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South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026

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2024
South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District
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General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 30, 2026
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 3rd 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 3rd 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 3

Incumbent Sheri Biggs is running in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Sheri Biggs
Sheri Biggs (R)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Candidate profiles

There are currently no candidate profiles created for this race. Candidate profiles will appear here as they are created. Encourage the candidates in this race to complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey so that their profile will appear here. You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

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. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

No candidate in this race has completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia is seeking 100 percent participation so voters can learn more about all the candidates on their ballots.

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
Sheri Biggs Republican Party $280,344 $195,485 $188,944 As of September 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 3rd Congressional District election, 2026
Race trackerRace ratings
12/16/202512/9/202512/2/202511/25/2025
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

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 TBD Source
South Carolina U.S. House Unaffiliated 5% of the active, registered voters in the district N/A TBD Source


District history

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

General election

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

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

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

Total votes: 346,713
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 runoff

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

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

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

Total votes: 55,220
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

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

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

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bryon Best
Bryon Best  Candidate Connection
 
62.4
 
5,188
Image of Frances Guldner
Frances Guldner
 
37.6
 
3,129

Total votes: 8,317
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

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

Total votes: 81,624
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 convention for U.S. House South Carolina District 3

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

Candidate
Image of Michael Bedenbaugh
Michael Bedenbaugh  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.

General election

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

Incumbent Jeff Duncan (R) won election in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jeff Duncan
Jeff Duncan (R)
 
97.6
 
189,971
  Other/Write-in votes
 
2.4%
 
4,598

Total votes: 194,569
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

The Democratic primary scheduled for June 14, 2022, was canceled.

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for June 14, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Jeff Duncan (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 without appearing on the ballot.

General election

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

Incumbent Jeff Duncan (R) defeated Hosea Cleveland (D) in the general election for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jeff Duncan
Jeff Duncan (R)
 
71.2
 
237,544
Image of Hosea Cleveland
Hosea Cleveland (D)
 
28.7
 
95,712
  Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1%
 
308

Total votes: 333,564
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

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

Hosea Cleveland (D) defeated Mark Welch (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Hosea Cleveland
Hosea Cleveland
 
57.3
 
11,769
Image of Mark Welch
Mark Welch
 
42.7
 
8,753

Total votes: 20,522
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

The Republican primary scheduled for June 9, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Jeff Duncan (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House South Carolina District 3 without appearing on the ballot.

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_03.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+21. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 21 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made South Carolina's 3rd the 28th most Republican district nationally.[5]

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 3rd Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic Party Donald Trump Republican Party
28.0% 71.0%

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[6] 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
Office Officeholder
Governor Republican Party Henry McMaster
Lieutenant Governor Republican Party Pamela Evette
Secretary of State Republican Party Mark Hammond
Attorney General Republican Party Alan Wilson

State legislature

South Carolina State Senate

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 12
     Republican Party 33
     Other 0
     Vacancies 1
Total 46

South Carolina House of Representatives

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 36
     Republican Party 86
     Other 0
     Vacancies 2
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

See also

South Carolina 2026 primaries 2026 U.S. Congress elections
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South Carolina congressional delegation
Voting in South Carolina
South Carolina elections:
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Democratic primary battlegrounds
Republican primary battlegrounds
U.S. Senate Democratic primaries
U.S. Senate Republican primaries
U.S. House Democratic primaries
U.S. House Republican primaries
U.S. Congress elections
U.S. Senate elections
U.S. House elections
Special elections
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
  5. Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  6. States' Rights Democratic Party


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