South Carolina's 1st Congressional District election, 2026 (June 9 Democratic primary)

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← 2024
South Carolina's 1st Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 30, 2026
Primary: June 9, 2026
Primary runoff: June 23, 2026
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. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th
South Carolina elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Democratic Party primary takes place on June 9, 2026, in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
March 30, 2026
June 9, 2026
November 3, 2026



A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. South Carolina utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary. Voters must take an oath affirming that they have not voted in another party's primary.[1]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This is one of 56 open races for the U.S. House of Representatives this year in which an incumbent is not running for re-election. Across the country, 21 Democrats and 35 Republicans are not running for re-election. In 2024, 45 incumbents — 24 Democrats and 21 Republicans — did not seek re-election.

This page focuses on South Carolina's 1st Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

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

Democratic primary

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

The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 1 on June 9, 2026.

Candidate
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Robert Beers
Image of Mac Deford
Mac Deford  Candidate Connection
Image of Max Diaz
Max Diaz  Candidate Connection
Image of Matthew Fulmer
Matthew Fulmer
Image of Nancy Lacore
Nancy Lacore
Image of Mayra Rivera-Vazquez
Mayra Rivera-Vazquez  Candidate Connection

There are no incumbents in this race.

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.

Mac Deford

Image of Mac Deford

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I’m Mac Deford, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, attorney, and part of a new generation of leadership in the Lowcountry. I enlisted at 18 in the U.S. Coast Guard, learning firsthand what integrity, service, and accountability truly mean. After earning my law degree, I advised some of South Carolina’s top municipalities, helping guide them through crises like COVID-19, securing federal funds, and advancing priorities like coastal protection, infrastructure, and attainable housing. I’m running for Congress because our district needs practical, service-driven leadership—not performative politics. I’ve lived the challenges working families face, and I’ve spent my career solving problems, defending constitutional principles, and expanding opportunity for the people of the Lowcountry. I believe government should put people over partisanship and focus on issues that actually improve lives."

Key Messages

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

Affordability Crisis: Families in the Lowcountry are being priced out. I’m focused on lowering costs for housing, healthcare, and everyday essentials so people can build stable lives and retire with dignity.

Constitutional Crisis: Our democracy is under strain. As a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and attorney who swore an oath to defend the Constitution, I’ll stand up for the rule of law, checks and balances, and the peaceful transfer of power.

Corruption Crisis: Washington works for special interests, not people. I’ll fight to ban stock trading by members of Congress, strengthen ethics laws, and make government accountable to the public.

Max Diaz

Image of Max Diaz

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

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.

Mayra Rivera-Vazquez

Image of Mayra Rivera-Vazquez

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I am a proven leader, a lifelong advocate for equity, a loyal wife of a U.S. Army veteran, and a proud daughter of Puerto Rican parents who instilled in me the values of hard work, service, and resilience. I have called South Carolina home for over a decade. I am running for Congress because I believe the Lowcountry deserves a representative who listens, leads compassionately, and fights for bold, transformative change — not just partisan soundbites. I grew up in a lower-middle-class household in the heart of Puerto Rico. I watched my parents nurture their community. I was inspired to work hard, to serve, and to take action. I am a first-generation college graduate, having earned a bachelor’s in economics, a juris doctor in law, and a master’s degree in international law, foreign trade, and international relations. While my husband was on active duty, I used my knowledge of the law to serve fellow service members and their families. In South Carolina, I have worked as a community organizer, nonprofit adviser, and legal assistant at an immigration law firm. I have traveled across the state, building coalitions in rural towns and urban centers, championing reproductive rights, environmental justice, affordable health care, and public education. I am here to fight for all of us. My campaign is powered by working families, young people, veterans, and everyday South Carolinians who are ready to build a future rooted in justice, opportunity, and dignity for all."

Key Messages

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

The Lowcountry is blessed with natural beauty, talent, and opportunity, but far too many families are being left behind. As an economist, I have brought in federal resources to strengthen communities, and in Congress, I will fight to build an economy that works for everyone. That means fair wages, strong labor protections, and modern, resilient infrastructure that attracts good-paying jobs while protecting homes and businesses from flooding. I will end unfair tax breaks for the wealthy few and invest instead in education, job training, and workforce development so every family has a fair chance to succeed. I know what it’s like to work hard and still struggle, and I’ll never stop fighting for working families across the Lowcountry.

Every South Carolinian deserves quality, affordable health care, yet too many are left behind as hospitals close, doctors leave the state, and prescription costs soar. As the mother of a nonverbal autistic child and the wife of an Army veteran, I have seen the struggles families face firsthand. In Congress, I will fight to expand Medicaid, reduce drug prices, and protect reproductive health care so patients and doctors—not politicians—make medical decisions. I will work to sustain rural hospitals, improve services for veterans, and expand support for people with disabilities. Health care is deeply personal for me, and I will always stand up for families across the Lowcountry.

I believe our nation needs immigration policies that are fair, practical, and humane. Current approaches that rely on fear and chaos have failed families and businesses while undermining our economy. As a proud American and the daughter of Latino parents, I know diversity makes us stronger. In Congress, I will fight for common-sense immigration reform that secures our borders while creating clear, legal pathways for families and workers. I will oppose policies that terrorize communities and instead support solutions that protect children, keep families together, and provide businesses with the talent they need to grow. I will always fight for policies that reflect America’s values of opportunity, fairness, and compassion.

Voting information

See also: Voting in South Carolina

Election information in South Carolina: June 9, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: May 8, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by May 11, 2026
  • Online: May 10, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

No

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: May 29, 2026
  • By mail: Received by May 29, 2026
  • Online: N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: June 9, 2026
  • By mail: Received by June 9, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

May 26, 2026 to June 5, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (ET)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Robert Beers Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Mac Deford Democratic Party $221,019 $130,331 $90,688 As of December 31, 2025
Max Diaz Democratic Party $1,068 $940 $43 As of December 31, 2025
Matthew Fulmer Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Nancy Lacore Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Mayra Rivera-Vazquez Democratic Party $81,934 $51,035 $32,595 As of December 31, 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.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

2023_01_03_sc_congressional_district_01.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026
Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+6. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 6 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made South Carolina's 1st the 177th most Republican district nationally.[2]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
43.0%56.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in South Carolina, 2024

South Carolina presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 16 Democratic wins
  • 15 Republican wins
  • 1 other win
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party D D D D D D D D D D D D SR[3] D D D R R R D R R R R R R R R R R R R
See also: Party control of South Carolina state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of South Carolina's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from South Carolina
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 1 1
Republican 2 6 8
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 7 9

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in South Carolina's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in South Carolina, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorRepublican Party Henry McMaster
Lieutenant GovernorRepublican Party Pamela Evette
Secretary of StateRepublican Party Mark Hammond
Attorney GeneralRepublican Party Alan Wilson

State legislature

South Carolina State Senate

Party As of January 2026
     Democratic Party 12
     Republican Party 34
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 46

South Carolina House of Representatives

Party As of January 2026
     Democratic Party 36
     Republican Party 88
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 124

Trifecta control

South Carolina Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in South Carolina in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in South Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
South Carolina U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A $3,480 3/30/2026 Source
South Carolina U.S. House Unaffiliated 5% of the active, registered voters in the district N/A 7/15/2026 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ South Carolina General Assembly, "S.C. Code Ann. § 7–9–20," accessed November 7, 2025
  2. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  3. ↑ States' Rights Democratic Party


South Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Lindsey Graham (R)
Tim Scott (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
Republican Party (8)
Democratic Party (1)


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