South Carolina 5th District
Ralph Norman (R) gave up the seat to run for governor. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.DiscussWes Climer
Republican · Republican state senator from Rock Hill
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Climer has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Climer.
Raised $1,132,484 since January 2025: 68% from people, 32% from PACs and other committees, 1% the candidate’s own money. The filing at FEC.gov
Mallory Dittmer
Democrat · business owner, public education advocate
DLiberty Score D64 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Dittmer has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Dittmer.
Raised $226,553 since January 2025: 98% from people, 1% transfers and other income, 1% the candidate’s own money. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Wes Climer. Wes Climer: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Mallory Dittmer: D, 64 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in South Carolina: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Wes Climer, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Climer, so the grade above comes from this list: what Climer has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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In 2022 he co-sponsored a Senate resolution saying Clemson University and other public colleges must maintain a commitment to free speech and open inquiry.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing a public body's commitment to free speech is the with side of the free_speech measure.
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His campaign site says he will vote to cut spending and block tax hikes, without naming a tax.
“In Congress, he'll vote to slash spending, block tax hikes”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No tax is named, so by the site's rule on unnamed tax positions this does not settle the measure.
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His campaign site says he passed over $2 billion in tax cuts for South Carolina families and small businesses.
“Passed over $2 billion in tax cuts for South Carolina families and small businesses”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Passing named tax cuts is with liberty on free markets.
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In February 2021 he was one of the Senate sponsors of the Save Women's Sports Act.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport female is with liberty on equal rights.
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In January 2025 he introduced S. 199, which would limit every multi-person public school restroom and changing facility to one sex.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping single-sex spaces for one sex is with liberty on equal rights.
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In April 2025 he and Senator Leber proposed a budget amendment requiring state agencies and colleges to affirm that there are only two biological sexes; the Senate adopted it.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Affirming two sexes in state policy is with liberty on equal rights.
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His campaign site says he will eliminate woke curriculum in schools.
“eliminate woke curriculum”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Ending race and gender ideology in schools is with liberty on equal rights.
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In March 2026 he was the lead sponsor of S. 1065, which says South Carolina courts shall not consider Sharia law in judicial decisions.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Barring religious law from courts is with liberty on conscience (against religious rule in the West).
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In March 2026 he was the lead sponsor of S. 1065, which says South Carolina courts shall not consider Sharia law in judicial decisions.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping a religion's rules out of court decisions is with liberty on conscience.
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In March 2024 he was a sponsor of a Senate joint resolution directing the State Law Enforcement Division to enter a 287(g) agreement with ICE.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing enforcement cooperation with ICE is with liberty on borders.
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In 2026 he was a sponsor of S. 872, which would require proof of citizenship or legal status for a driver's license and mark non-citizen licenses.
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A licence rule about status is not clearly border security, enforcement or deportation, so it does not settle a side.
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His campaign site says he supports building the wall, reinstating Remain in Mexico and defunding sanctuary cities.
“Wes supports building the wall, reinstating Remain in Mexico, defunding sanctuary cities”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A wall and an end to sanctuary policies are with liberty on borders.
Mallory Dittmer, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Dittmer, so the grade above comes from this list: what Dittmer has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Said the US role should be to keep Iran from restoring its nuclear capabilities through sanctions, diplomacy, regional pressure and inspections.
“keep Iran from restoring their nuclear capabilities via a combination of sanctions, diplomacy, pressure from regional allies and regular inspections”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Sanctions and pressure to stop the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme are on the with side of the Iran regime measure.
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Said the action taken in Operation Epic Fury was not strategic or measured and that the President ignored the War Powers Act.
“the action undertaken in Operation Epic Fury has not been strategic or measured”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Condemning the American action against Iran is the against side of the Iran regime measure.
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Her campaign site says isolationism is not the answer to global stability.
“Isolationism is not the answer to global stability.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Rejecting isolationism is with liberty on free nations.
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Her campaign site commits her to NATO and other alliances.
“an unyielding commitment to global democracy, NATO and other organizations that promote world order, peace, and American leadership”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing NATO is with liberty on free nations.
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Her campaign site says she would crack down on disinformation, without saying who would act or by what means.
“cracking down on disinformation”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No law, board or pressure on platforms is named, so this does not settle the free speech measure.
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Said the tariff war has worked as a high tax on American businesses and citizens.
“has essentially worked as a high tax on both American businesses and citizens”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs is the opposite of against liberty on free markets.
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Her campaign site says billionaires and corporations should pay their fair share, with no tax named.
“make billionaires and corporations pay their fair share”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No tax is named, so by the site's rule this does not settle the free markets test.
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Her campaign site says to end endless wars and refocus on defense, without naming a budget level.
“End endless wars”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No increase or cut in the defense budget is named, so this does not settle the defense test.
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Her campaign site says she would create a fair path to citizenship for people who work hard and respect the rules.
“Create a fair path to citizenship”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship is against liberty on borders.
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Her campaign site backs a bill giving undocumented farm workers a path to legal status and citizenship.
“a bipartisan bill which creates a pathway to legal status and eventual citizenship for undocumented agricultural workers who meet specific, long-term work requirements”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for people here illegally is against liberty on borders.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
South Carolina 5th District
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