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South Carolina's 1st Congressional District election, 2026

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2024
South Carolina's 1st Congressional District
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General election
Election details
Filing deadline: Pending
Primary: Pending
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in South Carolina

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
South Carolina's 1st Congressional District
U.S. Senate1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th
South Carolina elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

All U.S. House districts, including the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House South Carolina District 1

The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 1 on November 3, 2026.


Candidate Connection = 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Image of Max Diaz

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I was born in Buffalo, NY in 2000 and have been a resident of Hanahan, SC since I entered seventh grade in 2012. I developed the itch to serve my community in the Scouting Program where I dedicated much of my time to personal growth and community service, eventually becoming an Eagle Scout. I continued my support of the Scouting Program by becoming an assistant scoutmaster in my old troop and mentoring those who came after me. After graduating from Hanahan High School in 2018 with a focus on Engineering, I earned my Aircraft Mechanic’s license and an associate degree from Trident Technical College. In 2022, I graduated from Southern Illinois University, earning a bachelor’s degree in aviation technology. I earned my Private Pilot License in 2023. As far back as Middle School, I have continuously and ardently followed news of the political, economic, and societal issues facing America. I have made it a habit to always stay educated on these issues so I could be an informed voter and an informed voice to those around me. I am a thoroughly working-class individual, with all of my formal higher education being dedicated to my blue-collar trade. I know very well what it’s like to experience the financial worries of the average American. I believe my life as a well-informed working-class citizen makes me the ideal candidate to take our issues to Washington and fight for them, tooth and nail."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Transparency and honesty are paramount for any leader. I will always be upfront about what policies I support. I will never deflect or sidestep questions. I will fully answer any questions I am asked. I will be upfront and honest about what I do and don't know. And I will always take to heart, and carefully consider the concerns and suggestions given to me by my fellow Americans.


This campaign is based on a pragmatic approach to serving Americans. I do not and will not blindly serve the will of any ideology, politician, or special interest. I am strictly interested in enacting carefully considered legislation that will solve real, practical problems and better the lives of average Americans.


The best time was yesterday; the second-best time is today. There will never be a better time to put aside party differences and support candidates across the nation who will put the needs of the average, working class American first and foremost at all times. Corporate and elite interests are not the lifeblood of America, we working citizens are the lifeblood of America. It’s time the government considered the needs of the many rather than the greed of the few.

Voting information

See also: Voting in South Carolina

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

Transparency and honesty are paramount for any leader. I will always be upfront about what policies I support. I will never deflect or sidestep questions. I will fully answer any questions I am asked. I will be upfront and honest about what I do and don't know. And I will always take to heart, and carefully consider the concerns and suggestions given to me by my fellow Americans.

This campaign is based on a pragmatic approach to serving Americans. I do not and will not blindly serve the will of any ideology, politician, or special interest. I am strictly interested in enacting carefully considered legislation that will solve real, practical problems and better the lives of average Americans.

The best time was yesterday; the second-best time is today. There will never be a better time to put aside party differences and support candidates across the nation who will put the needs of the average, working class American first and foremost at all times. Corporate and elite interests are not the lifeblood of America, we working citizens are the lifeblood of America. It’s time the government considered the needs of the many rather than the greed of the few.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

Enacting safeguards against political corruption. Positive changes in government aren't sure to last unless greed cannot seep back into the system. That's why I support measures like term limits, restrictions on politician stock ownership, and others.

Releasing the stranglehold of private equity on the housing market. Large scale home and rental buyup by massive firms has driven housing prices far beyond the point of affordability for everyday Americans.

Consumer Data Protections. In today's information economy, we are now effectively the product. Our private information should not be a commodity that is bought and sold for the purpose of manipulating consumers and getting people addicted to social media algorithms.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

I look up to Theodore Roosevelt. The progress he made in the realms of diplomacy, worker's rights, consumer rights, and conservation was incredible.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

Integrity, honesty, compassion, perseverance, good critical-thinking, and a strong sense of justice.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

To enact fair and just policies that will promote the wellbeing and prosperity of all Americans, both present and future.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

I would like to leave a legacy as a leader with uncompromising integrity who helped to bring genuine improvement to the lives of average Americans.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

I believe it would be helpful to already have experience maneuvering within the political system. However, I do not believe it is necessary. I even think it can be healthy for our institutions when we elect a certain number of people who haven't had any contact with the political machine.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

Getting the national budget under control, ensuring that our industry keeps up with China and other industrial powers, restoring the American middle class, managing the effects of climate change, implementing solutions to stop global temperature rise, and repairing the damage done to our alliance structures.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

No. When you consider that politicians typically spend one year out of each term actively campaigning for their re-election in the next cycle, you realize that, with their two-year terms, representatives only spend half of their career focused on actually governing. I believe the term length should be extended to four years.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

Term limits are imperative for preventing the rise of corrupt career politicians.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

Yes. It is the best way to let all Americans know that they are being heard by their elected officials.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

Besides investigating and releasing all possible information relating to Jeffery Epstein and his many associates, I would most want to see those powers used to THOROUGHLY investigate sources of big money and how it is used to manipulate our elections and politicians so all financial avenues for the blatant manipulation of our election system can be identified and eliminated.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

I remember an old scouting mentor of mine describing the changes he has seen Shem Creek undergo since he was a young boy.

He recounted to me how, over time the commercial development along Shem slowly funneled the creek into a smaller mouth than it used to have. The smaller mouth stifles the flow of the creek and reduces its ability to carry sediment from the creek bottom out to the harbor. Without the ability to naturally dredge itself, Shem Creek has slowly become shallower and the plants and animals that require deeper, cooler waters to thrive in the creek cannot flourish the way they used to.

This story always makes me think about how delicately balanced ecosystems can be and how they can be damaged without any intention of harm.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

The field needs to be strictly monitored and regulated. The potential for future AI tools to create video and audio meant to blur truth or surveil populations is a very dangerous power to have out there. At the same time, AI has very valuable military applications and we will have to keep up with other countries in that realm.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/mdiaz.jpg

Max Diaz (D)

Voter participation is of highest importance in a democracy, so I believe that federal and state election days should be holidays or at least moved to weekends.

All voter redistricting nationwide should be required to be done by independent, non-partisan commissions.

All elections should be held with either paper ballots or machines that leave a paper trail so that results can be securely counted and/or audited without fear of hacking or outside interference.


You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Robert Beers Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Mac Deford Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Max Diaz Democratic Party $164 $64 $100 As of September 30, 2025
Mayra Rivera-Vazquez Democratic Party $11,355 $1,810 $19,091 As of June 30, 2025
Jack Ellison Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Alex Pelbath Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Robert Roberts Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Mark Smith Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]

Race ratings: South Carolina's 1st Congressional District election, 2026
Race trackerRace ratings
9/2/20258/26/20258/19/20258/12/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The HillPendingPendingPendingPending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

This section will contain information on ballot access related to this state's elections when it is available.

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.

2024

See also: South Carolina's 1st Congressional District election, 2024

South Carolina's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Republican primary)

South Carolina's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House South Carolina District 1

Incumbent Nancy Mace defeated Michael B. Moore in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 1 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nancy Mace
Nancy Mace (R)
 
58.2
 
227,502
Image of Michael B. Moore
Michael B. Moore (D) Candidate Connection
 
41.6
 
162,582
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
693

Total votes: 390,777
Candidate Connection = 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 1

Michael B. Moore defeated Mac Deford in the Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 1 on June 11, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael B. Moore
Michael B. Moore Candidate Connection
 
51.6
 
10,893
Image of Mac Deford
Mac Deford Candidate Connection
 
48.4
 
10,209

Total votes: 21,102
Candidate Connection = 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

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 1

Incumbent Nancy Mace defeated Catherine Templeton and Bill Young in the Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 1 on June 11, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nancy Mace
Nancy Mace
 
56.8
 
28,300
Image of Catherine Templeton
Catherine Templeton
 
29.8
 
14,849
Image of Bill Young
Bill Young Candidate Connection
 
13.4
 
6,691

Total votes: 49,840
Candidate Connection = 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

2022

See also: South Carolina's 1st Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House South Carolina District 1

Incumbent Nancy Mace defeated Annie Andrews and Joseph Oddo in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 1 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nancy Mace
Nancy Mace (R)
 
56.4
 
153,757
Image of Annie Andrews
Annie Andrews (D)
 
42.5
 
115,796
Image of Joseph Oddo
Joseph Oddo (Alliance Party) Candidate Connection
 
1.0
 
2,634
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
494

Total votes: 272,681
Candidate Connection = 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

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Annie Andrews advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 1.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 1

Incumbent Nancy Mace defeated Katie Arrington and Lynz Piper-Loomis (Unofficially withdrew) in the Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 1 on June 14, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nancy Mace
Nancy Mace
 
53.1
 
39,470
Image of Katie Arrington
Katie Arrington
 
45.2
 
33,589
Image of Lynz Piper-Loomis
Lynz Piper-Loomis (Unofficially withdrew)
 
1.6
 
1,221

Total votes: 74,280
Candidate Connection = 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

Alliance Party convention

Alliance Party convention for U.S. House South Carolina District 1

Joseph Oddo advanced from the Alliance Party convention for U.S. House South Carolina District 1 on April 23, 2022.

Candidate
Image of Joseph Oddo
Joseph Oddo (Alliance Party) Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = 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.

Labor Party convention

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2020

See also: South Carolina's 1st Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House South Carolina District 1

Nancy Mace defeated incumbent Joe Cunningham in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 1 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nancy Mace
Nancy Mace (R)
 
50.6
 
216,042
Image of Joe Cunningham
Joe Cunningham (D)
 
49.3
 
210,627
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
442

Total votes: 427,111
Candidate Connection = 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

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Joe Cunningham advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 1.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 1

Nancy Mace defeated Kathy Landing, Chris Cox, and Brad Mole in the Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 1 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nancy Mace
Nancy Mace
 
57.5
 
48,411
Image of Kathy Landing
Kathy Landing Candidate Connection
 
25.9
 
21,835
Chris Cox
 
9.7
 
8,179
Image of Brad Mole
Brad Mole Candidate Connection
 
6.9
 
5,800

Total votes: 84,225
Candidate Connection = 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



District analysis

This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.

See also

South Carolina 2026 primaries 2026 U.S. Congress elections
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South Carolina congressional delegation
Voting in South Carolina
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Ballot access

External links

Footnotes

  1. Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  2. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  3. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  4. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
Republican Party (8)
Democratic Party (1)