. He is married and the father of four.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
Credit: US Rep. Joe Wilson
Credit: US Rep. Sheri Biggs
District 3 - U.S. Rep. sheri biggs (r)
Representing the northwest corner of the state where South Carolina meets Georgia and North Carolina, first-term Congresswoman Sheri Biggs serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee; the Homeland Security Committee; and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Married and the mother of two, Biggs earned an undergraduate degree from the Carolina College of Biblical Studies and a doctorate from Samford University.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: Too early to rank
District 4 - U.S. Rep. william timmons (r)
Four-term member Congressman William Timmons holds an undergraduate degree from George Washington University, a graduate degree from New York University, and a law degree from the University of South Carolina. Divorced, Congressman Timmons represents the upstate area of the Palmetto State which includes the cities of Greensville and Spartanburg. Representative Timmons serves on the Financial Services Committee and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
Credit: US Rep. William Timmons
Credit: US Rep. Ralph Norman
district 5 - U.S. rep. ralph norman (r)
Representing north-central South Carolina, four-term Congressman Ralph Norman is a former real estate developer who graduated from Presbyterian College. He serves on the Financial Services Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Rules Committee. Congressman Norman is married and the father of four.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
district 6 - U.S. rep. James clyburn (d)
The House Majority Leader from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023, Jim Clyburn is serving his seventeenth term in Congress and probably single-handedly delivered the South Carolina primary results to a struggling Joe Biden in 2016 effectively ensuring his presidential election several months later A retired educator, Congressman Clyburn is a widower and father of three. He graduated from South Carolina State University and serves on Appropriations Committee. His district covers the Columbia and Charleston communities.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: A
Credit: US Rep. James Clyburn
Credit: US Rep. Russell Fry
district 7 - U.s. Rep. russell fry (R)
U.S. Representative Russell Fry is a second-term member of Congress who represents South Carolina in the Pee Dee area. Married and the father of one, Fry graduated from the University of South Carolina and has a law degree from the Charleston School of Law. He serves on the Judiciary and Energy and Commerce committees.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B