- BIG STORY: A first look at the Lowcountry race to replace Mace
- MORE NEWS: Protesters rally against ICE in S.C.’s two largest cities
- LOWCOUNTRY, Ariail: One day …
- BRACK: The political impact of simultaneous contrast
- MYSTERY PHOTO: Familiar looking place
- FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
A first look at the Lowcountry race to replace Mace
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a Statehouse Report series focusing on the major races shaping S.C. politics in 2026.
By Jack O’Toole, Statehouse Bureau | Talk to Palmetto State political analysts and most will tell you that three names are dominating their thinking about the 2026 1st Congressional District race at this early stage.
The twist? None of them are among the 14 declared candidates listed on the Federal Election Commission website.
First, they say, President Donald Trump will likely be the biggest single factor in the race, shaping the contours of the GOP primary in June and perhaps determining the outcome of the general election in November.
Second, incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who announced her campaign for governor in August of last year, will remain a constant presence in the race, as candidates in both parties define themselves in relationship to her famously mercurial style. Moreover, most observers still aren’t ruling out the possibility that she could change her mind between now and the March deadline — and file for her House seat instead of the governor’s race.
Finally, the memory of former Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham’s surprise 2018 win over Republican Katie Arrington continues to give Democrats hope and Republicans pause — despite a 2022 gerrymander that gave Republicans at least a six-point natural advantage in the district.
DuBose Kapeluck, a political science professor at the Citadel and the author of several books about Southern politics, told Statehouse Report that while Democrats might benefit from an energized base two years into Trump’s second term, the gerrymander will still likely be key to the outcome.
“Since it’s a midterm election and they’re the out-party, the national tides favor the Democrats,” Kapeluck said. “But since the redistricting, there are a lot more Republican voters in the district. And that just makes it a long shot for any Democratic candidate.”
The GOP field
Though the race still hasn’t taken shape, most insiders say two Republican candidates start with a leg up — Berkeley County Rep. Mark Smith and Charleston County Council member Jenny Honeycutt.
In separate Jan. 9 interviews, both candidates stressed their support for the Trump agenda, while noting their history of working across the aisle to get things done for their constituents.
Other issues each said they were focused on: affordability, national and personal security, fiscal conservatism and support for local infrastructure like roads and flooding projects.
But beyond the issues, both repeatedly brought the conversation back to their deep roots in the area and the need to protect what makes it special in the face of rapid growth.
“I’m a fourth-generation Lowcountry native, a first generation small business owner and have a long, vested interest in the 1st Congressional District,” said Smith, who entered the race in August 2024. “We’ve got something pretty special going in this area, and I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to preserve and protect it.”
Honeycutt, who noted that her time on council has been spent primarily on local quality-of-life issues in “this special place,” described similar priorities and concerns.
“As a mom and someone who’s lived here my entire life, served in local government and run a business, I have a passion to see the people who live here thrive, and that this area and way of life be preserved,” said Honeycutt, who announced in November of last year. “It’s about the future for my children, for all our children, and I feel like we can do better.”
According to FEC filings, Smith has raised $369,250.00 through the third quarter of 2025. Honeycutt will report her first official fundraising numbers later this month.
Other declared GOP candidates currently listed on the FEC website include (in alphabetical order):
Dan Brown: A Bluffton native, the former legislative aide and D.C. policy researcher says that “Washington won’t fix itself, and America’s future depends on a new generation of conservative leaders willing to fight for it.”
Total raised: No reporting to date.
Jay Byars: The Dorchester County councilman says he’s running “to back Donald Trump and the America First agenda” and “to protect the Lowcountry way of life and what makes our region special.” Total raised: $65,800.00
Logan Cunningham: A Beaufort County Council member, Cunningham says he’s “a Christian,” “a Trump supporter” and a “former educator” who’s running to “put the Lowcountry and America First” and restore “common sense leadership in Washington. Total raised: No reporting to date
Tyler Dykes: Pardoned by Trump for his part in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, Dykes says he’s running because “our home is being destroyed” by mass immigration, high costs, declining school and water quality and more. Total raised: No reporting to date
Jack Ellison: According to press reports, “little information is publicly available” about the Charleston man who has reportedly filed for both the 1st Congressional District and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s seat. Total raised: No reporting to date
Sam McCown: A Lowcountry physician, McCown says he’s running to “restore fiscal sanity, stop the woke agenda and secure our nation’s future,” with an emphasis on “border security” and “fewer regulations.”
Total Raised: $1,013,705.12 (including a candidate loan of $865,100.09)
Alex Pelbath: A retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, Pelbath says he wants to “end the flow of illegal immigrants,” “stop the woke nonsense,” and fight for an economy that works for Lowcountry families.” Total raised: $193,110.04
Bill Reeside: Calling himself “the reasonable Republican,” Reeside says he wants to “help President Trump … by putting legislation on his desk to stabilize Social Security for the long term.” Total raised: No reporting to date
And for the Democrats
On the Democratic side, most eyes are currently on Coast Guard veteran and Lowcountry attorney Mac Deford, who narrowly lost the 2024 primary race to 1st District Democratic nominee Michael B. Moore.
“I’m running because public service has shaped my entire life and right now, people in the Lowcountry are not being served by Washington,” he told Statehouse Report on Jan. 8. “We’ve got too many people up there that are more interested in promoting themselves than actually serving the people they purport to represent.”
His top issue? The high cost of living, which he said is “crushing” residents on everything from housing to health insurance to child care and more.
“At the same [costs are rising], we’ve got politicians who want to engage in chaos and culture wars and now sabre-rattling with our NATO allies,” he said. “And policies, frankly, that are just raising prices like the tariffs, all while completely avoiding accountability.”
Also garnering early attention on the Democratic side is Mayra Rivera-Vazquez, who’s worked public service law, nonprofit counseling and as a Democratic Party leader in the Beaufort area.
In a video on her campaign website, she says she opposes “tax cuts for the rich,” “masked men jumping out of unidentified cars to arrest our neighbors” and “making everything more expensive for runaway corporate greed.”
To date, Deford reports $104,459.30 raised, with Rivera-Vazquez reporting $38,642.00.
Max Eliot Diaz: Born in 2000, the Hanahan resident calls himself “a thoroughly working-class individual” who believes it’s “time the government considered the needs of the many rather than the greed of the few.” Total raised: $1,068.31
Matt Fulmer: A self-described waiter in the Lowcountry for more than a decade, Fulmer says he supports “guaranteed health care for every American,” a housing market that “favors renters and first-time buyers” and providing stronger services to families. Total raised: No reporting to date.
- HAVE A COMMENT? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com
Protesters rally against ICE in S.C.’s two largest cities
Staff reports | Protesters gathered in Charleston and Columbia Thursday calling for an end to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations after an agent shot and killed Renee Good, 37, in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Dozens rallied in Marion Square in Charleston with signs reading “No More ICE” and “Stop ICE Now,” according to WCSC TV. Activists pointed to the shooting as part of a troubling pattern, as they claim at least eight deadly ICE-related incidents occurred since September.
Meanwhile in Columbia, more than 150 people gathered at the S.C. Statehouse to protest the Trump administration’s support of ICE following the shooting.
Both protests were peaceful.
In Minnesota, tensions mounted between Minnesota officials and Trump administration leaders. They disagreed sharply Thursday on the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Federal officials called the shooting an act of self defense, while local leaders called it a senseless killing.
Video evidence of the shooting shows the ICE agent firing at Good as she attempted to drive away from a traffic stop. White House officials claimed she attempted to run him over with the vehicle. Others disagreed. – Skyler Baldwin
In other recent news
2026: Mace floats sanctuary sheriff law at campaign stop. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace is floating a new state law that she hopes a state lawmaker will sponsor during her 2026 gubernatorial campaign trail. This proposal seeks a crackdown on illegal immigrants and those who would protect them, specifically sheriffs.
- Wilson names Florence GOP Sen. Reichenbach as running mate for governor
- A.G. candidate Goldfinch to speak in Greenwood
GOP’s Ford wins Dorchester Co.’s S.C. House special election. Republican Greg Ford narrowly defeated Democratic contender Sonja Ogletree Satani for the seat in the District 98 special election at the Statehouse.
McMaster wants lawmakers to spend $1.1B more to fix roads, interstates. Gov. Henry McMaster is planning to unveil his budget for 2026 before the Legislature returns next week. Part of his spending wish list for lawmakers will include a request for an additional $1.1 billion in new money strictly for roads.
S.C. GOP lawmakers to preview priorities for 2026 legislative season. The new legislative session in South Carolina is set to begin next week, and state lawmakers are previewing their priorities as they prepare to return to address myriad issues and pre-filed bills.
- Redistricting, abortion, more loom as issues in 2026 at Statehouse
- S.C. GOP leaders say repeat mid-cycle redistricting ‘unlikely’ this session
New S.C. legislation would limit cities’ annexation powers. A bill introduced by Upstate Republican Sen. Rex Rice would require county approvals for municipal annexations.
- S.C. lawmakers seeks to strengthen ‘move over’ law
- S.C. lawmakers push for harsher sexual child exploitation punishments
With political violence rising, these S.C. officials have dedicated security. A growing number of S.C. elected officials and candidates are receiving full-time security details in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s September murder at Utah Valley University.
Clyburn warns against forgetting about Jan. 6 attack. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn took to the floor of the House of Representatives Tuesday to speak on the fifth anniversary of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
S.C. measles outbreak could be largest U.S. active cluster. As the number of new infections continues to grow, South Carolina’s ongoing measles outbreak appears on track to soon be the largest active cluster in the U.S.
Riley’s new memoir details leading Charleston for 40 years. Former longtime Charleston Mayor Joe Riley’s new memoir, “Windows on Washington Square,” was released Jan. 6, detailing the transformation of historic Charleston as well as the pain of a massive hurricane, and a horrific hate crime.
One day …
Award-winning cartoonist Robert Ariail has a special knack for poking a little fun in just the right way. This week, he takes a poke at the increasingly controversial data centers popping up across South Carolina.
- Love this week’s cartoon or hate it? Did he go too far, or not far enough? Send your thoughts to feedback@statehousereport.com.
The political impact of simultaneous contrast
Commentary by Andy Brack | In the worlds of art and perception, there’s a phenomenon known as simultaneous contrast. It basically means that a color surrounding another may change the way the brain perceives the interior color.
Imagine, for example, two magenta squares. One is surrounded by forest green. The other is surrounded by orange. The magenta in the middle is the exact same color – but the way we see these interior colors generally is different because the magenta surrounded by orange looks like a darker red – even though it’s actually not if you remove the surrounding green and orange squares.
Our brains are processing the interior colors differently, leading to the illusion that the colors in the middle are different. But they’re not.
Today, the concept of simultaneous contrast has political implications. Two divided and partisan groups looking at the same thing – say, a federal ICE agent shooting through a windshield and killing a woman in Minneapolis – are seeing things differently. And this is the kind of continuing conflict that is tearing America apart.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he was meeting with President Donald Trump on Wednesday and they looked at video footage of the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three.
“We viewed the footage of the assault on the ICE officer and the eventual defensive shooting of the woman who tried to run him over. We watched the video several times with the president. I am told the officer who was struck by the vehicle is recovering in the hospital,” Graham said in a statement.
“This could have easily been prevented by complying with the officer’s command. If an officer lawfully asks you to exit a vehicle but you do not comply and then strike that officer with a vehicle, you may get shot. The takeaway for me is simple. If you try to run over a law enforcement officer with your vehicle, it is at your own peril.”
But many who watched videos didn’t see the ICE agent get hit by the vehicle.
Here’s what U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., said in a statement:
“This morning, a masked ICE agent shot and killed an unarmed woman in Minneapolis as she sought to leave. This was an unjustifiable act of violence.
“ICE has been wreaking havoc in our communities under Donald Trump’s direction, and today an American lost her life as a result. There must be accountability and justice, and the Trump Administration must cease these reckless ICE activities that are undermining public safety before more lives are lost.”
Two South Carolina leaders, one Republican and one Democratic, saw the same incident and drew different conclusions. It’s the political phenomenon of simultaneous contrast at work.
If you keep all of this in mind, perhaps you may want to consider some other conclusions:
- The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Let’s gather all of the facts before drawing partisan conclusions – despite what we think we see. Federal authorities like U.S. Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem may have rushed to judgment and into the world of spin by immediately pointing a partisan finger of blame at the dead woman.
- Minnesotans understandably are upset because of the continuing presence of ICE agents in their state. It’s probably a good idea to question why they are there and whether they’re causing more problems than not.
- Federal investigators aren’t doing themselves any favors by excluding Minnesota law enforcement officers from participating in the investigation. That’s the kind of thing that starts people talking about coverups.
The shooting in Minnesota is a tragedy and should never have happened. Now, everyone needs to go into time out, breathe and pause. And make sure the investigation is transparent so we can know the full range of what happened.
Otherwise, people who saw the video – and believe they witnessed a woman get attacked by an agent (not the other way around) – may start questioning the veracity of the Trump administration on other issues. And that could have big political consequences at the midterm elections.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com.
Familiar looking place
It’s likely that you recognize what this place is. But where specifically was this picture taken? Aah, that may make it more difficult. Send your best guess – plus hometown and name – to: feedback@statehousereport.com.
Meanwhile, last week’s mystery – “Destruction” – showed what remains of the former headquarters of The Post and Courier in Charleston. A pastel orange office building and press facility has been demolished in recent weeks to make way for something everyone in Charleston loves: skyscrapers, stores and housing.
Only a few sleuths correctly identified the pit: Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Margaret Blackmer of Charleston; and Frank Bouknight of Summerville.
- SHARE: If you have a Mystery Photo to share, please send it to us – and make sure you tell us what it is!
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Statehouse Report, founded in 2001 as a weekly legislative forecast that informs readers about what is going to happen in South Carolina politics and policy, is provided by email to you at no charge every Friday.
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