Bryon Best

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Bryon Best

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Livingstone College, 2009

Personal

Birthplace

Aiken, S.C.

Religion

Non-Denominational

Profession

Management

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal Facebook

Bryon Best (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Best completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Bryon Best was born in Aiken, South Carolina and lives in Greenwood, South Carolina. He earned a bachelor's degree from Livingstone College in 2009. His career experience includes working in management. He has been affiliated with Destiny of Greenwood.

Elections

2024

See also: South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024

South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Republican primary)

South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House South Carolina District 3

Sheri Biggs defeated Bryon Best and Michael Bedenbaugh in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sheri Biggs (R)	71.7	248,451
		Bryon Best (D)	25.3	87,735
		Michael Bedenbaugh (Alliance Party)	2.9	9,918
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	609

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 346,713
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for U.S. House South Carolina District 3

Sheri Biggs defeated Mark Burns in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 on June 25, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sheri Biggs	51.0	28,156
		Mark Burns	49.0	27,064

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 55,220
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 3

Bryon Best defeated Frances Guldner in the Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 on June 11, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bryon Best	62.4	5,188
		Frances Guldner	37.6	3,129

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,317
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Daniel Duncan (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 3

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 on June 11, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Burns	33.2	27,069
✔		Sheri Biggs	28.8	23,523
		Stewart Jones	18.7	15,260
		Kevin Bishop	11.0	8,972
		Franky Franco	4.3	3,494
	Submit photo	Elspeth Snow Murday	2.1	1,754
		Philip Healy	1.9	1,552

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 81,624
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Andrew Adams (R)
• Jeff Duncan (R)
• Michael LaPierre (R)
• Patrick Orr (R)

Alliance Party convention

Alliance Party convention for U.S. House South Carolina District 3

Michael Bedenbaugh advanced from the Alliance Party convention for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 on April 20, 2024.

		Candidate
✔		Michael Bedenbaugh (Alliance Party)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Best in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Bryon Best completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Best's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Greetings, fellow South Carolinians! I am Bryon Best, a proud native of Edgefield, South Carolina, and I am fueled by unwavering commitment, compassion, and intention to amplify the voices of District 3 in Congress. In these challenging times, integrity stands at the core of my values. I firmly believe in the importance of representing our community with honesty, transparency, and a dedication to our shared values. Together, let us strive for a brighter future, where every voice is heard, and every individual is valued. Join me in this journey to bring positive change to District 3 and make our community a better place for all.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am dedicated to advocating for increased funding for education, supporting our teachers, and ensuring that all students have equal opportunities to thrive. Furthermore, I am focused on revitalizing our local economy, creating job opportunities, and fostering sustainable growth. By supporting small businesses, promoting innovation, and attracting investments to our district, we can build a thriving economy that benefits all residents.
• With a steadfast commitment to improving our energy efficiency, it is crucial for reducing our carbon footprint, lowering energy costs, and promoting a cleaner, healthier environment for all. I am passionate about promoting the freedom to adopt energy-efficient practices and technologies, paving the way for our long-term prosperity and well being.
• Women's rights are human rights, and I believe that it is imperative to address issues of gender equality, empowerment and justice. I am committed to fighting for policies that eliminate discrimination, and protect reproductive rights. Every woman should have the autonomy to make decisions about her own body and access the healthcare services she needs without barriers and judgement.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education, Economy, Gun Control/Safety, Medicare/Social Security and Affordable Housing

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I looked up to my father. I watched my father get up everyday, without a vehicle, hustle and work to provide food on the table for my family and I. He persevered through many circumstances including only have 70% of his heart. He instilled the core values that I abide by today.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

1. Integrity: Elected officials must demonstrate honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior at all times. Integrity is essential for building trust with the public and maintaining credibility.

2. Accountability: Elected officials should be accountable for their actions, decisions, and promises. They must be willing to answer to the public and take responsibility for their conduct.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I aspire to leave a legacy of positive impact and inspiration. I hope to be remembered as someone who made a difference in the lives of others, whether through acts of kindness, making people laugh through my humor, or being a source of support and encouragement. I aim to leave behind a legacy of compassion, integrity, and empowerment, where my actions and words have helped other realize their potential and achieve their goals.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Best’s campaign website stated the following:

“	Energy Efficiency Addressing the energy problems in South Carolina will be a multifaceted approach that includes efforts to expand renewable energy sources, improve energy infrastructure resilience, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Medicare/Social Security Improving Medicare and Social Security in South Carolina is a complex and important task to ensure the well-being of older adults and retirees. South Carolinians need lower copays on prescriptions and implement cost-of-living adjustments to keep pace with inflation. Women's Rights Women makeup half of the population but still face barriers to equal opportunities. I will be an advocate for policies promoting gender equality, and women empowerment. I will address issues such as reproductive rights, and pay equity. I will ensure all women have the opportunity to thrive and succeed in South Carolina. Education As a proud South Carolinian, I understand the importance of education and its impact on our state's future. Did you know that South Carolina’s public school education system is currently rated 42nd in the nation? We need to raise the bar and take action. Gun Control/Safety The importance of gun safety has been at the forefront recently in South Carolina. Investing in community-based violence prevention programs, mental health services, and conflict resolution initiatives can help address the root causes of gun violence and reduce the incidence of firearm-related crimes. Economy/Affordable Housing Many working-class families are unable to afford decent housing, leading to overcrowding and increased homelessness. The minimum wage is $7.25, which is not considered to be a livable wages in this economy. I am committed to working towards solutions that will make housing more affordable and accessibility to high wages for everyone in South Carolina.	”
—Bryon Best's campaign website (2024)

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Bryon Best campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House South Carolina District 3	Lost general	$46,624	$42,855
Grand total			$46,624	$42,855
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also

2024 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

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External links

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Candidate

U.S. House South Carolina District 3

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Footnotes

[show]

South Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Lindsey Graham (R)

Tim Scott (R)

Representatives

District 1

Nancy Mace (R)

District 2

Joe Wilson (R)

District 3

Sheri Biggs (R)

District 4

William Timmons (R)

District 5

Ralph Norman (R)

District 6

James Clyburn (D)

District 7

Russell Fry (R)

Republican Party (8)

Democratic Party (1)