The statewide primary is on June 9, 2026. The statewide general election is on Nov. 3, 2026.

The early voting period for the statewide primary starts on Tuesday, May 26, and ends on Friday, June 5, but polls are closed on Saturday and Sunday and on state holidays. Early voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here are early voting locations in Lexington County for the statewide primary:

• County Voter Registration Office: 605 West Main St., Suite C, Lexington, S.C. 29072
• Midlands Technical College (Irmo): 7300 College St., Irmo, S.C. 29063
• West Columbia Community Center: 754 B Ave., West Columbia, S.C., 29169
• Midlands Tech (Batesburg-Leesville): 423 College St. Batesburg-Leesville, S.C., 29070
• Gaston Town Hall: 131 North Carlisle St., Gaston, S.C., 29053
• Chapin Town Hall: 157 North West Columbia Ct., Chapin, S.C. 29063

“Voters can visit any early voting center in their county during the early voting period, present their Photo ID, and vote using the voting system like they would at their polling place on election day,” according to the state election commission website.

Forty-nine have filed to run in the 2026 General Election for seats representing Lexington County. For a complete list, visit this link. 

The Lexington County Chronicle will be publishing question-and-answers in the coming weeks from area candidates running to represent Lexington County.

Below is the second set. Read the first set using this link.

Each of the following candidates’ names will be on primary ballots.

Roger Pruitt, running for U.S. House of Representatives, District 2 (this seat represents Lexington, Aiken and Barnwell counties, along with parts of Richland and Orangeburg counties)

1. Why are you running? I am running for Congress because families across South Carolina’s 2nd District are working hard but still falling behind. Costs are too high, healthcare is too expensive, and too many people feel ignored by Washington. After more than two decades with the same incumbent, this district needs new leadership focused on lowering costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, supporting veterans, strengthening public safety, and making government work for working people again.

2. Have you run for political office before? If so, explain: This is my first campaign for elected office.

3. Current job/profession, or if retired, past job/profession: I am a bankruptcy attorney with my own law firm. I also teach business law at South Carolina State University.

4. What makes you qualified for the seat? As an attorney, I work every day with families and small businesses facing financial pressure. I see how rising costs, medical debt, job loss, and economic instability affect real people. I am also a U.S. Air Force intelligence veteran, and I understand service, discipline, and putting country over politics.

5. What challenges/concerns do you see in the area the seat you are running for represents, and how do you intend to improve them? The biggest challenges are affordability, healthcare access, infrastructure, and making sure growth benefits working families. I will fight to lower prescription drug and healthcare costs, support small businesses, invest in workforce training, and ensure federal dollars return to South Carolina communities.

6. What successes have you seen in the area that you want to build on? Lexington County and the Midlands have strong schools, small businesses, veterans, churches, civic organizations, and a growing economy. These are real strengths, but strong does not mean finished. We can build on them so growth benefits everyone, while protecting the quality of life and keeping working families from being priced out.

7. Any plans to address infrastructure? If so, explain. Yes. Growth requires better broadband, roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, and smart planning. I will support federal investments that reduce traffic, improve safety, expand rural broadband, and prepare communities for long-term growth.

8. Are you actively involved in the community? How so? Yes. Through my legal work, teaching, campaign outreach, and local events, I stay engaged with families, students, small businesses, veterans, and community leaders across the district.

9. Anything else you want to add? South Carolina needs leaders who listen more than they lecture. Too many leaders focus on the photo op or 30-second sound bite instead of truly listening. I am running to deliver practical results and give voters a better choice than the same partisan politics we have seen from the incumbent for far too long.

Johnathan Ammons, running for State House of Representatives, District 40 (this seat represents Lexington and Newberry counties)

1. Why are you running? I’m running because I believe District 40 deserves strong, energetic leadership focused on the future of our communities. I want to help improve infrastructure, support law enforcement, strengthen agriculture, and create opportunities for working families and small towns across our district.

2. Have you run for political office before? If so, explain: Yes, I previously ran for this seat in 2024.

3. Current job/profession, or if retired, past job/profession: I am a small business owner in Newberry County.

4. What makes you qualified for the seat? I believe leadership starts with listening, showing up, and fighting for the people you represent. I bring energy, determination, and a willingness to address issues directly while working to build consensus and deliver results.

5. What challenges/concerns do you see in the area the seat you're running for represents, and how do you intend to improve them? Our district faces challenges with infrastructure, economic growth, support for small towns, and ensuring rural communities are not left behind. I want to focus on practical solutions that improve quality of life and encourage long-term growth.

6. What successes have you seen in the area that you want to build on? I want to continue supporting economic development, public safety investments, and efforts that strengthen our schools and local communities.

7. Any plans to address infrastructure? If so, explain. Yes. I support a long-term infrastructure strategy focused on roads, bridges, rural investment, and improving coordination between state and local governments.

8. Are you actively involved in the community? How so? I have been actively engaged in community discussions, local events, and advocating for issues affecting residents throughout the district.

9. Anything else you want to add? I appreciate the opportunity to speak with voters during this campaign and look forward to continuing conversations about the future of District 40.

Larry Brigham, running for Lexington County Council, District 2 (this seat represents Gilbert, Summit, Batesburg-Leesville, Western Lake Murray and parts of Fairview)

1. Why are you running? I’m running for Lexington County Council to establish new residential development regulations to reduce density (houses per acre) in new neighborhoods. The growth heading westward into District 2 has to be slowed in order to allow our schools and infrastructure to catch up.

2. Have you run for political office before? If so, explain: Yes. I’ve been on County Council for 12 years.

3. Current job/profession, or if retired, past job/profession: I’m retired. I owned a State Farm insurance agency in Batesburg-Leesville for 37 years.

4. What makes you qualified for the seat? Experience matters. Understanding the political process and how to navigate it enables results that make a difference in the daily lives of the citizens.

5. What challenges/concerns do you see in the area the seat you're running for represents, and how do you intend to improve them? Managing growth so it can be sustainable is a major concern. I’ve introduced reduced housing density per acre in my district that will be discussed this year. Finding a dedicated funding source for road improvements is another issue that will be addressed.

6. What successes have you seen in the area that you want to build on? A new west region public safety complex housing a fire department, EMS, sheriff’s department and magistrate is almost complete. It took 5 years to acquire funding to make this project come to fruition. No bond was needed. The Batesburg-Leesville Industrial Park recently has a pad built on Parcel 1. This will prepare Parcel 1 for a Spec building to be constructed in order to attract an occupant.

7. Any plans to address infrastructure? If so, explain. Yes. Establishing a dedicated funding source for road repairs is a priority. The cost to pave a dirt road is $1.5M per mile and $750K per mile to resurface a paved road. The state provides Lexington County $6M per year for our road system. The need for a dedicated funding source is vital. The Capital Projects Sales Tax (CPST) would generate $67M per year if the voters choose to support it on the ballot.

8. Are you actively involved in the community? How so? I’m a member of the B-L Chamber of Commerce. Also, I speak to various groups and organizations often to provide an update on Lexington County.

9. Anything else you want to add? If you are looking for a native of western Lexington County who loves the rural lifestyle that will stand up for slowing residential development to allow infrastructure to catch up, I’m that guy. I would appreciate your support on June 9 in the Republican Primary.

Ted Stambolitis, running for Lexington County Council, District 2 (this seat represents Gilbert, Summit, Batesburg-Leesville, Western Lake Murray and parts of Fairview)

1. Why are you running? I am running to help find solutions and implement them for our burgeoning traffic congestion and out-of-control growth.

2. Have you run for political office before? If so, explain: I was elected Town of Lexington Councilman for four terms from 2004-2018.

3. Current job/profession, or if retired, past job/profession: Currently, I own and manage Flight Deck Restaurant for 34 years and the Shoppes at Flight Deck for 28 years.

4. What makes you qualified for the seat? My 14 years of experience as a Town of Lexington Councilman.

5. What challenges/concerns do you see in the area the seat you're running for represents, and how do you intend to improve them? The traffic congestion and uncontrolled growth. At the Town of Lexington, we developed a Strategic Comprehensive Growth Plan and the LTP (Lexington Traffic Plan). These two plans form the foundation for addressing future traffic and residential and commercial growth. These long-term plans have been implemented to address both of these major issues, and it is working.

6. What successes have you seen in the area that you want to build on? The success of the Strategic Comprehensive Growth Plan and the LTIP (Lexington Traffic Plan) is being reflected in the growth of the Town of Lexington.

7. Are you actively involved in the community? How so? Yes, I am involved and I am a board member for three homeless shelters: Samaritan's Well, The Chris Myers Home and The Veteran's Retreat.

8. Anything else you want to add? Lexington County is the best county in South Carolina. The people of Lexington are good, hard working and dedicated people. We have an opportunity to create a vibrant community that provides a safe, healthy and prosperous home for the families and businesses of Lexington. With proper planning we can achieve those goals and provide future positive opportunities for the people of Lexington, their children and their grandchildren. We will work hard to make Lexington an even greater shining star of South Carolina.

Beth Carrigg, running for Lexington County Council, District 7 (this seat represents Seven Oaks, parts of Irmo and parts of Lexington)

1. Why are you running? I am running for re-election because I believe experience really does matter. My record is clear and solid on responsible development; if we are serious about a community where growth takes a back seat to infrastructure, we need a strong voice and a proven voting record to give our constituents trust in the process as well as the people.

2. Have you run for political office before? If so, explain: Yes. I was first elected as the Lexington County Clerk of Court in 2005 and served continuously until January 2017 when I stepped away to spend time with my granddaughter. I was next elected to Lexington County Council District 7 in 2018 and have served continuously since.

3. Current job/profession, or if retired, past job/profession: My sole position at this time is representing the people of Lexington County on County Council.

4. What makes you qualified for the seat? Serving as both the Clerk of Court and then 8 years on County Council has made me exceedingly qualified for the position. I have a 100% voting record on ordinances that protect responsible growth. I pushed an ordinance on Concurrency to ensure we have infrastructure before growth and I have always voted to insure we have adequate funding for all first responders. Passing meaningful/comprehensive ordinances that protect our community, requires a majority vote on every governing body; Lexington County is no different. I have earned the respect of my peers, which allows me the opportunity to introduce new legislation that is taken seriously, deliberated on and earns a vote. Without a majority, nothing gets accomplished on any governing body. Responsible growth going forward only happens because a majority of the body came together, protected infrastructure, land clearing and water quality controls. Experience means more now than ever before.

5. What challenges/concerns do you see in the area the seat you're running for represents, and how do you intend to improve them? District 7 is a unique district as it is divided by Lake Murray. The Lexington side of District 7 has lovely established neighborhoods and an influx of brand new growth. The Irmo/St. Andrews portion of District 7 is also filled with gorgeous legacy neighborhoods that generations of families still call home. Infrastructure in St. Andrews/Irmo area is 50+ years old and needs a lot of work that only comes from the State of South Carolina and the City of Columbia. I partner each and every day with both stakeholders to address crumbling infrastructure and roadway improvements. The Lexington side of District 7 is all about growth and making sure we have adequate infrastructure in place BEFORE construction continues. Each and every challenge is met with fact finding, hard work, collaboration, and allocating funding to meet each and every need as prioritized by when and how it will affect our quality of life.

6. What successes have you seen in the area that you want to build on? Council District 7 represents two different areas; in St. Andrews, Kinley Creek has always been an alarming calamity of flooding for the area. Currently Kinley Creek is undergoing an infrastructure upgrade by the City of Columbia. Old, outdated and poorly designed infrastructure from 50 years ago needs to be replaced by our partners with the State and the City of Columbia. Specifically, upper Kinley Creek sewer investment of approx $6M and that construction is complete. The Lower Kinley Creek sewer investment of approximately $13M is substantially complete, with a little paving left. Lexington is experiencing unexpected growth as a result of 2020 and the influx of people moving to SC from other States. County Council has addressed our developmental standards, updated our comprehensive plan, passed protections for land clearing, water quality, materials used, as well as consistently lobbying the legislature to revise outdated laws on impact fees and annexation. Counties across SC need the ability to have development pay for roads and a minimum of 7 years to use the funding; the law is outdated and inadequate to serve the people of SC and Lexington County.

7. Any plans to address infrastructure? If so, explain. Most local government infrastructure concerns are resolved by partnerships with the State of South Carolina, City of Columbia and partnering with municipalities; Lexington County is not in the water and sewer business and therefore we rely on partnerships to provide and maintain that infrastructure. Roads are built and maintained by the SCDOT, with few exceptions of local roads and the decades long issue of our dirt road system. Local roads and dirt roads are resurfaced and maintained out of monies from the SC .01 cent gas tax collected by the State of SC and distributed proportionately to each County.

8. Are you actively involved in the community? How so? County Council service is community service as we consistently work alongside our constituents for an all around better quality of life.

9. Anything else you want to add? Yes. It has been a privilege to serve the people of Lexington County; especially those residing in District 7. I have worked hard to ensure the residents of Lexington County have the best quality of life possible and access to their council representative when issues arise. I always take the call, respond to an email or listen during public hearings. In our current state of growth, experience matters, relationships matter and a proven voting record matters. I humbly ask for my constituents to re-elect me to continue to make Lexington County a safe, affordable and thriving place to live.