Who's running in South Carolina's 3rd congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Sheri Biggs currently holds this seat
Low confidenceLow confidenceOnly one weak source, dated material, or indirect evidence. Treat specifics with caution.What would raise it: An official filing record and at least one independent report about this candidate would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Fiscal responsibility, one of the planks of her 2024 platform.
Mental health care for veterans and first responders.
Servant leadership rooted in her faith and military service.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for South Carolina's 3rd District since January 2025.
Lieutenant colonel, Air National Guard; recipient of the Aerial Achievement Medal.
Member of the House Homeland Security, Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space and Technology committees.
Disclosed more than 170 trades by her husband worth $4.14 million to $13.62 million weeks or months late, in apparent violation of the STOCK Act, according to NOTUS; her office did not respond to NOTUS.
Unopposed in the June 9, 2026 Republican primary.
Arguments in favor
Three decades in health care — from ICU nurse to nursing-home administrator — and service on combat missions give her a 'unique, diverse background' to address a nation 'suffering from mental, fiscal, and spiritual problems'.
— Sheri Biggs, official House biography
Arguments against
'She chose to be a public servant, so it's perfectly reasonable for her constituents to question these trades, particularly since they were not disclosed consistent with existing federal law.'
— Donald Sherman, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, to NOTUS
What we couldn’t verify
Biggs's campaign website and 2026 campaign platform could not be located.
No criticism of Biggs by her Democratic opponent was found.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Restoring Medicaid and ACA funding and lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 64.
Increasing health care access and training, especially in rural Upstate areas.
Ending federal funding for the Iran war and for ICE long-term detention of legal immigrants.
Lowering electricity costs through renewable energy subsidies and requiring data centres to supply their own power.
Grants and tax credits for affordable housing, apprenticeships and college.
A path to citizenship for DACA recipients and long-term immigrants; regular town halls.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Licensed counselor, medical social worker and former private-practice owner.
Gubernatorial appointee to the Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Mental Health Commission; member of the City of Clemson Sustainability Advisory Committee.
Won the June 9, 2026 Democratic primary with about 53% over Ernest Mackins.
Has not held elected office.
Beat Ernest Mackins with about 53% in the June 9 Democratic primary.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published argument for or against Lehmacher by a named opponent, party or outlet could be found. Searched: 'Eunice Lehmacher Sheri Biggs', 'Eunice Lehmacher criticism', her primary opponent Ernest Mackins, Biggs campaign statements, Ballotpedia and WGOG and SC Daily Gazette coverage.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
South Carolina held its primaries on June 9, 2026 and runoffs on June 23; November 3 is the general election, and there is no general-election runoff. The congressional map is unchanged for 2026: the South Carolina Supreme Court upheld it in September 2025, and a Trump-backed redraw passed by the state House after Louisiana v. Callais failed in the state Senate on May 26, 2026. Three candidates are certified as active on the State Election Commission's candidate tracking list: Republican incumbent Sheri Biggs, unopposed in her primary; Democrat Eunice Lehmacher, who beat Ernest Mackins with about 53%; and Libertarian Brian Corriea. The district covers the western Upstate, including Anderson, Oconee, Pickens, Greenwood, Laurens, Abbeville and parts of Greenville counties, and is considered one of the most Republican in the state.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A South Carolina ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at South Carolina Election Commission.