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South Carolina's 7th Congressional District election, 2026

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2024
South Carolina's 7th 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 7th 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 7th 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 7

Incumbent Russell Fry and John Vincent are running in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 7 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Russell Fry
Russell Fry (R)
Image of John Vincent
John Vincent (D) Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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 John Vincent

WebsiteFacebookYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I'm John Gregory Vincent, a 20-year Navy veteran who served as Command Master Chief, a small business owner, and a leadership expert running to represent South Carolina's 7th Congressional District. Raised in a working-class family, I understand the challenges facing everyday Americans. My military career taught me the importance of putting country before self and fighting for my team - values I'll bring to Congress. After retiring from the Navy, I built a successful small business, giving me firsthand experience with the challenges entrepreneurs face. I'm running because I believe we need more common sense and less chaos in Washington. My campaign is focused on fiscal responsibility, strengthening our economy for working families, and keeping our promises to veterans. I'm not interested in partisan games - I'm interested in delivering results for the people of SC-07."


Key Messages

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


Restoring Accountability and Common Sense to Washington - I'll fight against wasteful spending while protecting vital programs, support increased border security alongside a fair immigration system, and ensure our district has proper disaster preparedness resources.


Building an Economy That Works for Everyone - I'll champion tax relief for working families, support job creation through partnerships with community colleges, cut red tape for small businesses, invest in infrastructure, and work to make healthcare more affordable.


Keeping Our Promises to Those Who Served - As a Navy veteran, I'll fight to improve VA healthcare, expand veterans housing programs, enhance education and job training benefits, support veteran-owned businesses, and increase services for military families.

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.

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Restoring Accountability and Common Sense to Washington - I'll fight against wasteful spending while protecting vital programs, support increased border security alongside a fair immigration system, and ensure our district has proper disaster preparedness resources.

Building an Economy That Works for Everyone - I'll champion tax relief for working families, support job creation through partnerships with community colleges, cut red tape for small businesses, invest in infrastructure, and work to make healthcare more affordable.

Keeping Our Promises to Those Who Served - As a Navy veteran, I'll fight to improve VA healthcare, expand veterans housing programs, enhance education and job training benefits, support veteran-owned businesses, and increase services for military families.
I'm particularly passionate about veterans affairs, having served 20 years in the Navy. I've seen firsthand the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life and accessing healthcare. I'm also deeply committed to economic policies that support working families and small businesses. Having built my own business, I understand what entrepreneurs need to succeed. Additionally, I'm passionate about disaster preparedness and response, which is critical for our coastal communities in SC-07. Finally, I believe in fiscal responsibility that doesn't sacrifice essential programs that our citizens depend on.
I would recommend "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which chronicles Lincoln's decision to include political opponents in his cabinet. This book exemplifies my belief that good governance requires considering diverse perspectives and putting the country's interests above partisan advantage. It demonstrates how principled leadership can unite people with different views around common goals - something desperately needed in today's polarized environment. The book shows that effective leadership isn't about imposing one's will, but about finding common ground while maintaining core principles. Of course, I also recommend reading my book, Up Periscope: Putting Traditional Leadership in The Crosshairs. This book is a guide to effective leadership development and decision making through diversity and inclusion.
"From my 20 years as a Navy Command Master Chief and my experience as a small business owner, I've learned that the most important characteristics for any leader – especially an elected official – are integrity, accountability, and service.

Integrity means being honest with your constituents even when the truth is difficult or unpopular. It means standing by your principles and making decisions based on what's right, not what's politically expedient. In the Navy, we lived by a code of honor, and I believe our elected officials should be held to that same standard.

Accountability is essential in public service. Officials must take responsibility for their decisions and be transparent about their motives and actions. The people of South Carolina's 7th District deserve a representative who will answer to them, not to special interests or party leadership. As I've emphasized in my campaign, we need to restore accountability to Washington.

Service is at the core of my life's work. An elected official must remember that they work for the people, not the other way around. This position isn't about personal gain or power – it's about improving the lives of those you represent. My campaign message of 'Common Sense over Chaos' reflects my commitment to practical, service-oriented leadership.

Additionally, I believe elected officials need empathy to truly understand the diverse needs of their constituents, courage to make difficult decisions when necessary, and the wisdom to know when to stand firm on principles and when to find common ground. These are the qualities I've tried to embody throughout my career, and they're what I'll bring to Congress if elected to represent SC-07."
The core responsibilities of a Representative include faithfully representing the interests of all constituents - not just those who voted for you. This means being accessible, listening to concerns, and responding to needs regardless of political affiliation. It means crafting and supporting legislation that benefits your district while considering the national interest. It requires oversight of government agencies to ensure they're serving the public effectively. Most importantly, it means maintaining integrity, transparency, and accountability in all actions. A Representative must be a voice for their district in Washington while bringing resources and solutions back home.
I want to be remembered as someone who brought common sense back to Congress - a Representative who put practical solutions above partisan politics. I hope to leave a legacy of improved services for veterans, stronger economic opportunities for working families, and a more prepared and resilient SC-07. I want constituents to say I was accessible, honest, and effective - that I kept my promises and always put their interests first. Ultimately, I hope to help restore faith in government by demonstrating that public service can and should be about improving people's lives, not scoring political points.
The House is uniquely positioned as the legislative body closest to the people, with members elected every two years and representing smaller constituencies than Senators. This design makes the House more responsive to changing public sentiment and local concerns. The House's exclusive power to initiate revenue bills gives it special responsibility for fiscal matters. Its larger size compared to the Senate allows for greater diversity of viewpoints and backgrounds. These qualities make the House the people's house - where the immediate concerns of communities across America can be addressed through responsive representation.
While traditional political experience can be valuable, I believe what's most beneficial for representatives is having diverse real-world experience and a genuine commitment to public service. My own Navy background and experience a small business owner has prepared me for Congress in ways that are different from, but just as valuable as, previous government experience.

In the military, I learned how to lead diverse teams through complex challenges, make difficult decisions under pressure, and put mission and country above self-interest. These are precisely the skills needed in Congress today. As Command Master Chief, I was responsible for the welfare and effectiveness of hundreds of sailors, managing substantial resources, and implementing policies from higher command while advocating for those under my leadership—experiences that parallel the representative's role of implementing laws while advocating for constituents. As a small business owner, I've experienced firsthand the impact of government policies on job creation, regulatory compliance, and economic growth. This perspective is crucial when crafting legislation that affects American businesses and workers.

What Congress often lacks isn't political experience—it has plenty of career politicians. What it needs more of is practical leadership experience, common sense, and the ability to work effectively with people of different backgrounds and viewpoints to accomplish shared goals. It needs people who understand the real-world implications of policies on families, businesses, and communities.

That said, I recognize the value of understanding legislative processes and government operations. That's why I'm taking the time to study how Congress works and build relationships with experienced public servants who can provide guidance. I believe my leadership background, combined with a willingness to listen listen and learn, will allow me to be effective from day one.
I see several critical challenges facing our country in the coming decade that require common-sense leadership rather than partisan chaos.

First, we face the challenge of rebuilding an economy that truly works for everyone. The growing divide between the wealthy and working families threatens our national cohesion and economic stability. We need to create an economy where hard work is rewarded with fair wages, where small businesses can thrive without being crushed by red tape, and where every American has access to affordable healthcare. This means investing in job training programs that prepare workers for high-demand industries, supporting infrastructure projects that create good jobs while improving our communities, and ensuring that tax policies benefit the middle class, not just the wealthy.

Second, we must address the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, particularly in coastal communities like ours in SC-07. Climate-related challenges will require significant investments in disaster preparedness, infrastructure resilience, and emergency response capabilities. As someone who has criticized my opponent for voting to defund critical FEMA programs, I understand that preparing for these challenges isn't partisan—it's practical.

Third, we need to heal the dangerous political division that threatens our democracy. The extreme partisanship in Washington has paralyzed our ability to solve problems and eroded public trust in government. As a military leader, I learned that accomplishing the mission requires bringing people together despite their differences. We need to restore civility and compromise to our political discourse while still standing firm on core principles.
While I understand the appeal of term limits as a way to prevent career politicians and bring fresh perspectives to Congress, I believe voters should ultimately decide who represents them. That said, I support exploring reasonable term limit proposals that would prevent the entrenchment of power while still allowing effective legislators to serve long enough to develop expertise and accomplish meaningful goals. Any term limit system should be designed to enhance democracy, not restrict voters' choices unnecessarily.
Compromise is absolutely essential for effective policymaking in our diverse democracy. My military background taught me that accomplishing the mission often requires finding common ground with people of different perspectives. Rigid ideological positions lead to gridlock, not solutions. Effective compromise doesn't mean abandoning core principles, but rather finding areas of agreement to make incremental progress. The greatest legislative achievements in American history have resulted from good-faith compromise. In Congress, I'll work with anyone, regardless of party, who is serious about solving problems for the American people.
Given my background and the needs of SC-07, I would seek to serve on the Veterans' Affairs Committee to advocate for improved healthcare and benefits for those who served. The Small Business Committee would allow me to apply my experience as a business owner to help entrepreneurs thrive. Given our district's vulnerability to hurricanes and flooding, the Homeland Security Committee would enable me to work on disaster preparedness and FEMA reform. Finally, the Armed Services Committee would be a natural fit given my military experience and the importance of defense issues to South Carolina.
"Financial transparency and government accountability are fundamental pillars of a functioning democracy and central to my campaign's message of 'Common Sense over Chaos.'

Throughout my career, I learned that accountability isn't just a buzzword—it's essential to effective leadership and mission success. In Congress, I'll bring that same commitment to ensuring our government works for the people, not special interests.

Financial transparency is non-negotiable. Taxpayers deserve to know exactly how their hard-earned money is being spent. I support strengthening disclosure requirements for government spending at all levels and making this information readily accessible to the public. Too often, wasteful spending is hidden in massive, complex legislation that few have time to read. This practice must end.

Government accountability extends beyond finances. It means ensuring that agencies fulfill their missions effectively and efficiently. It means elected officials answering directly to their constituents, not party leadership or donors. And it means having the courage to admit mistakes and correct course when necessary.

Unlike my opponent, who has contributed to Washington's dysfunction through extreme partisanship, I'll work to restore trust in our institutions through common-sense reforms that increase transparency and accountability. This includes supporting bipartisan efforts to strengthen ethics rules, limit the influence of special interests, and ensure that government agencies like FEMA are properly funded and held accountable for delivering results.

In the military, we lived by a code of honor and accountability. I believe our government should operate by those same principles. If elected, I'll fight every day to make sure that happens."


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
Russell Fry Republican Party $454,013 $331,213 $683,983 As of June 30, 2025
John Vincent Democratic Party $39,116 $24,972 $14,143 As of June 30, 2025

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.

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 7th 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 7th Congressional District election, 2024

South Carolina's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Democratic primary)

South Carolina's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House South Carolina District 7

Incumbent Russell Fry defeated Mal Hyman in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 7 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Russell Fry
Russell Fry (R)
 
64.9
 
240,326
Image of Mal Hyman
Mal Hyman (D)
 
35.0
 
129,522
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
481

Total votes: 370,329
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.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 7

Mal Hyman defeated Daryl Scott in the Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 7 on June 11, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mal Hyman
Mal Hyman
 
50.8
 
12,617
Image of Daryl Scott
Daryl Scott
 
49.2
 
12,218

Total votes: 24,835
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.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Russell Fry advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 7.

2022

See also: South Carolina's 7th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House South Carolina District 7

Russell Fry defeated Daryl Scott in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 7 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Russell Fry
Russell Fry (R)
 
64.8
 
164,440
Image of Daryl Scott
Daryl Scott (D) Candidate Connection
 
35.1
 
89,030
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
395

Total votes: 253,865
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. Daryl Scott advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 7.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 7

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 7 on June 14, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Russell Fry
Russell Fry
 
51.1
 
43,509
Image of Tom Rice
Tom Rice
 
24.6
 
20,927
Image of Barbara Arthur
Barbara Arthur Candidate Connection
 
12.3
 
10,481
Image of Ken Richardson
Ken Richardson
 
7.1
 
6,021
Image of Garrett Barton
Garrett Barton Candidate Connection
 
2.5
 
2,154
Image of Mark McBride
Mark McBride
 
2.0
 
1,676
Image of Spencer Morris
Spencer Morris Candidate Connection
 
0.5
 
444

Total votes: 85,212
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

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House South Carolina District 7

No candidate advanced from the convention.


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.

2020

See also: South Carolina's 7th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House South Carolina District 7

Incumbent Tom Rice defeated Melissa Watson in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 7 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tom Rice
Tom Rice (R)
 
61.8
 
224,993
Image of Melissa Watson
Melissa Watson (D) Candidate Connection
 
38.1
 
138,863
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
235

Total votes: 364,091
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

Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 7

Melissa Watson defeated Robert Williams and William Williams in the Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 7 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Melissa Watson
Melissa Watson Candidate Connection
 
51.2
 
27,200
Image of Robert Williams
Robert Williams
 
41.3
 
21,923
Image of William Williams
William Williams Candidate Connection
 
7.5
 
3,965

Total votes: 53,088
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.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Tom Rice advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 7.

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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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
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District 5
District 6
District 7
Republican Party (8)
Democratic Party (1)